incessantly
絶え間なく
解説 Definition
絶え間なくとは、一度も止まることなく継続して、常に続く様子を意味します。間断なく、ずっと続く状態を表します。
Incessantly means continuously, without stopping or with almost no pause. It is often used when something keeps happening for a long time, especially if it feels tiring or annoying.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
cease「やむ・止む」を知っていると覚えやすい語です。incessant が「止まない」、そこに -ly が付いて副詞になり、「絶え間なく」。ポイントは、ただ頻繁というより“切れ目なく続いていて、少しうるさい・しつこい”感じが出やすいこと。talk incessantly なら「しゃべり続ける」、rain incessantly なら「雨が降りやまない」。constantly は「いつも・しょっちゅう」にも広がりますが、incessantly は「休みなく続く」イメージで固定すると残りやすいです。
If you know `cease`, you already have the key: it means `stop`. `Incessant` means `not stopping`, and `-ly` makes it an adverb. Remember strong collocations like `talk incessantly` or `rain incessantly`, where the action feels continuous and a little tiring.
例文
The rain fell incessantly throughout the entire day.
雨は一日中絶え間なく降り続いた。
She incessantly complained about the service.
彼女はサービスについて絶え間なく文句を言った。
The phone rang incessantly during the meeting.
会議中、電話は絶え間なく鳴り続いた。
incessantly の類義語・関連語
incessantly の語源・成り立ち Etymology
incessantly は in-「否定」+ cessare「やめる、止まる」+ -ly。ラテン語の段階で「止まない」が核にあり、cease や cessation と並べると、休止が入らないので「絶え間なく」という意味になると腑に落ちる。
Incessantly comes from a Latin-based form meaning "not stopping," built from in- "not" and a root related to ceasing. Its core idea has always been the absence of a pause or break. It is closely related to cease and cessation, which keep the same idea of stopping.
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう