Perilously is spelled pɛrələsli. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word helps to understand how the word is spelled. The first syllable is pronounced as "peh," beginning with a short "e" sound followed by an "h" sound. The second syllable, "ri," uses a long "i" sound. The third syllable, "lous," includes a soft "s" sound, and the final syllable, "-ly," is pronounced "lee." With its unique spelling and pronunciation, "perilously" accurately conveys the idea of danger and risk.
Perilously is an adverb used to describe a situation or action that is highly dangerous or risky, potentially leading to harm, injury, or disaster. It conveys the sense of being in a precarious or treacherous state, where one false move or misjudgment could have severe consequences.
The term originates from the noun "peril," which refers to a state of imminent danger or risk. When an action or circumstance is described as perilous, it implies a level of uncertainty and vulnerability, emphasizing the potential for harm or perilousness.
In everyday usage, "perilously" can be used to emphasize the dangerous nature of a situation. For example, "She walked perilously close to the edge of the cliff" indicates that the person's actions put them at great risk of falling or suffering an accident. Similarly, "The hiker perilously ventured into the deep, uncharted woods" implies that the hiker's decision to explore such hazardous territory poses a significant threat to their safety and well-being.
Overall, "perilously" encapsulates the idea of an imminent threat, emphasizing the gravity and urgency of a dangerous situation. It underscores the need for caution, highlighting the potential harm that could befall those involved.
* 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 "perilously" is derived from the word "peril", which comes from the Latin word "periculum". In Latin, "periculum" originally referred to a trial or a test of truth, but it also came to mean "a danger" or "a risk". The English word "peril" emerged in the 13th century, carrying the sense of "exposure to harm or danger". Later, the adverb form "perilously" was formed to describe an action or situation characterized by being full of peril or great danger.