The spelling of the word "sheered" may be confusing as it contains a silent "e." However, the IPA phonetic transcription can help clarify its pronunciation as /ʃɪrd/. The "ee" sound in the middle is pronounced as a short "i" sound, while the final "e" is not pronounced but serves to indicate that the "r" should be pronounced with a silent "e" sound. "Sheered" is commonly used to describe a sudden change in direction, such as a ship that has sheered off course.
Sheered is a verb that refers to the act of deviating abruptly or sharply from a straight or direct course. It involves a sudden change in direction, usually brought about by an external force or influence. When something sheers, it moves sideways or shifts off its original path without warning or control.
In maritime contexts, the term sheered is often used to describe a vessel's movement. It denotes when a ship veers off its intended course due to wind, waves, or other navigational factors. When a ship sheers, it can result in an unpredictable shift, making it difficult for the crew to maintain control.
Sheering can also be employed metaphorically to describe situations beyond the maritime domain. For instance, it can depict a sudden or unexpected change in someone's behavior, attitude, or beliefs. It may indicate a deviation from the norm or the original intention, manifesting as a shift in direction.
The term sheered is commonly used in various fields, such as aviation, meteorology, automotive, and general navigation. It encapsulates the notion of sudden and abrupt alterations in movement, trajectory, or course. Whether it relates to a ship swerving on the open seas or a person's unpredictable change of stance, sheered captures the essence of veering off a set path or direction.
To sheer off, to turn or move aside to a distance; to steal away; to sheer up, to turn and approach to a ship or place in nearly a parallel direction.
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 "sheered" comes from the Middle English word "sher", which means "to turn aside" or "go obliquely". This Middle English term is believed to have derived from the Middle Dutch word "scheyden" or the Old Norse word "skeiða", both of which carry a similar meaning of "to separate" or "to divide". The sense of "sheered" as it is used today, meaning to deviate from a straight course or to veer suddenly, originated around the 16th century.