The phrase "teary eyed" consists of two words, with "teary" pronounced as /ˈtɪri/ and "eyed" pronounced as /aɪd/. The spelling of "teary" consists of five letters and is pronounced with two syllables. The root word is "tear," meaning a drop of water from the eye, and is spelled the same as the word that means to rip or pull apart. The spelling of "eyed" consists of four letters and is pronounced with one syllable. Together, the phrase describes a person who is about to cry or has just finished crying.
"Teary-eyed" is an adjective used to describe a person whose eyes are filled with tears or on the verge of crying. When someone is teary-eyed, their eyes appear wet or glossy due to the presence of unshed or recently shed tears, often an emotional response to sadness, happiness, or any intense sentiment.
This term is often associated with strong emotions that may overwhelm an individual, causing their eyes to well up with tears. It indicates a heightened emotional state where tears are either actively streaming down the person's face or waiting to burst forth. The condition is typically characterized by redness or slight puffiness around the eyes, indicating that the individual has been or is about to cry.
The use of "teary-eyed" can be extended to depict not only sadness but also joy or sentimental moments that evoke a similar emotional response. For instance, witnessing a heartwarming gesture or a profoundly touching scene in a movie can leave a person teary-eyed due to the sheer intensity of the emotions experienced.
Overall, "teary-eyed" encapsulates the visual manifestation of excessive emotions in a person, emphasizing the presence of tears and the acute vulnerability associated with such emotional overflow.
The word "teary-eyed" is formed by combining two separate components: "teary" and "eyed".
The word "teary" originates from the noun "tear", which refers to the salty liquid that is secreted by the lacrimal glands in the eyes when one is experiencing strong emotions like sadness, joy, or pain. "Tear" can be traced back to the Middle English word "tere" and the Old English word "tear", both of which have the same meaning.
The term "eyed" is derived from the noun "eye", which comes from the Old English word "ēage". "Eyed" is used to describe or refer to something related to the eyes or having a particular type or quality of eyes.
When combined, "teary-eyed" is an adjective that describes someone or something that has eyes filled or moistened with tears due to an emotional state.