How Do You Spell SQUARELY?

Pronunciation: [skwˈe͡əli] (IPA)

The word "squarely", spelled /ˈskwerli/, is formed from the adjective "square". The "-ly" suffix is added to indicate that the action is done in a square shape or in a direct and honest manner. The phonetic transcription shows that the stress is on the second syllable. The first syllable is pronounced as /skwɛr/ with a "kw" sound, while the second syllable is pronounced as /li/ with a long "e" sound. The spelling of this word accurately represents the sound of the word when pronounced.

SQUARELY Meaning and Definition

1. Squarely is an adverb that describes an action or situation that is done directly, precisely, or squarely. It suggests a direct and straightforward approach or alignment. The word derives from the noun "square," referring to a geometric shape with four equal sides and four right angles, which conveys the idea of exactness and evenness.

   In a physical sense, "squarely" implies that someone or something has been positioned or placed directly in a particular location, with proper alignment and without any inclination or deviation. For example, if a table is said to be "squarely" in the center of the room, it means it is positioned exactly at the central point without any misalignment.

   "Squarely" can also be used metaphorically to describe an action or thought process. It refers to an approach that is direct and focused, leaving no room for ambiguity, doubt, or uncertainty. For instance, if someone firmly and directly addresses an issue, they can be said to have dealt with it "squarely."

   Furthermore, "squarely" can indicate that blame, responsibility, or credit lies precisely with a particular individual or group. It suggests that someone is being held accountable for their actions or decisions, directly and without any evasion or shifting of responsibility.

   Overall, "squarely" embodies characteristics of precision, alignment, directness, accuracy, and responsibility, both in physical and metaphorical contexts.

Top Common Misspellings for SQUARELY *

• squarly 65.5172413%
• squarley 34.4827586%

* 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 SQUARELY

• quarel
• squrrel
• squarl
• quarerly
• squirrly
• sqaurely
• squrriely
• surrely
• squarrels
• squarel
• sqarely
• squirel
• squrrels
• squarrel
• squerels
• squerel
• squrels
• squekely
• Aquarels
• Squarlye

Etymology of SQUARELY

The word "squarely" originated from the noun "square", which has a rather complex etymology. "Square" can be traced back to the Latin word "quadrātus", meaning "made into a square" or "having four equal sides". In turn, "quadrātus" is derived from the Latin term "quadrāre", meaning "to make square or rectangular".

The English term "square" has several meanings, one of which refers to a geometric shape with four equal sides and four right angles. Another meaning of "square" refers to being honest, fair, or in line with accepted standards. Over time, an adverbial form was derived from the noun "square", resulting in "squarely".

"Squarely" is formed by appending the adverbial suffix "-ly" to "square", indicating manner or style.

Idioms with the word SQUARELY

• fairly and squarely The idiom "fairly and squarely" means to do something in an honest, just, and straightforward manner, without any deception or unfair advantage.
• fall (squarely) on (someone's) shoulders To be the responsibility or burden of someone.

Similar spelling word for SQUARELY

• squirrel.