CCC Synonyms-2007 Oct-Dec

CLOSE SYNONYMS OF THE WEEK

2007

October-December
(most recent first)

DECEMBER 31, 2007

BCE / CE ; BC / AD

For a bit of a departure from the usual, in honor of the New Year, this edition focuses on the acronyms used to designate years in the Gregorian calendar in accordance with epochs marked by the year in which Jesus Christ is deemed to have been born.

BC / AD (acronyms)—Before Christ / Anno Domino (Latin: [in] the Year of Our Lord)

BCE / CE (acronyms)—Before (the) Common Era / Common Era (a.k.a., Before the/’Current’ Era)

Note that these acronyms can also be used with periods, as in C.E.

In recent decades, and increasingly, the BCE / CE notation is being recognized and used, in schools and by publishers, as a more appropriately culture-neutral choice (though the previous notation continues to be used as well).

A related form:

BP (acronym)—Before (the) Present (standard notation for archaeological dates in the distant past; ‘Present’ defined as CE 1950)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The ancient Roman calendar had ten months—the names of some months originate from this time: September (seventh), October (eighth), November (ninth), and December (tenth). Around 713 BCE, the months of January and February were added. In 45 BCE, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar. In 1582 CE, Pope Gregory XIII decreed the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, the most widespread calendar in use today.

DECEMBER 24, 2007

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS’

For a bit of a departure from the usual, in honor of Christmas, this edition focuses on a famous poem associated with the holiday.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ (also known as ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’) was written in 1823, attributed to American scholar Clement Clarke Moore. It is considered a lovely work of English rhyme and a classic part of the holiday, responsible for much of the secular imagery associated with it.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle. And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

For a free audio download of the poem:
http://storynory.com/2006/12/17/a-visit-from-st-nicholas/

DECEMBER 17, 2007

NUTRITIOUS / NUTRITIONAL

NUTRITIOUS (adj)—abundant in vitamins, minerals and other substances (nutrients) deemed necessary for health

NUTRITIONAL (adj)—pertaining to nutrition

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

Some related forms:

NUTRITION (noun)
NUTRIENT (noun)
NUTRIMENT (noun)
NUTRITIONIST (noun)
NUTRITIVE (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Vegans, who decline to eat animal products, claim that plant-based foods are the most nutritious and are completely adequate for maintaining health.

They base these statements on a variety of nutritional studies that have been published in recent years.

DECEMBER 10, 2007

FOLKS (pl. noun)

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.

FOLKS 1—people (rural connotation)

FOLKS 2—parents (parents only, generally not the whole family)

Some related forms:

FOLK (noun/adj)—the singular form behaves like the plural form (for example: ‘Some folk like to sing folk songs on holidays.’) but is somewhat more countrified and less often used

FOLKSY (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

1. Some folks like to sing folk songs on holidays.

2. I told her my folks were coming and she thought I meant the whole family; so I explained that in this case ’folks’ generally refers only to one’s mother and father.

DECEMBER 3, 2007

HEAR (verb) / HEAR OF (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.

HEAR—to perceive sound; to receive information

HEAR OF—to be aware of the existence of someone or something

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

Some related forms:

HEAR FROM

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The mbira is a musical instrument [whose sound] I never heard before.

The mbira is a musical instrument [whose existence] I never heard of before.

I heard from my brother last week, he called on Tuesday. I hear his wife got a new job.

NOVEMBER 26, 2007

GEOGRAPHY / GEOLOGY

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

GEOGRAPHY (noun)—the study of the physical features of the surface of the Earth, including climate and plant and animal life forms; (also used in the context of the political designation of nations and their territories)
GEOGRAPHICAL—adj; GEOGRAPHICALLY—adv; GEOGRAPHER—noun

GEOLOGY (noun)—the study of the origin, history and nature of the structure of the Earth, including soil composition, rock formations, mineral deposits, plate tectonics, etc.
GEOLOGICAL—adj; GEOLOGICALLY—adv; GEOLOGIST—noun

Note that the prefix GEO (meaning Earth) is the same. Also note that GEOGRAPHY (but not GEOLOGY) can be used figuratively—see below.

Other related forms:

GEOGRAPHIC (adj)
GEOLOGIC (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The sport of steep mountain skiing is inspiring enthusiasts to search out some of the most rugged geography on the planet.

The geography of the mind is so complex that science has yet to understand its complexity.

As a child she was always fascinated by rocks, so it was no surprise that she went on to get a degree in geology.

NOVEMBER 19, 2007

THANK (verb) / THANKS TO (verb + preposition)

THANK—to express gratitude for something given or done

THANKS TO—to assign responsibility or blame (Note that THANKS TO can also be used negatively—see below.)

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

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Thank God he recovered quickly! [set exclamatory expression; also ‘Thank goodness’]

Thanks to her diligence, she graduated first in her class.

Thanks to his being drunk when he used my car, it now has a damaged fender.

