The word "tremendous" is spelled as /trəˈmɛndəs/, according to the International Phonetic Alphabet. This word consists of three syllables: "tre-mend-ous." The first syllable "tre" is pronounced like "truh," followed by "mend" which sounds like "men-duh." The final syllable "ous" is said like "uhs." The spelling of this word follows the standard English spelling rules and is pronounced as it is written. It means something that is extremely large, great, or powerful.
Tremendous, an adjective, is defined as an extreme or extraordinary degree of something. This word is used to describe something that is exceptionally large, intense, powerful, or impressive in nature. It denotes an overwhelming or remarkable quality or quantity, often highlighting someone's strong emotions or an event's profound impact.
In the context of size or amount, 'tremendous' suggests vastness or immense proportions. For example, one might say a building has a tremendous height or an athlete displayed tremendous strength during a performance. It can also describe great strength or forcefulness in non-physical contexts, such as a tremendous storm or a tremendous explosion.
Another aspect where 'tremendous' is commonly used is to convey emotions or feelings. It can denote intense excitement, joy, or satisfaction, emphasizing a person's overwhelming emotions like a tremendous achievement or a tremendous sense of relief. On the other hand, it can also express negative emotions, such as tremendous fear or tremendous sadness when one experiences an immense degree of these sentiments.
Overall, 'tremendous' signifies an exceptional and significant magnitude of various qualities, whether it be physical, emotional, or otherwise. It is a versatile term that encompasses an extraordinary level, creating emphasis and illustrating the remarkable impact or intensity of a particular situation or attribute.
Sufficient to excite fear or terror; dreadful; terrible; extremely violent.
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 "tremendous" derives from the Latin word "tremendus", which is the gerundive form of "tremere". "Tremere" means "to tremble" or "to shake" in Latin. Therefore, "tremendus" originally had the meaning of "to be trembled at" or "to inspire awe". Over time, the word has shifted in meaning and now refers to something of great size, intensity, or impact.