inched
少しずつ進んだ
解説 Definition
少しずつゆっくりと前に進んだこと。わずかな距離を慎重に移動したさま。
Inched means moved very slowly or by a very small amount. It is the past form of inch when the verb means to advance little by little. The word is often used to show careful, slow progress.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
inch は長さの単位「インチ」。動詞 inched は「インチ単位でしか進まない」と捉えると、ほんの少しずつ・慎重に動く感じがつかみやすいです。walked や moved より遅く、advanced ほど勢いもないのがポイント。inched forward, inched closer, the door inched open のように、渋滞の車がじりじり進む場面、相手にそっと近づく場面、ドアがわずかに開く場面をセットで覚えると定着します。
An `inch` is a very small unit, so the verb `inched` suggests movement by tiny amounts. That gives the feeling of slow, careful progress. Remember common patterns like `inched forward` or `the door inched open`.
例文
The car inched forward through the heavy traffic.
車は激しい渋滞の中を少しずつ前に進んだ。
She inched closer to the edge of the cliff to get a better view.
彼女はより良い景色を見るために崖の端に少しずつ近づいた。
The caterpillar inched its way along the branch toward the leaf.
毛虫は葉に向かって枝の上を少しずつ進んだ。
inched の語源・成り立ち Etymology
inched は名詞 inch の動詞化で、「インチ単位で進む」が原義です。inch はラテン語 uncia（12分の1）にさかのぼり、同語源の ounce も「小さな一部分」を表します。だから inched forward は、大きくでなくほんの少しずつ進む感じになります。
Inched comes from the noun inch used as a verb. Inch goes back through Latin uncia, meaning "a twelfth part," which also gave English ounce. The verb first suggested moving by inches, and so it came to mean moving very slowly and little by little.
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