The spelling of the word "pendant" may seem tricky, but once you know the IPA phonetic transcription, it becomes clear. The first syllable is pronounced as "pen" /pɛn/ followed by "dant" /dænt/. The "d" in the second syllable is silent, so it sounds like "ant," not "dant." A pendant is a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain or cord, often featuring a decorative ornament or stone. Now that you know how to spell and pronounce it, you'll recognize pendants in no time!
A pendant, in its noun form, refers to a decorative hanging object or ornament that is attached to a chain, string, or cord and is typically worn as a piece of jewelry around the neck. Pendants come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, and are often crafted from precious and semi-precious materials such as gold, silver, gemstones, or even glass or plastic. They can exhibit elaborate motifs or be simple in design, serving as a personalized accessory or symbol of a special meaning or sentiment.
Additionally, the term "pendant" can also describe a piece of lighting fixture that hangs from the ceiling, typically suspended by a cord, chain, or rod. These fixtures consist of a shade or lamp holder attached to the bottom of the pendant, housing the light source, contributing to ambient lighting in a room or area.
Moreover, "pendant" may also be used to describe someone who hangs or suspends from a certain point or object. In this concept, it implies being partially supported or reliant on an external structure or system. This usage is often employed in technical or engineering contexts, such as discussing the mechanics and structural elements of bridges, cables, or other hanging objects.
In summary, the term pendant encompasses various meanings, including a decorative hanging object worn as jewelry, a lighting fixture suspended from the ceiling, or even an engineering concept relating to suspension or hanging structures.
Anything hanging by way of ornament, as an ear-ring; a wooden or stone ornament hanging from a roof or ceiling; a streamer or piece of bunting worn at the mast-heads of vessels; a hanging apparatus from the roof for gas, generally ornamental.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "pendant" comes from the Old French word "pendre", which means "to hang". It entered the English language in the late 14th century and originally referred to a hanging decorative object, such as a piece of jewelry or an ornament. The term "pendant" is derived from the Latin word "pendēre", which also means "to hang" or "to suspend".