The word "perishing" is spelled with the letters P-E-R-I-S-H-I-N-G. In IPA phonetic transcription, the pronunciation is /ˈpɛrɪʃɪŋ/. The stress is on the second syllable, with two short "e" sounds followed by a long "i" sound. The "sh" sound is represented by the letters "sh," and the "ng" sound is represented by the letters "ng." "Perishing" is often used to describe very cold or unpleasant weather, but it can also be used to describe the process of dying or decaying.
Perishing is an adjective that describes something or someone that is in a state of imminent or eventual death, decay, or destruction. It is often used to depict extreme vulnerability or susceptibility to external factors that could lead to a rapid decline.
When referring to living beings, "perishing" implies being on the brink of dying or experiencing a severe decline in health. It suggests a critical state where life is threatened or endangered, typically due to illness, starvation, extreme cold, or other adverse conditions. For example, the term could be used to describe individuals suffering from a terminal illness, elderly people in poor health, or animals struggling to survive in harsh environments.
In a broader sense, "perishing" can also describe the deterioration or decay of inanimate objects or natural phenomena. It conveys a sense of irreversible damage or loss, often as a result of neglect, exposure to the elements, or the passage of time. For instance, it can be used to describe perishable foods that have spoiled or rotted, structures ruined by weathering or decay, or landscapes devastated by natural disasters.
Overall, "perishing" denotes a state of imminent demise, decay, or destruction, emphasizing the frailty, vulnerability, or fleeting nature of the subject at hand.
Having a tendency to perish; losing life; passing away.
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 perishing comes from the Middle English word perischen, which in turn derived from the Old French word periss-, the stem of the verb perir. The Old French term was influenced by the Latin word perire, meaning to pass away, to be destroyed. Ultimately, it can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *per(i)-, which conveys the idea of to pass, to go through.