How Do You Spell SELDOM?

Pronunciation: [sˈɛldəm] (IPA)

Seldom, pronounced as /ˈsɛldəm/, is an adjective that means not often or rarely. The word follows the typical English spelling pattern, with each vowel representing a different sound. The first vowel ‘e’ makes a short ‘e’ sound, while the second vowel ‘o’ makes a soft ‘uh’ sound. The final vowel ‘e’ is silent and serves as a marker to indicate that the ‘l’ is pronounced differently than it would be in the absence of the following vowel. Overall, the spelling of seldom follows the English language’s reliance on the vowels to create distinct sounds within words.

SELDOM Meaning and Definition

  1. Seldom is an adverb used to describe occurrences or events that happen rarely or infrequently. The term implies that something does not happen often or is not common. It conveys a sense of rarity or scarcity, emphasizing the infrequency or unusualness of a certain action, situation, or outcome.

    Seldom is often synonymous with words like "rarely," "occasionally," "infrequently," or "hardly ever." It typically implies that the particular event or action is not a regular or expected occurrence. For example, if someone says, "I seldom go to the cinema," it means that they rarely or on rare occasions visit the cinema.

    The term denotes a low frequency or occurrence rate, suggesting that the described action or situation is unusual or atypical. It can be used in various contexts, ranging from personal experiences to general observations. It highlights the irregularity or unusual nature of the subject matter.

    Overall, seldom describes something that happens infrequently or rarely, emphasizing its scarcity or unusualness compared to more common or regular events. It is an adverb used to indicate the low frequency or occurrence rate of an action, situation, or outcome.

  2. Rarely: not often.

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

Top Common Misspellings for SELDOM *

* 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 SELDOM

Etymology of SELDOM

The word "seldom" dates back to Middle English, where it was originally spelled as "seldan" or "seldum". It traces its origins to the Old English word "seldan", which meant rare or infrequently. This Old English term itself was derived from the Proto-Germanic word "seldanē", which also meant seldom. The Proto-Germanic term can be further traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*sēl-", which conveyed the notion of separation or apartness. From these sources, we can see that the word "seldom" has retained its meaning of occurring rarely or infrequently throughout its evolution.

Idioms with the word SELDOM

  • Desert and reward seldom keep company. The idiom "Desert and reward seldom keep company" means that hard work or deserving something does not always guarantee a reward or favorable outcome. It highlights the idea that just because someone deserves or expects something does not mean they will actually receive it.
  • Things are seldom what they seem. The idiom "Things are seldom what they seem" means that appearances or first impressions can often be deceiving. It suggests that situations or people may not always be as they appear on the surface, and that deeper investigation or understanding is necessary to uncover the true nature or reality.
  • barking dogs seldom bite The idiom "barking dogs seldom bite" means that people who make a lot of threats or noise are often not capable or willing to carry out their threats or take any substantial action.

Similar spelling words for SELDOM

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