NOVEMBER 12, 2007

NOTEWORTHY / NOTABLE

NOTEWORTHY (adj)—worth paying attention to

NOTABLE (adj)—significant, important, prominent

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

Some related forms (among many):

NOTABILITY (noun)
NOTORIETY (noun)
NOTABLY (adv)
NOTE (noun/verb)
NOTICE (noun/verb)
NOTA BENE (NB: interj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The 14th Dalai Lama is a notable presence among world leaders. His many lectures and books are considered among the most noteworthy transmissions of the teachings of Buddhism.

NOVEMBER 5, 2007

BELIEVE (verb) / BELIEVE IN (verb + preposition)

BELIEVE—to accept something as being true or real or good

BELIEVE IN—to have confidence in someone or something

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

Some related forms:

BELIEF (noun)
BELIEVER (noun)
NON-BELIEVER (noun)
BELIEVABLE (adj)
UNBELIEVABLE (adj)
BELIEVABLY (adv)
UNBELIEVABLY (adv)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

He believed her when she said she wanted to marry him. He believed in her, believing he could count on her—but she let him down.

The soldier said he believed in what the US was doing in Iraq, but as his tour of duty there has progressed he’s changed his mind.

OCTOBER 29, 2007

FRIGHTENING / FRIGHTFUL

FRIGHTENING (adj)—causing fear

FRIGHTFUL (adj)—extreme in an unpleasant or undesirable way (from light to serious)

Note that it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning. Note too that FRIGHTFUL may once have had virtually the same meaning as FRIGHTENING—but its intensity is now reduced and it can be applied even to trivialities.

Some related forms:

FRIGHT (noun)
FRIGHTEN (verb)
FRIGHTFULLY (adv)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

After falling in the mud, she looked frightful with her clothes all dirty. But the report she subsequently filed was truly frightening, as it documented extreme levels of pollution in the river.

Halloween can be a frightening experience for small children if they don’t understand that all the scary stuff is just pretend and meant to be fun.

OCTOBER 22, 2007

HABITUAL / CUSTOMARY

HABITUAL (adj)—done regularly or typically in accordance with habit (personal connotation)
HABIT—noun; HABITUALLY—adv; HABITUATE—verb

CUSTOMARY (adj)—done regularly or typically in accordance with custom (social/cultural connotation)
CUSTOM—noun; CUSTOMARILY—adv; ACCUSTOM—verb

Note that these two words can generally overlap in one way only: the personal can be CUSTOMARY; however the social/cultural cannot be HABITUAL.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

I habitually/customarily go to the library on Saturday.

Americans customarily celebrate the July 4th holiday with fireworks.

OCTOBER 15, 2007

REIN / REIGN

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

REIN (verb)—to harness, control, restrain someone or something (note that REIN is customarily used with the preposition IN or BACK)
REINS—pl. noun

REIGN (verb/noun)—(to) rule (especially, but not limited to, a king or queen)
REINING—adj

Note that it is a slight change in spelling that alters the meaning, and that both words are pronounced exactly like RAIN.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

The Congress is beginning to demand that the activities of American mercenary personnel in the US war in Iraq be reined in/back, stating that the reins have been too loose and both costs and inexcusable Iraqi casualties are excessive.

The reign of Elizabeth I is considered a golden age in the history of England. She was the reigning monarch for 45 years, and reigned over/during some of the most significant events of the latter half of the 16th century.

OCTOBER 8, 2007

PRE-COLUMBIAN

For a bit of a departure from the usual, this edition focuses on a term used in relation to the European discovery and conquest of the ‘New World’—observed in the US as Columbus Day.

PRE-COLUMBIAN (adj)—referring to North, Central and/or South America—history, geography, architecture, artifacts, etc.—before the ships of Christopher Columbus docked in what is now called the Bahamas in 1492

Note that it is the addition of the prefix PRE (meaning ‘before’) that determines the meaning.

For more information about the (controversial) holiday and details about the event, see the Wikipedia entries:

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

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

OCTOBER 1, 2007

DEFEND (verb) / DEFEND AGAINST (verb + preposition)

DEFEND—to protect or support someone or something from harm, danger or attack
(Note that DEFEND has various other applications, such as in sports, debate or a court of law.)

DEFEND AGAINST—same as above in regard to who/what is challenging or threatening (to) who/what requires protection or support

Note that it is the addition of the preposition AGAINST that alters the meaning. It is becoming increasing frequent that people are indiscriminately omitting the preposition AGAINST when using the word DEFENSE, without realizing they are thereby altering the meaning. So make sure your use or omission of the preposition in this case corresponds with your intended meaning.

Some related forms:

DEFENSE (noun)
DEFENDER (noun)
DEFENDANT (noun)
DEFENDING (adj)
DEFENSIVE (adj)
DEFENSIVENESS (noun)
DEFENSIVELY (adv)
DEFENSELESS (adj)
DEFENSELESSNESS (noun)
DEFENSIBLE (adj)
INDEFENSIBLE (adj)
INDEFENSIBLY (adv)

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.