English is not as simple a language as we think. There are many complexities in English when it comes to how different words are written and how they are spoken. This phenomenon is very common in English, in that two words might have different spellings, but they are pronounced the same way.
Spade vs Spayed
The main difference between Spade and Spayed is that spade is a gardening tool that is used to dig the soil, much like a shovel. On the other hand, “Spaying” is a medical procedure that is performed on animals to neuter them. When an animal is “Spayed”, it simply means that it has been castrated.
Spade is a farmer’s tool or a gardening tool that is used to dig the ground. It is very similar to a shovel and both these words are used interchangeably to mean a shovel. Spades have a flat bottom, whereas shovels have a pointed bottom which helps to push the shovel deeper into the soil.
Spaying is a medical procedure that is performed on animals and pets. This process is specifically done on female animals and pets. The procedure is performed so that the animal will not be able to reproduce. This helps to prevent unwanted pregnancy in pets and keep the number of off-springs to a minimum.
Comparison Table Between Spade and Spayed
| Parameters of Comparison | Spade | Spayed |
| Definition | It is a sharp tool with a rectangular edge that is used to dig the ground. | It is a medical procedure performed on female pets to prevent pregnancy |
| Etymology | It has a Germanic root and comes from old Germanic words such as Spaten | It has a Latin root, along with Anglo-French roots. |
| Word form | It is a noun and is an object | It is the past tense of the verb ‘to spay’ |
| Usage | It is used to mean the object | It is used to describe the process |
| Frequency | The frequency of this word is more | It is used comparatively less frequently |
What is Spade?
Spade is an English word that has its roots in old Germanic words such as Spaten. Spade is a farmer’s tool that is used to dig the ground, much like a shovel. It is also used in gardening.
Both these words, spade, and shovel, are sometimes used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Although unlike a shovel, which has a pointed edge, the spade has a sharp rectangular edge.
The difference between a spade and a shovel is in the general construction of both the equipment. A shovel has a pointy edge at the bottom which allows it to penetrate deeper into the ground. This allows the user to dig deeper while exerting less force on the equipment.
On the other hand, a spade has a sharp but rectangular edge at the bottom. This helps the equipment to scoop out more dirt and soil, despite not being able to penetrate as deeper as a shovel.
Thus a spade is mostly used where more ground has to be cleared and more soil has to be taken out, as opposed to digging deeper. Both the types of equipment are excellent in their job and it depends on the kind of work that is to be done when deciding on using which equipment.
What is Spayed?
“Spayed” is the past tense of the verb “to spay” which has Latin as well as Anglo-French root words. As the word suggests, it is an action word and is used to describe a medical procedure.
Spaying is a medical procedure performed on female pets and other animals. It is performed to make the animal incapable of reproduction. Thus the main motive of this process is to prevent unwanted pregnancy in pets.
In this process, the ovaries of the animal are removed, destroyed, or damaged purposefully. This does not harm the animal as there is no damage done to the vital organs.
Only the animals will not be able to reproduce after the procedure. This is a very common surgical procedure and the scientific name of the process is “Ovariohysterectomy”.
This process should not be performed on humans and is specifically for operation on animals. The masculine procedure of the same type, which is performed on male animals, is termed “castration’.
Another popular operation is done to reduce animal population and which is performed on male animals is known as “Gelding”. In this procedure, the testicles are cut and removed.
This process is very commonly used on male dogs to prevent reproduction.
Main Differences Between Spade and Spayed
- Spade is a gardening tool which is used to dig the ground. Spaying is a medical process performed on pets to prevent pregnancy.
- Spade has Germanic origins, from words such as Spaten. Spayed has Anglo-French and Latin root words and origin.
- Spade is a noun and it describes an object whereas Spayed is the past tense of the verb “to spay”
- Spayed is used to describe the process of castration, whereas Spade is used to mean the object.
- Spayed is more frequently used than Spayed.
Conclusion
Many words in English may sound similar but have completely different spelling. These words also have different means and might not even come from the same root word. This is the reason why English is not a simple language like other phonetic languages. The way we write and speak a word can sometimes be completely different from such similar words.
Such words are known as Homophones. A homophone is a word or a couple of words that have the same pronunciation, but completely different meanings, spellings, and origin. Spade and Spayed are good examples of this phenomenon. Both these words have the same pronunciation, but their spelling, meaning, and origin are completely different.
While a spade is a digging tool, Spayed is a medical procedure performed on female animals to prevent pregnancy. Thus, both these words have spellings and meanings that are poles apart. Many such words fall into this category of words and it is very important to use the right word in the right context.
References
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140138608968236
- https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3577407
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1096286702800238
- https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.233.1.74