CCC Synonyms-2007 Apr-Jun

CLOSE SYNONYMS OF THE WEEK

2007

July-September
(most recent first)

SEPTEMBER 24, 2007

INTERMENT / INTERNMENT

This edition focuses on some CLOSE HOMONYMS: words that are the same or similar in sound but not necessarily the same in meaning.

INTERMENT (noun)—burial
INTER—verb

INTERNMENT (noun)—confinement, imprisonment
INTERN—verb; INTERNEE—noun

Note that it is a slight change in spelling that alters the meaning.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Orthodox Jewish law requires interment within 24 hours of death.

American citizens of Japanese descent were confined in internment camps for the duration of WWII, an act now considered a shameful episode in American history.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2007

CORRUPT / CORRUPTED

CORRUPT (verb/adj)—to become or be dishonest, especially in taking advantage of a position of power; to contaminate or be contaminated or to contain errors

CORRUPTED (adjective form of verb)

Note that CORRUPT is both a verb and a stand-alone adjective, while CORRUPTED is used only as a form of the verb.

Some related forms:

CORRUPTION (noun)
CORRUPTIBLE (adj)
CORRUPTIBILITY (noun)

SAMPLE SENTENCE:

Her husband is of the opinion that if politicians aren’t corrupt when they first run for office, the process of getting elected will ensure that they are corrupted before taking the oath.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2007

CONSUME (verb)

Though most words in English have only one general meaning, there are many that have distinct and separate applications—including related or extended meanings or entirely unrelated usages. This series highlights a few of the more common and confusing of such words. The following is an example.

CONSUME 1—eat

CONSUME 2—purchase/use

CONSUME 3—obsess

Some related forms:

CONSUMER (noun)
CONSUMERISM (noun)
CONSUMPTION (noun)
CONSUMABLE (noun, adj)
CONSUMING (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

1. We consumed so much sushi at the buffet that I had no appetite for dessert.

2. The sale items were consumed in record time, selling out in two hours.

3. She is consumed with the notion that the entire set of dishes must match—housewares are a consuming passion of hers.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2007

LABOR DAY

For a bit of a departure from the usual, in honor of the Labor Day holiday, this edition is adapted from an entry in Wikipedia.

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday in September, celebrated mainly as a day of rest and marking the symbolic end of summer. Labor Day became a national holiday by Act of Congress in 1894.

The Knights of Labor organized the original parade in 1883 in New York City, eventually passing resolutions to make this an annual event. On May 4, 1886 came the anarchist-inspired Haymarket Riot general strike which eventually won the eight-hour workday in the United States. These events are today commemorated on May 1 as Labor Day in virtually every country in the world, with the notable exceptions being the [anti-anarchist/socialist] United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

See Wikipedia for the full entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_day

AUGUST 27, 2007

INCOMPLETE / UNCOMPLETED

INCOMPLETE (adj)—missing something necessary to the whole (implying that it may or could be completed in future)

UNCOMPLETED (adj)—something slated for completion but not completed (implying that it perhaps never will be)

Note that it is a change in both prefix and suffix that alters the meaning.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The report is incomplete, lacking data that has recently become available.

At the time of the author’s death, she left several manuscripts uncompleted.

AUGUST 20, 2007

HUMANISM / HUMANITARIANISM / HUMANITY

HUMANISM (noun)—concern with, and system of values based on, the (best) qualities of being human [positive connotation]

HUMANITARIANISM (noun)—commitment to the improvement of human well-being [positive connotation]

HUMANITY (noun)—concerning the human race [neutral connotation]

Note that it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning.

Some related forms:

HUMAN (noun)
HUMANITARIAN (noun, adj)
HUMANITIES (pl. noun)
HUMANKIND (noun)
HUMANOID (noun)
HUMANE (adj)
HUMANLY (adv)
HUMANIZE (verb)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

For many people, humanism replaces religion as the focus of their spiritual concerns.

Humanitarians need not be people of great wealth; rather, they dedicate their entire lives to the welfare of their fellow men.

Great personages of history, with various claims to fame, have often been known to suffer from a lack of humanity toward their family and close associates.

AUGUST 13, 2007

MEET (verb) / MEET WITH (verb + preposition)

International speakers of English are often confused by ‘phrasal verbs’ (verbs + prepositions that add to or alter the meaning of the verb), and for good reason—phrasal verbs can often be confusing. The following is an example of what a difference a preposition can make.

MEET—to encounter; in particular to encounter for the first time (Note the use of MEET compared to SEE, below)

MEET WITH—to have a meeting with

Note that it is the addition of the preposition that alters the meaning.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

My colleague introduced me to the new programmer and, shaking hands, I said: “Nice to meet you”.

The following week, I happened to meet the new programmer in the cafeteria; saying: “Nice to see you.”

