Sundry is an adjective meaning various or miscellaneous items. It is used to describe a collection that is varied and not specifically categorized. In formal writing, it often appears in lists or descriptions to indicate a range of different things, without implying any order or priority.
"The charity collects sundry items, from clothing to small household goods."
"During the inventory, the box contained sundry parts that didn’t belong to any single category."
"She packed sundry supplies for the trip, including maps, batteries, and notebooks."
"The report summarized sundry concerns raised by the committee, spanning logistics to communications."
Sundry originates from the Middle English sundri, derived from Old English asundrian meaning ‘to separate’ or ‘to set apart.’ The root elements are asunder (‘apart’) combined with a compound sense of various, miscellaneous items gathered together. By the 14th century, sundry appeared in legal and clerical contexts to indicate ‘various, diverse’ items in a single list, often contrasted with items of known or specific type. The term passed into general English usage by the early modern period, retaining its sense of a heterogeneous assortment. Over time, sundry has become a formal or slightly old-fashioned descriptor in both British and American English, most common in written or semi-formal prose. Its pronunciation has remained stable, with emphasis on the first syllable, and it’s commonly found in phrases like “sundry goods” or “sundry items” in catalogues, inventories, and legal documents.
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Words that rhyme with "Sundry"
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Sundry is pronounced with two syllables: SUN-dree. In US and UK English, the primary stress sits on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK /ˈsən.drì/ or /ˈsʌn.dri/ depending on accent; for US typical is /ˈsən.dri/ (the vowel in the first syllable is a schwa in fast speech). For careful speech, you’ll use /ˈsʌn.dri/ in some UK varieties with a more open vowel in the first syllable. Mouth position: start with a relaxed, slightly rounded lips and an open jaw on the first syllable; end with a light, syllabic “ee” for the second syllable. Listen to native speaker audio for subtle vowel length cues; you’ll hear a clean separation between syllables with a crisp final /iː/ or /i/ sound.
Common errors include pronouncing it as two closed vowels like SUN-DRAY or SUND-REE with a strong /uː/ on the first syllable. Often speakers insert a pause or misplace the stress, producing SUN-dree or sun-DRY. The correct approach uses a neutral schwa or short /ʌ/ in the first syllable and a clear /dri/ ending; avoid turning the second syllable into a longer /riː/ unless your dialect naturally lengthens vowels. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘sun-dry’ vs ‘son-dree’ to train the rhythm and ensure the second syllable starts immediately after the /n/.
In General American, the first syllable often uses a schwa /ˈsən.dri/ with a short, quick first vowel and a lighter /r/ influence. In UK varieties, you may hear /ˈsʌn.dri/ with a short /ʌ/ in the first syllable and a less pronounced rhoticity, sometimes a slightly reduced final vowel. Australian English typically yields /ˈsən.dri/ or /ˈsʌn.dri/ with a more clipped, flat vowel in the first syllable and a less pronounced final vowel. Across all, the crucial element is the two-syllable rhythm on SUN-dree, with stress on the first syllable and a clear /d/ onset of the second.
The difficulty lies in achieving the light, quick transition between syllables and the unstressed first vowel. The first syllable can drift toward a schwa or a short /ʌ/ depending on speaker and tempo, while the second syllable demands a crisp /dri/ without merging into a longer vowel. Some speakers over-emphasize the second syllable or elongate the final vowel; aim for a compact SUN-dry rhythm with a sharp /d/ onset and a shorter, unstressed second syllable vowel. IPA focus helps lock the exact vowel qualities.
In standard usage, Sundry has primary stress on the first syllable (SUN-dry). The second syllable remains unstressed, receiving less emphasis and a quicker, lighter vowel. In careful diction or when emphasizing contrast in a sentence (e.g., contrasting a sundry set against a single item), you might slightly lengthen or emphasis the second syllable, but this is rare and typically marked in careful speech. Maintain the two-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the first syllable.
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