Category Archives: Diction

Use the word of the week everyday in writing and conversation. Expand your vocabulary and find new ways to explain all those multifaceted thoughts in your head.

Word of the Week: Ilk

01 Thursday Jun 2017

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Ilk (rhymes with silk)

(noun) a type of something similar to those already referred to.  Often used in phrase “of that ilk” meaning of that kind, origin, designation, or name.

Examples:

Though she adored the designer clothing worn by Kate Middleton and her ilk, June’s budget demanded a less glamorous wardrobe.

Scott Pruitt and his ilk claim that leading the world in energy innovation is a disadvantage to the U.S., but June knew that position was based on their selfish interests.

 

Word of the week: Autopoiesis

30 Monday Jan 2017

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Autopoiesis (otto-poy-E-sis)

(noun) self-production or self-making. Refers to life’s fundamental process for creating and renewing itself for growth and change. Used in chemistry, systems, and sociology.

Example:

  1. June found comfort in knowing the United States history of autopoiesis and held strong to her faith that her country would make it through this troubled time.
  2. Mixing ingredients in the chemistry lab, June found some reactions that went through autopoiesis in amazing fashion.

P.S. A couple of these show autopoiesis, and they’re all pretty fun: https://youtu.be/0Bt6RPP2ANI

Word of the Week: Ostensible

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

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Ostensible (ah-sten-sib-ul)

(noun) Appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. Pretended.

Examples:

  1. The ostensible reason June offered to cook dinner was to stay in and relax, but really she was anxious to show off her culinary skills.
  2. While many accepted desire for American prosperity as his ostensible motivation for seeking presidency, June exposed tax records that showed he was much more interested in personal financial gain.

Word of the Week: Jurisprudence

10 Tuesday Jan 2017

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Jurisprudence (joo ris prood ns)

(noun) philosophy of law, system of law, science of law.

Examples:

  1. The senate considered June’s jurisprudence carefully before they confirmed her appointment to the Supreme Court.
  2. June could not understand the president’s stance, as it followed no precedent in America’s last eighty years of jurisprudence.

Word of the Week: Raison d’être

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

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Raison d’être (rey-zohn-de-truh)

(noun) Main reason or justification for existence

Examples:

  1. June asserted that the multi-cultural club must have an open-door policy because inclusivity was its raison d’être.
  2.  June astutely pointed out that openness to new ideas and foreign people has historically been Americas raison d’être, and that those calling for the values of our founders should readily welcome refugees and immigrants.

 

Factotum

06 Monday Oct 2014

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Factotum

(noun) a person whose job involves doing a wide variety of different types of work; Jack-of-all-trades; odd-jobber.

Examples:

  1. June knew that in order to successfully oversee the event, she needed to be well versed in all the details and a factotum that everyone could rely upon.
  2. The coach played June in midfield, where he could use her talents as a factotum on the field.

Word of the Week: Epigrammatic

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Diction, Pre-Election

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Epigrammatic

(adj.) terse or ingenious in expression; of or like an epigram*; using epigrams

*Epigram: “any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.” (i.e. “I can resist anything but temptation” -Oscar Wilde, “If you can’t be a good example, you’ll just have to be a horrible warning” -Catherine the Great, “Little strokes Fell great oaks” – Ben Franklin)

Examples:

1. Circling around the dinner party, June kept epigrammatic conversation with the group of socialites.

 

2. While she appreciated a witty comment just as much as anyone, the epigrammatic dialogue of Sex and the City was too unrealistic for June to enjoy the show.

Word of the Week: Tergiversate

01 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by in Diction, Pre-Election

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Tergiversate (tur-jiv-er-say-t)

(verb) to change one’s thoughts and opinions in order to fit a certain cause or situation; to turn renegade.

Examples:

  1.  June is optimistic about a day when politicians will stand true to their beliefs instead of tergiversating to gain approval from voters and donors.
  2. Firm in her attitude and belief starting out in the relationship, June was determined not to tergiversate in order to make her boyfriend happy.

Word of the Week: Capitulate

01 Monday Jul 2013

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Capitulate

(verb) to surrender often after negotiation of terms; to cease resisting : acquiesce

Examples:

1. June made sure she had an upper hand on competitors so that they would have to capitulate to her requests.

2. Having little paper money and few valuable properties after hours of playing Monopoly, June capitulated and sold everything for a dollar to end the game.