Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Dolorous
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This spelling question checks whether you know the correct form of the word that means full of sorrow or expressing grief. Such words often appear in literary passages, poems, and descriptive writing. Among several similar-looking options, only one is spelled according to standard English usage: "dolorous".
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The adjective "dolorous" comes from the Latin root "dolor" meaning pain or sorrow. The correct English form keeps the root and adds the suffix -ous to form an adjective: dolor + ous = dolorous. Variants like dolurous, doloreus, delorious, or dolorious insert or change vowels and consonants in ways that are not recognised in dictionaries. Therefore, the only correct spelling is dolorous with "olo" in the middle and a single "r".
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the root "dolor" appears in words like "indolent" and "doleful", all related to pain or sorrow.
Step 2: Add the adjective-forming suffix -ous to this root: dolor + ous, giving "dolorous".
Step 3: Examine option A Dolorous and see that it maintains the correct sequence d-o-l-o-r-o-u-s.
Step 4: Option B Dolurous incorrectly changes the second "o" to "u", breaking the link to the root "dolor".
Step 5: Option C Doloreus introduces an "e" before "us" and replaces "ous" with "eus", which is not the standard adjective ending here.
Step 6: Option D Delorious alters the root to "delor", which is not the correct form; the "e" after "d" is incorrect.
Step 7: Option E Dolorious adds an extra "io" and doubles the "o", again deviating from the standard spelling.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the spelling by thinking of standard patterns: many adjectives from Latin roots end in -ous, such as "famous", "furious", "glorious". "Dolorous" fits this pattern exactly. In contrast, endings like -urus, -eus, or -orious are unusual or wrong for this particular root. Additionally, if you have seen the noun "dolor" meaning pain or sorrow in older texts or medical discussions, you can see how "dolorous" naturally derives from it. None of the other spellings transparently link back to this root.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B Dolurous changes the internal vowel pattern and no longer matches the Latin root "dolor".
Option C Doloreus replaces the common adjective ending -ous with -eus, which is not standard in English for this word.
Option D Delorious substitutes "de" for "do", creating a non-existent root and therefore an incorrect spelling.
Option E Dolorious adds extra letters "io", resulting in an incorrect and non-standard form of the word.
Common Pitfalls:
Exams often create confusion by presenting several visually similar spellings. A good strategy is to identify the root and the common suffix; here, recognise "dolor" plus "ous". If you see extra vowels, doubled letters, or slight shifts in the root, be suspicious. Building a mental list of common adjective endings like -ous, -ful, and -ive can also help you eliminate fake spellings quickly.
Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is Dolorous.
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