I myself met with the team concerning the progress report, because the VP was unable to attend the meeting.

AUGUST 6, 2007

SUBSTANTIAL / SUBSTANTIVE

SUBSTANTIAL (adj)—having substance, solid [more literal]
SUBSTANTIALLY—adv; SUBSTANTIALITY—noun

SUBSTANTIVE (adj)—considerable, actual [more abstract]
SUBSTANTIVELY—adv; SUBSTANTIVENESS—noun

Note that it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning. Also note that these two words, while they can have separate meanings and applications, also share a wide overlap and are often used interchangeably. Note too that, in regard to pronunciation, SUBSTANTIAL has the emphasis on the second syllable; while SUBSTANTIVE has the emphasis on the first syllable.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

There is a substantial amount of fiber in this cereal, so you have to chew it well.

His argument is not substantive, so we should have no difficulty refuting it.

JULY 30, 2007

NERVOUS / NERVE-RACKING

NERVOUS (adj)—having a feeling of anxiety or agitation; relating to the nerves (describes people or animals)

NERVE-RACKING (adj)—hard on the nerves, nervous-making (describes things, situations or events)

Note that NERVE-RACKING can also be spelled NERVE-WRACKING.

Related forms:

NERVE (noun)
NERVES (pl. noun)
NERVOUSNESS (noun)
NERVOUSLY (adv)
ENERVATE (verb)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

I was extremely nervous about taking the test.

(Taking) the test was extremely nerve-racking, and I was exhausted afterward.

JULY 23, 2007

SHAMEFUL / SHAMELESS

This edition focuses on some CLOSE HOMONYMS: words that are the same or similar in sound but not necessarily the same in meaning.

SHAMEFUL (adj)—characterized or exemplified by disgrace or dishonor
SHAMEFULLY—adv; SHAMEFULNESS—noun

SHAMELESS (adj)—unconcerned about (what others would consider to be) shame (note that SHAMELESS, implies more than simply ‘without shame’)
SHAMELESSLY—adv; SHAMELESSNESS—noun

Note that it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning.

Related forms:

SHAME (noun/verb)
SHAMEFACED (adj)
ASHAMED (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The actions of the military, particularly when under extreme stress, are unfortunately often known to be shameful.

She was shameless in her arrogant behavior, never feeling that anything she did or said might be considered offensive.

JULY 16, 2007

HOMICIDE

For a bit of a departure from the usual, this edition focuses on words describing various kinds of murder. (All taking the English suffix -cide from the Latin verb caedere [to cut, hack, kill]. Note that all of these terms are nouns, referring to both the act of murder and to the one who, or that which, enacts it.)

INFANTICIDE—murder of a child
FRATRICIDE—murder of a brother
SORORICIDE—murder of a sister
PARRICIDE—murder of a parent (or close relative) by a child
PATRICIDE—murder of a father by his child (NB: slight change in spelling from above)
MATRICIDE—murder of a mother by her child (NB: slight change in spelling from below)
MARITICIDE—murder of a husband by his wife (or a spouse by the other spouse)
UXORICIDE—murder of a wife by her husband
FILICIDE—murder of a son or daughter by his/her parent
SUICIDE—murder of oneself
REGICIDE—murder of a king or queen
TYRANNICIDE—murder of a tyrant
GENOCIDE—murder of an ethnic or national group
DEMOCIDE—murder of a person or people by a government
DEICIDE—murder of a divinity or a person regarded as divine
GAIACIDE—murder of Mother Earth
VERBICIDE—murder of (the meaning of) a word

XXXX-CIDE—murder of xxxx (e.g., INSECTICIDE—murder of an insect or insects)

JULY 9, 2007

POPULAR (adj)

POPULAR 1—appreciated or liked by a number of people or groups

POPULAR 2—relating to the public at large

Related forms:

POPULARLY (adv)
POPULOUS (adj)
POPULARITY (noun)
POPULATION (noun)
POPULACE (noun)
POPULISM (noun)
POPULIST (noun)
POPULATE (verb)
POPULARIZE (verb)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

1. Executives whose incomes are 500 times more than that of average employees cannot expect to be very popular around the workplace.

2. The Associated Press reported popular outrage concerning “executive pay packages that typically equal 500 times the salaries of workers at those companies”.

JULY 2, 2007

SUPERFLUOUSNESS / SUPERFLUITY

SUPERFLUOUSNESS (noun)—beyond what is necessary
SUPERFLUOUS—adj

SUPERFLUITY (noun)—overabundance

Note that these words are unfortunately often used interchangeably, reducing a useful distinction. In any case, it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

It is primarily the superfluousness of consumption-driven production that results in diminishing natural resources and other ecological imbalances.

By the time everyone contributed dishes for the potluck, we had a superfluity of food and wound up donating a lot of it to a homeless shelter.