The spelling of "scattered" can be a bit tricky due to its pronunciation. The word is phonetically transcribed as /ˈskætərd/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "sc" in "scattered" makes the /sk/ sound, followed by the short "a" sound, spelled as "a". The next syllable starts with a "t", then an unstressed "e" sound followed by the "r" at the end. Overall, the spelling of "scattered" accurately represents its pronunciation, making it an important word to practice for English learners.
The term "scattered" is primarily an adjective that is used to describe objects, things, or individuals that are distributed or spread out in a disorganized or random manner. It is commonly associated with the action of scattering, which means to disperse or scatter objects or people widely and irregularly.
When something is referred to as scattered, it implies that there is no specific order or arrangement, resulting in a lack of coherence or concentration. This adjective can be used in various contexts, such as describing objects or items that are sparsely positioned throughout a given space or individuals who are not grouped together but rather located in different areas or directions.
In a broader sense, the term "scattered" can also describe the state of someone's thoughts or focus. It may refer to a person's inability to concentrate or maintain attention, giving the impression that their ideas or thinking are disorganized and not coherent.
Furthermore, "scattered" can be used figuratively to describe events or circumstances that are widespread and not concentrated in one specific location or time. This adjective can be employed to convey the idea of diversity or variation, as it suggests that elements or factors are dispersed in a broad range of places or occur at different times.
Overall, "scattered" encapsulates the concept of disorganization, irregularity, and lack of concentration, whether describing physical objects, people's thoughts, or broader events and circumstances.
Dispersed; thinly spread; dissipated; in bot., without apparent symmetry in arrangement.
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 "scattered" originated from the Middle English word "scateren", which came from the Old Norse word "skatra", meaning "to disperse or scatter". The Old Norse word ultimately traces back to the Proto-Germanic root word "*skautijaną", which means "to shoot, eject, or emit".