The word "sodden" is spelled with two D's because it comes from the Old English verb "sodden," meaning "boiled" or "steeped." The phonetic transcription of "sodden" is /ˈsɑdən/ with stress on the first syllable. This word is pronounced with a long "o" sound, followed by a short "u" sound, and ending with a soft "n." The word "sodden" typically refers to something that is heavily saturated with water or other liquid.
Sodden is an adjective that refers to something that is thoroughly soaked or saturated with liquid, usually water. It describes a state where an object or material has absorbed a significant amount of liquid, typically leading to a heavy, damp, or waterlogged condition.
When something is sodden, it implies that it is not just wet, but thoroughly drenched or saturated. It often suggests that the substance or object has lost its original texture, shape, or strength due to the excessive absorption of liquid, which can result in it becoming heavy and difficult to handle. For example, after a heavy rain, a field may become sodden, making it muddy, mushy, and difficult to walk on.
Sodden can also be used metaphorically to describe emotions or feelings. If someone is described as having a sodden spirit or a sodden expression, it means they appear despondent, lifeless, or lacking energy, as if their spirit or emotions have been weighed down or dampened by a heavy burden or sadness.
Overall, sodden is a term that conveys a sense of excessive wetness and saturation, whether literal or metaphorical, suggesting a state of heaviness, dampness, and diminished vitality.
Of seethe, which see, boiled; seethed; applied to bread not well baked; doughy.
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 "sodden" originated from the Old English word "sodden" or "sodenen", which means "boiled thoroughly". It comes from the verb "seethe", which also means to boil or cook. Over time, the spelling of the word has changed, but it has retained its meaning of something that is thoroughly soaked or saturated with a liquid, usually water.