Word: deterred (verb)

Associations

"Deterred" means to discourage someone from doing something. It often implies that fear or doubt stops a person from taking action.

• Example 1: "She was deterred from climbing the mountain due to bad weather." (The bad weather discouraged her from climbing.)
• Example 2: "The high cost of the ticket deterred many people from attending the concert." (The price made people think twice about going.)
• Example 3: "He was deterred by the thought of failing the exam." (The fear of failure stopped him from trying.)

A well-known synonym for "deterred" is "discouraged." The main difference is that "deterred" often implies external factors (like fear or obstacles) that stop someone, while "discouraged" can be more internal, relating to one's feelings or motivation.

Substitution

Other words that can be used in place of "deterred" include:

• "discouraged": This suggests a loss of confidence.
• "prevented": This indicates being stopped from doing something, often by an external force.
• "hindered": This implies difficulty or obstacles that slow down or stop progress.

Using these words can slightly change the meaning. For example, "prevented" may suggest a stronger barrier than "deterred."

Deconstruction

The word "deterred" comes from the root "deter," which means to discourage or prevent. The suffix "-ed" indicates that the action has already happened, making it a past tense verb.

The root "deter" comes from Latin "deterrere," where "de-" means "away" and "terrere" means "to frighten." This shows that the original meaning relates to frightening someone away from an action.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you were deterred from doing something? What stopped you?
• How might someone feel if they are deterred from pursuing their dreams?
• In what situations do you think people are most often deterred?