The word "unprovoked" is spelled /ʌnprəˈvəʊkt/ in IPA phonetic transcription. It begins with the unstressed vowel sound /ʌn/ and is followed by the stressed syllable /prə/. The second syllable features a schwa sound /ˈvə/ followed by the long vowel sound /ʊ/ in the final syllable /kt/. The silent -e at the end indicates that the preceding vowel is long. This word is commonly used to describe actions that are carried out without any previous provocation.
The term "unprovoked" is used as an adjective to describe an action or behavior that occurs without any preceding incitement, stimulus, or aggression. When an event or a reaction is labeled as unprovoked, it implies that it happened spontaneously or without a discernible cause.
The word "unprovoked" can be commonly associated with acts of aggression or violence that occur without any apparent motivation, as if occurring out of the blue. It suggests an absence of prior action, words, or intentions that could have elicited such a response. This term can also apply to other less serious or harmful actions, such as unprovoked laughter, in which there seems to be no apparent reason behind an outburst of laughter.
In the realm of nature and wildlife, the term "unprovoked" is often used to describe animal attacks on humans or other animals that occur unexpectedly or without direct antagonism from the victim. For example, an unprovoked shark attack would refer to an incident where the shark initiated an attack without being provoked or threatened by the swimmer.
Overall, "unprovoked" indicates that an action or behavior occurred without any known or apparent reason, suggesting that it was spontaneous, unexpected, or lacking an external cause that could have prompted the event.
Not proceeding from a just cause; not incited.
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 unprovoked originates from the combination of the prefix un-, which means not, and the verb provoke. The verb provoke comes from the Latin word provocare, which means to call forth or to challenge. Over time, provoke has developed the meaning of inciting or stimulating someone or something into action, often in a negative or adversarial sense. By adding the prefix un-, the word unprovoked is formed, meaning not provoked or not incited.