How Do You Spell FELLOW?

Pronunciation: [fˈɛlə͡ʊ] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "fellow" is different from its pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription of "fellow" is /ˈfɛloʊ/, while the traditional spelling uses two L's. The reason for this spelling difference is due to the historical development of the English language, where the double L sounds were once pronounced separately, but eventually merged into a single /l/ sound. Nevertheless, the spelling "fellow" persists, and it remains an important word in the English language, referring to a male companion or colleague.

FELLOW Meaning and Definition

  1. Fellow is a noun commonly used to refer to a person, often in a somewhat informal or friendly manner. It is typically used to indicate someone who shares a particular characteristic, profession, or position. The word originated from the Middle English term "felawe" during the 13th century.

    In a generic sense, fellow can denote a companion, comrade, or a person of the same status or occupation. It is often used to express camaraderie or friendship among individuals. For example, one might say, "He is a fellow student" or "She is a fellow musician," indicating that they possess shared interests or pursuits.

    Furthermore, fellow has specific contexts wherein it denotes members of academic communities or specific fellowships. For instance, in some universities or organizations, Fellow is an honorary or prestigious title bestowed upon individuals who have achieved exceptional accomplishments or recognition in their field. Additionally, Fellow can refer to a graduate student or scholar receiving financial aid or funding for research or study.

    Overall, fellow serves as a versatile term capturing notions of companionship, commonality, or shared experiences among individuals. Its usage can convey warmth, equality, respect, or recognition within various social, professional, or academic settings.

  2. A person or thing joined or associated with another; a companion; one of a pair; a name of contempt; in a learned society, one who holds a higher status than that of a member; a member of a college who is on the foundation and receives an income from its revenues.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for FELLOW *

* 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.

Other Common Misspellings for FELLOW

Etymology of FELLOW

The word "fellow" has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Old English word "feolaga", which meant a partner or companion. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "felag", where "fel" meant "together" or "common", and "lag" meant "way" or "path". So, "feolaga" essentially referred to someone who shared the same way or path.

Over time, the word "feolaga" evolved into "felawe" in Middle English, and eventually became "fellow" in Modern English. The meaning expanded from just a partner or companion to include a member of a group or an associate. Today, "fellow" can be used to refer to a colleague, peer, or even just an ordinary person.

Idioms with the word FELLOW

  • hail fellow well met The idiom "hail fellow well met" refers to someone who is friendly, affable, and sociable upon first meeting them, often disguising their true intentions or character. They present themselves as warm and welcoming, but their friendliness may not be genuine or consistent.
  • hale-fellow-well-met The idiom "hale-fellow-well-met" refers to someone who is friendly, outgoing, and sociable. It describes an individual who easily makes friends and acquaintances, often with a warm and welcoming demeanor.
  • a fellow traveller The idiom "a fellow traveller" refers to a person who supports or sympathizes with a particular political or social group without being an official member. It often implies that the person shares similar beliefs or ideologies with the group, even though they are not directly involved or actively dedicated to it.
  • fellow traveler The idiom "fellow traveler" typically refers to a person who supports or shares similar beliefs, ideologies, or political views with a particular group, organization, or movement, without officially being a member or actively participating in it.
  • a/the devil of a job, nuisance, fellow, etc. The idiom "a/the devil of a job, nuisance, fellow, etc." is used to describe something or someone that is difficult, troublesome, or annoying. It implies that dealing with that particular situation or individual is challenging and requires a great deal of effort or patience.

Similar spelling words for FELLOW

Plural form of FELLOW is FELLOWS

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