I caught her eavesdropping on us today
She is the heir to the business and wants to be informed about all events in the oce
What is the meaning and origin of ‘eavesdrop’? ( J. Banerjee, Kolkata)
The word consists of two syllables; the ‘eave’ in the rst, sounds like the word ‘eve’, and the following ‘s’ is pronounced like the ‘z’ in ‘zip’, ‘zoo’ and ‘zen’. The second syllable is pronounced like the word ‘drop’. The word is pronounced ‘EVEZ-drop’, with the stress on the rst syllable. When you eavesdrop on someone, you are secretly listening to an individual’s private conversation. It is a deliberate act, and it is for this reason that the word carries with it a sense of disapproval.
The kids were trying to eavesdrop on their parents’ conversation.
In the past, it was common practice to build a house with a sloping roof. This was done to ensure that when it rained, the water did not collect on the roof, but merely slid o¡ and landed some distance away from the house. In order to achieve this, the roof was extended beyond the external walls of the house, and the portions which extended beyond the walls were called ‘eaves’. The word comes from the Old English ‘efes’ meaning ‘edge of a roof’. Eavesdrop was rst used to refer to the place around the house where the water from the eaves dripped. So, the original ‘eavesdropper’ was someone who stood under the eaves and listened to the conversation inside the house.
What is the dierence between ‘inquire’ and ‘enquire’?
The two words come from the Latin ‘quaere’ meaning ‘to ask’. Another word, which has a similar meaning, is ‘query’. The British make a distinction between the two verbs, ‘inquire’ and ‘enquire’. They use the word ‘enquire’ in mostly informal contexts; when they pose a very general question and request for information in a casual manner.
The elderly gentleman enquired when the bookstore would open.
In British English, the use of the word ‘inquire’ suggests that there is a formal investigation of some kind.
The police are inquiring into the activities of the gang members.
The Americans keep matters simple — they use only ‘inquire’ in all contexts. ‘Enquire’ is avoided.
What is the correct pronunciation of ‘heir’? (S. Lavanya, Chennai)
Native speakers of English pronounce it like the word ‘air’ — the letter ‘h’ remains silent. ‘Heir’ comes from the Old French ‘oir’ meaning ‘successor’. Nowadays, the word is mostly used to refer to a person who legally inherits money, property, etc. from a deceased individual — for example, the son or daughter inheriting the father’s or mother’s wealth.
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