The word "suspense" is spelled with a "susp" sound at the beginning, which is represented phonetically as /ˈsʌsp/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet. The "susp" sound is followed by the vowel sound /ɛ/ and the consonant cluster "ense", which is pronounced as /ɛns/ in IPA. Together, this creates the full pronunciation of /sʌsˈpɛns/. This word is commonly used to describe a feeling of excitement or nervousness about what might happen next, commonly found in movies or books.
Suspense is a noun that refers to a feeling of anticipation or uncertainty about the outcome of a particular event, situation, or narrative. It is a state of tension or excitement caused by not knowing what will happen next. The term typically evokes a sense of anxiety or excitement, keeping the audience or observer engaged in the outcome of an event.
In literature, suspense is often created through a deliberate delay in revealing important information or by gradually building up the intensity of a situation or conflict. This is done to captivate the reader's attention and keep them on edge, eager to know what will happen next. Suspense can be generated through various techniques such as foreshadowing, red herrings, unexpected plot twists, or by placing characters in dangerous or high-stakes scenarios.
In film and television, suspense is often achieved through the use of clever editing, camera angles, music, and lighting to heighten tension and create a sense of unease. Directors and screenwriters strategically manipulate these elements to build anticipation and keep the audience engaged. Suspense can be found in various genres, including thrillers, mysteries, horror, and action-packed narratives.
Overall, suspense is a powerful tool used in storytelling to create a sense of excitement, uncertainty, and anticipation, making it an essential element in captivating and engrossing an audience.
• A state of uncertainty; doubt; indecision; cessation for a time.
• Held in doubt or expectation.
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 "suspense" originated from the Latin word "suspensus", which is the past participle of "suspendere". "Suspendere" is a combination of the prefix "sub-", meaning "from below", and "pendere", meaning "to hang". Thus, the literal meaning of "suspendere" is "to hang from below". Over time, this Latin word evolved into the Middle French term "suspens", which eventually became "suspense" in English.