The word "succumb", meaning to yield or give in to pressure or temptation, is spelled with the letters s-u-c-c-u-m-b. Its phonetic transcription in IPA is /səˈkʌm/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "uh" sound, followed by a stressed "kuhm" sound. The double "c" in the middle of the word is pronounced as a hard "k" sound, and the final "b" is silent. With its complex spelling, "succumb" can be a challenging word for spellers to master.
Succumb is a verb that refers to the act of yielding or giving in to a force, pressure, or temptation. It involves submitting to something that is considered powerful, overwhelming, or persuasive. Succumbing can be both a physical and mental act, as it encompasses both the body and mind surrendering to an external force or influence.
In terms of its usage, succumb often implies a lack of resistance or an inability to withstand the impact of the prevailing element. It suggests being overcome by emotions, desires, or circumstances that prove to be too strong to resist or endure. Succumbing can also be associated with negative outcomes or consequences resulting from one's surrender, such as failure, harm, or loss.
Furthermore, succumb can be used to describe the submission in a physical sense, as in surrendering to a disease, injury, or exhaustion. It conveys the notion of falling victim to an ailment or condition, unable to recover or fight against it. In this context, succumbing can imply the ultimate defeat or demise.
Overall, the term succumb represents the act of giving in, losing control, or being overwhelmed by an external force or influence. It encapsulates the surrender of resistance, whether in the form of mental submission or physical defeat, conveying the idea of being unable to withstand or overcome a compelling or dominant entity.
To sink under; to submit; to yield.
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 "succumb" originated from the Latin verb "succumbere", which is composed of the prefix "sub-" meaning "under" or "to yield" and the verb "cumbere" meaning "to lie down". In its literal sense, "succumbere" referred to yielding physically or surrendering to something by lying down. Over time, the word took on a figurative sense, indicating giving in or yielding to something, such as a temptation, pressure, or illness. This evolved into the modern English meaning of "succumb", which refers to yielding, surrendering, or being overcome by something.