Infinity is the state or quality of boundless extent, quantity, or duration, without end. In mathematics, it denotes a value larger than any real number, often symbolized by ∞. As a concept, it conveys endlessness but is treated with precise rules in analysis and set theory, while in everyday use it suggests immeasurable or limitless possibilities.
"The universe may be vast, perhaps containing infinity beyond what we can observe."
"In calculus, people study limits approaching infinity."
"She spoke with infinity of enthusiasm about the project."
"The artist’s imagination seemed to stretch toward infinity, unconstrained by limits."
Infinity comes from Middle English infinitee, from Old French infinité, from Latin infinitas, from infinitus meaning 'unbounded, limitless,' from in- 'not' + finitus 'defined, finite,' from finis 'end.' The root fin- traces to the notion of an end or boundary, and the prefix in- negates that boundary, yielding 'not finite' or 'unbounded.' In mathematical discourse, the term gained formal significance in the 17th–18th centuries with developers of calculus and set theory, aligning with the concept of magnitude without limit. Early usage framed infinity as an abstract, potentially non-denumerable quantity, later formalized in analysis and topology with different flavors (potential vs actual infinity) depending on the branch. The symbol ∞ was introduced in the 17th century by John Wallis, popularized in the 18th century by mathematicians like Cantor, who explored different sizes and types of infinity in set theory. In everyday language, infinity broadened to denote an immeasurable extent, often used metaphorically to describe endless possibilities or durations.
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Words that rhyme with "Infinity"
-ity sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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You say in-FIN-i-tee with stress on the second syllable. IPA US: ɪnˈfɪnɪti, UK: ɪnˈfɪnɪti, AU: ɪnˈfɪnɪti. Start with a short, unstressed 'i' sound, then a clear 'fin' with a short 'i' as in 'fin,' followed by a light 'i' and a long final 'tee.' Keep the final 'ti' as two syllables, not a silent cut. Mouth positions: lips relaxed, tongue tip near the bottom teeth for the initial 'ɪ,' then raise the middle of the tongue for 'ˈfɪn,' and finish with an open, spread vowel for 'iː' or 'iəti' depending on speaker.
Common errors include over-weakening the second syllable and misplacing the stress. People sometimes say in-FIN-i-tee with the stress too late or too early. Another frequent mistake is treating the ending as a single 'tee' instead of two quick sounds 'ti' (/ti/) or 'ti' as /ti/ with a clear stop after /n/. Practice by isolating the 'FIN' cluster, then smoothly glide into /ɪ/ and /ti/.
In US, the sequence often surfaces as /ɪnˈfɪnɪti/, with clear /ɪ/ in the first and second syllables and a light, almost /t/ release at the end. UK tends to maintain similar vowels but with slightly rounded lips on /ɪ/ and a crisper /t/. Australian pronunciations mimic US Vowel qualities but with a more centralized /ɪ/ and often a softer /t/ in rapid speech. The rhoticity is variable in accents close to non-rhotic varieties; the r-color remains non-phonemic in many contexts.
The challenge lies in maintaining the unstressed, weak vowels in the middle while keeping a crisp secondary stress on the second syllable. The consonant cluster /nˈfɪn/ requires precise tongue positioning—tongue blade near alveolar ridge for /n/ and a quick /f/ without lip clamping. The ending /ɪti/ demands a clean transition from a short /ɪ/ to a light /ti/ with proper dental-alveolar articulation. Misplacing stress or smoothing the /t/ can make it sound like 'infinitie' or 'in-fin-i-ty' with a broken rhythm.
A unique aspect is preserving the sequence of short vowels around the 'n' cluster and ensuring the final 'ty' is not conflated with a 'tee' that lacks a pronounced 'i' vowel. The word sustains a bivalent syllable structure: in-FIN-i-ty, with two fast, light trailing vowels after the primary stressed onset. This requires precise pitch and timing, especially in synthetic or rapid speech where the end can blend into following words.
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