How Do You Spell CURSORY?

Pronunciation: [kˈɜːsəɹˌi] (IPA)

The word "cursory" is spelled with eight letters, but the pronunciation is a bit more complex. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is /ˈkɜːrsəri/. The stress falls on the second syllable, which is pronounced with the "er" sound. The "c" is pronounced as "k," the "u" as "er," and the "s" is followed by an "ər" sound. The second "r" is dropped in American English, leading to the pronunciation /ˈkɜrsəri/. This word means something done quickly, without attention to detail.

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CURSORY Meaning and Definition

  1. Cursory is an adjective derived from the Latin word "cursus," meaning "course" or "run." It refers to something that is done or executed hastily, rapidly, or without much attention to detail. When applied to a person's actions or behaviors, it describes a quick or brief action performed in a superficial or careless manner.

    A cursory examination or review implies a swift evaluation, without delving deeply into the subject matter or thoroughly exploring all aspects. It suggests a lack of thoroughness or depth, often due to time constraints or disinterest. For instance, someone who gives a cursory glance at a book merely skims through the pages without immersing themselves in the content or fully comprehending its meaning. Similarly, conducting a cursory investigation implies a minimal effort to uncover facts or evidence, failing to thoroughly examine all potential leads or sources.

    In essence, cursory conveys the idea of superficiality or a mere passing glance, neglecting to invest significant time or energy. It suggests an incomplete understanding or evaluation of a subject matter due to the lack of attention or detail given. Thus, a cursory action or examination does not prioritize thoroughness or comprehensive analysis, but rather focuses on speed or brevity.

  2. Hasty; slight; superficial; not with close attention.

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

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* 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.

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Etymology of CURSORY

The word "cursory" can be traced back to the Latin word "cursus", which means "run" or "course". In Latin, the word "cursus" was often used in the context of racing or running swiftly. Over time, the word "cursus" evolved into "cursorius" in Late Latin, meaning "hasty" or "swift". From there, it entered Middle English as "cursory" in the 16th century, retaining the meaning of something done hastily or quickly.

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