Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

umbra versa

/ˈʌmbɹə ˈvɜːsə/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.37 in modern English

Syllables: um-bra ver-sa
IPA: /ˈʌmbɹə ˈvɜːsə/

17

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

On a shadow in the shape of a right triangle, the length of the shadow's edge opposite to a measured angle.

Example Sentences

"Scheubelius a great Mathematician, but by book only, and not by practice who being required ſometime in an Army to make uſe of his Quadrant, knew not the difference between umbra recta, and umbra verſa."

Etymology

First attested in Modern English in 1688, although the phrase was also used in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400) in his Treatise on the Astrolabe; Latin: umbra (“shadow”) + versa (feminine nominative singular of versus, “turned”) = “turned shadow”; compare umbra recta.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈʌmbɹə ˈvɜːsə/

Synonyms

umbra stans

Questions

How do you pronounce umbra versa?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈʌmbɹə ˈvɜːsə/.
What does umbra versa mean?: On a shadow in the shape of a right triangle, the length of the shadow's edge opposite to a measured angle.
Where does umbra versa come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce umbra versa

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “umbra versa”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈʌmbɹə ˈvɜːsə/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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