How Do You Spell SMALLEST?

Pronunciation: [smˈɔːləst] (IPA)

The word "smallest" is spelled with the letter combination "-es-" which is pronounced as /ɪz/. This phonetic transcription represents the voiced sound of the letter "s". This spelling is used to indicate that the word is in the third person singular form of the adjective "small". When adding the suffix "-est" to the end of "small", the "e" is dropped and "y" changes to "i". Therefore, "smallest" is spelled with double "l" and "-es-" pronounced as "ɪz".

SMALLEST Meaning and Definition

  1. "Smallest" is defined as the superlative form of the adjective "small," indicating the lowest degree or size within a set or group of objects or entities. It refers to the most diminutive or least substantial in terms of physical dimensions, magnitude, extent, or quantity.

    When describing the physical size of entities, "smallest" conveys the notion of being on a scale or range at the opposite end of "largest." It refers to something of minimal size, compactness, or overall volume in comparison to others in its category. For instance, when discussing various animals, the term "smallest" designates the creature with the least body length, height, weight, or mass among them.

    In a broader sense, "smallest" can also relate to figurative or abstract concepts. It can pertain to something that is least significant, least noticed, or least influential in comparison to others. It suggests that the object, idea, or entity possesses the least power, importance, or impact within a particular context.

    Overall, "smallest" serves as an adjective specifically used to characterize or compare the relative size or significance of objects, qualities, entities, or concepts. It is a term that highlights the minimal dimensions, extent, or influence of a given item, referring to it as the least substantial or least prominent in relation to others in a particular set or group.

Top Common Misspellings for SMALLEST *

* 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 SMALLEST

Etymology of SMALLEST

The word "smallest" is formed from the root word "small" and the comparative suffix "-est".

The term "small" originated from the Old English word "smæl", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "smalaz". This word is also related to the Dutch and German words for "small". The exact origin of "smalaz", however, is uncertain.

The use of the comparative suffix "-est" comes from the Old English "-est", which evolved from the Proto-Germanic "-istaz". This suffix is used to form the superlative degree of adjectives, expressing the highest degree of a quality.

Therefore, by combining the root "small" with the comparative suffix "-est", the word "smallest" is derived to denote the superlative degree of "small", indicating the least size or degree among multiple items or qualities.

Idioms with the word SMALLEST

  • down to the last, smallest, final, etc. something The idiom "down to the last, smallest, final, etc. something" means reaching the very end or completion of something, often implying that there is nothing left beyond that point.

Similar spelling words for SMALLEST

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