The spelling of "pure blooded", which means having a lineage untainted by interbreeding, is straightforward once you understand the pronunciation. In IPA, "pure" is /pjʊər/ and "blooded" is /blʌdɪd/. The "p" in "pure" is silent, while the "e" is pronounced like the "u" in "cut". The "u" in "blooded" is pronounced like the "uh" sound in "but". People sometimes misspell this phrase as "purebred", which means the same thing but lacks the connotation of being untainted by interbreeding.
Pure-blooded is an adjective that refers to the state or quality of being purely of a specific breed or lineage, without any mixture or crossbreeding with other breeds or lineages. It is commonly used in reference to animals, specifically to describe the pedigree or genetic makeup of a particular breed.
In genetics and breeding, pure-blooded animals retain the characteristics and traits that are considered specific to their breed, allowing them to conform closely to breed standards. This purity is achieved through careful selective breeding practices that aim to maintain and preserve desirable traits such as physical appearance, temperament, and other breed-specific attributes. Pure-blooded animals are often highly valued and sought after for their predictability in terms of genetic traits and their ability to pass on these traits to future generations.
Beyond animal breeding, the term pure-blooded can also be extended to describe individuals or groups that belong to a specific ethnic or cultural background without any intermarriage or admixture with other ethnicities. This usage, however, is more subjective and carries connotations related to notions of purity, heritage, and lineage, often connected to ideas of cultural authenticity and historical preservation.
Overall, the term pure-blooded denotes a genetic or cultural heritage that is devoid of any mixture, emphasizing the preservation and continuation of specific traits, characteristics, or traditions associated with a particular breed or people.
The term "pure-blooded" is derived from two separate components: "pure" and "blooded".
The word "pure" can be traced back to the Latin word "purus", meaning "clean" or "unmixed". It entered the English language via Old French, where it was adapted as "pur" or "purr", which also carried the meaning of "pure" or "unmixed". Over time, the spelling evolved to become "pure", and it retained its original sense of cleanliness and absence of impurities.
The term "blooded" originates from the concept of "bloodlines" or noble descent. It is derived from the Old English word "blōd", meaning "blood". In the context of "pure-blooded", "blooded" refers to having pure or lineage-confirmed ancestry. It implies being descended from a specific line of individuals without any intermingling with other lineages.