2 syllables: in, cised. Stress on cised.
in-SEYEZD
/ˌɪˈnsaɪzd/
incised is pronounced in-SEYEZD (/ˌɪˈnsaɪzd/). It has two syllables (in-cised), with the stress on "cised". Incised refers to something cut or carved into a surface, typically with a sharp instrument. The term implies precise, deliberate carving or engraving, often creating a visible groove or indentation. In practice, it describes designs, letters, or patterns that have been etched into material such as stone, wood, or metal. It can also describe features produced by surgical or preparatory cutting.
Incised refers to something cut or carved into a surface, typically with a sharp instrument. The term implies precise, deliberate carving or engraving, often creating a visible groove or indentation. In practice, it describes designs, letters, or patterns that have been etched into material such as stone, wood, or metal. It can also describe features produced by surgical or preparatory cutting.
"The monument bore incised letters that caught the light beautifully."
"Ancient artisans incised intricate patterns into bronze."
"The chest was opened and the lid was incised with decorative runes."
Say it as in-CAI-zed, with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪnˈsaɪzd/. The first syllable is unstressed and quick (ɪn), the middle vowel is the long I (aɪ), and the final -zed ends with a /z/ sound followed by a voiced d. In careful speech you’ll hear a crisp /z/ before the final /d/. Audio references: you can compare to pronunciations on standard dictionaries and Forvo entries for incised to hear a clean /ˈsaɪ/.
Common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable (ˈin-siced) instead of the second; (2) mispronouncing the middle vowel as short i (ɪ-ted) rather than long I (aɪ) in /ˈsaɪ/; (3) voicing laxity on the final -ed, saying /-t/ or /-d/ inconsistently. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with a clear /aɪ/ diphthong, ensure the final is a voiced /d/ after a clear /z/ (/z/ before /d/ is crisper), and maintain the neutral, quick first syllable ɪn. Practice with minimal pairs and slow to normal pace until steady.
Across accents, the core /ˈsaɪzd/ stays stable, but vowel qualities shift slightly. US tend to keep a strong rhotic and a slightly flatter /ɪ/ in the first syllable, UK may have crisper consonants and shorter /ɪ/ before the diphthong, and AU often has a slightly broader vowel quality with a very crisp /z/ before /d/. Overall, the main differences are subtle: vowel length and adherence to /z/ vs /s/ transitions, with UK sometimes preserving tighter alveolar articulation, and AU aligning closer to General Australian vowel shifts while keeping the stress on -sized.
The difficulty lies in the combination of a stressed, long diphthong /aɪ/ in the second syllable and the adjacent voiced consonants /z/ and /d/, which can blur in casual speech. The transition from the /aɪ/ to /z/ requires a clean boundary, and the /z/ must remain voiced before the final /d/. Some speakers also reduce the first syllable, risking loss of the initial /ɪ/. Focus on keeping /ɪn/ lightly stressed, then deliver /ˈsaɪzd/ with crisp /z/ before /d/ for maximum clarity.
Yes. The word has a neat syllabic boundary after the first syllable, and the second syllable centers on a strong diphthong /aɪ/ followed by a distinct /z/ + /d/ combination. The sequence /-aɪzd/ creates a compact, high-energy nucleus that’s easy to mispronounce if the /z/ is not clearly voiced or if the /d/ is devoiced in rapid speech. Keeping the tongue close to the alveolar ridge for /z/ and ensuring the /d/ is released fully makes the pronunciation clean and professional.
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Incised comes from the past participle of the verb incise, which derives from the French inciser, from Latin incidere meaning to cut into or to strike against. The Latin in- “upon, into” + incidere “to cut into, to fall upon” eventually shaped the Old French inciser, meaning to cut into. In Middle English, incise entered with the sense of to carve or engrave into a surface. Over time, the word broadened to cover any marking produced by cutting, with particular emphasis on deliberate, precise perforations or grooves. The term is commonly found in art history, archaeology, dentistry, and surgery, where etching or cutting into material or tissue is central. The morphological evolution reflects a shift from general “to cut” to a specialized technical sense in craftsmanship and medicine. The first known uses in English appear in texts related to sculpture and metalwork in the late medieval period, with continued prominence in descriptions of inscriptions on monuments and durable engravings through the early modern era. Historically, incised patterns signified intentional artistry and technical skill, distinguishing them from rough or incidental marks. In contemporary usage, incised frequently appears in archaeology, dentistry (incised margins), and fashion (incised designs on metal or leather).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "incised" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "incised"
-sed sounds
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