Guessed vs guest

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Grammarist

Guessed and guest are words that sometimes used incorrectly, as many people find them confusing. We will examine the definitions of guessed and guest, where these words came from and some example sentences.

Guessed is the past tense of the word guess, and means to suggest an answer or opinion about a subject or problem without knowing if one’s answer is correct. A guess may turn out to be accurate, and it may turn out to be inaccurate. To hazard a guess means to take the risk of making a guess that may be incorrect. Sometimes, a guess is merely a suggestion. The word guesswork means a system of making guesses. Synonyms for guessed that may be found in a thesaurus are: predicted, conjectured, supposed, deduced, reckoned. Guessed is a verb, related words are guess, guesses, guessing, guesser. The word guess is derived from the Old English word gessen, meaning to judge or perceive. A related word is the word guesstimate, which is a portmanteau of the words guess and estimate. Guesstimate is used to convey the idea that the person is simply making a guess and can not be held to the accuracy of the answer or opinion. A portmanteau is a word that is composed by blending the sounds and the meanings of two different words.

A guest is someone who receives an invitation to a party or other social occasion. Someone who is planning a party makes a guest list. A guest may be someone who is attending a bachelorette party, a bridal shower, a baby shower, an intimate dinner or birthday celebration. The host may decorate with flowers, streamers or balloons. A children’s birthday party may have entertainment for the guests such as a magician, a clown or a pony ride. Adult guests tend to simply enjoy conversation, though some social occasions call for multiplayer word games, guessing games or trivia games, complete with winners and prizes. Some guests enjoy a party full of challenging games, others enjoy games to break the ice such as charades or bingo. Still others prefer to enjoy food, drink and each other’s company. Themed social occasions often generate fun game ideas, though whether the gathering is dressy or casual depends on the lifestyle of the host and his guests. The word guest is occasionally used as a verb, to mean acting as a guest. Related words are guests, guested, guesting. The term guest of honor refers to the person for whom the social occasion has been organized, such as a mom to be, bride to be, or someone with a birthday.The word guest is derived from the Old English words gæst and giest, meaning stranger.

Examples

Few people, though, would have guessed that this meeting would be tonight in a single-elimination game on the opening night of the 2018 WNBA playoffs. (Forbes Magazine)

But by asking a few key questions, you’ll find out that you are much more alike than you might have guessed, and in fact are “trapped” with the ideal group. (The Herald-Review)

Since his long-running CBS comedy wrapped in 2015, Cryer has made guest appearances on several TV series, including on CBS’ NCIS and Netflix’s Lady Dynamite (as himself) and The Ranch, which stars former Two and a Half Men co-star Ashton Kutcher. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Since Kushner’s relatives include brother Jared and sister-in-law Ivanka Trump, and Kloss’s closest friends include Taylor Swift, Diane von Furstenberg, and Serena Williams, the guest list for the couple’s wedding is bound to be an eclectic mix of Trumps, billionaires, and supermodels. (Vanity Fair Magazine)