How Do You Spell RAVENOUS?

Pronunciation: [ɹˈavənəs] (IPA)

The word ravenous, meaning extremely hungry or craving, is spelled with the letter 'r' followed by six other letters. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ˈrævənəs/. This breaks down as 'r' (/r/ sound) followed by 'a' (/æ/ sound), then 'v' (/v/ sound), 'ə' (the schwa sound), 'n' (/n/ sound) and 'əs' (the plural suffix). The schwa sound is unstressed and pronounced like a short 'uh' sound. Together, these sounds make ravenous a relatively easy word to spell once you get the hang of it.

RAVENOUS Meaning and Definition

1. The term "ravenous" refers to a state of extreme hunger or a voracious appetite. It is an adjective that is used to describe a person or animal that is excessively eager or desperate for food. The word is commonly used to convey an intense craving for sustenance or nourishment.

   When a person is ravenous, they experience an overwhelming desire to eat and often exhibit signs of physical discomfort and weakness caused by deprivation. Their hunger can manifest as an urgent need to consume large quantities of food in a short period. This state of extreme hunger may result from extended periods without eating or from engaging in physically demanding activities that deplete the body's energy stores.

   In a broader sense, "ravenous" can also be used metaphorically to describe a deep longing or desire for something other than food. For instance, one may have a ravenous appetite for knowledge, success, or power, indicating an insatiable craving or drive to attain these goals.

   The term "ravenous" is derived from the Latin word "rapere," meaning "to seize or snatch." It carries a connotation of urgency and rapacity, suggesting an overpowering impulse to consume. The word is often employed to create vivid and descriptive imagery, effectively portraying the intensity and urgency of extreme hunger.

2. Eating with indecent haste and greediness; furiously voracious or eager.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for RAVENOUS *

• ravonous 36.3636363%
• ravinous 18.1818181%
• ravenious 18.1818181%

* 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.

Other Common Misspellings for RAVENOUS

• ravanous
• reveneus
• ravunous
• aveneus
• avenus
• ravernous
• ravenues
• revenus
• Naveous
• revelous
• favelous
• Paverous
• ravenorous
• Rafinous
• ranenons
• Travelous
• Ravonus
• braverous
• Isckoicavernosus
• zoagenous
• havenous
• lagenous

Etymology of RAVENOUS

The word "ravenous" originated from the Latin term "rabere", meaning "to be mad" or "to rage". It later evolved into the Latin word "ravere", which meant "to be seized by frenzy" or "to rage like a wild animal". From there, it entered Old French as "ravein", which eventually became "ravenous" in Middle English. The word "ravenous" has maintained its meaning of extreme hunger or eager desire.

Similar spelling words for RAVENOUS

• ravenously,
• ravenscroft.