CCC Synonyms-2008 Jan-Mar

CLOSE SYNONYMS OF THE WEEK

2008

January-March
(most recent first)

MARCH 31, 2008

RECREATION / RE-CREATION

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

RECREATION (noun)—activity done for pleasure, relaxation or to promote health
RECREATE—verb; RECREATIONAL—adj

RE-CREATION (noun)—a reproduction, duplication or identical replacement
RE-CREATE—verb

Note the change in typography (RE-CREATION with a hyphen); also note the change in pronunciation that the hyphen signifies: RECREATION with the first E ‘short’; RE-CREATION with the first E ‘long.’

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

In order to provide Beijingers and visiting tourists with a place for recreation, the theme park “The World” opened in 1993. I wonder if among the scaled-down versions of famous places there is a re-creation of the Potala Palace in Tibet.

MARCH 24, 2008

OMNIPOTENT / OMNISCIENT /OMNIVOROUS

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

OMNIPOTENT (adj)—all-powerful
OMNIPOTENCE—noun

OMNISCIENT (adj)—all-knowing
OMNISCIENCE—noun

OMNIVOROUS (adj)—all-consuming
OMNIVORE—noun

Note the common prefix OMNI, meaning all.

Some related words:

OMNIBUS
OMNICOMPETENT
OMNIDIRECTIONAL
OMNIPRESENT

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

In Western religions, God is considered an omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent being—all-knowing, all-powerful and present in all of creation.

Carnivores eat meat; herbivores eat plants; omnivores eat everything edible.

MARCH 17, 2008

GREEN

For a bit of a departure from the usual, in honor of St Patrick’s Day--an Irish national holiday celebrated all over the world, for which green is the traditional color--this edition focuses on associated usages of the word GREEN.

GREEN (adj)—a ‘secondary’ color in the spectrum between the ‘primary’ colors of blue and yellow

Applied to or associated with:

plants and vegetables
nature and ecology
youth, immaturity, naivety or inexperience
freshness
envy or jealousy
nausea
an unprocessed state
money or cash

(Note that GREEN also has several related uses as a noun and verb.)

For more about St Patrick’s Day:

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

MARCH 10, 2008

MEDICINE / MEDICATION

MEDICINE (noun)—a remedy (typically a drug) used to cure or reduce the symptoms of illness or injury; the field of practice involving diagnosis, procedures and the application of such remedies for such purposes; the power of native healers to affect changes in the physical and/or psychological condition of others

MEDICATION (noun)—medical remedies in general (including such things as itch relief ointments, etc.); also refers to a course of treatment

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

Some related forms:

MEDICAMENT (noun)
MEDIC (noun)
MEDICAL (adj)
MEDICINAL (adj)
MEDICATE (verb)
MEDICIDE (verb)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Medicines used in traditional Chinese healing practices are typically made of natural herbs and/or animal products.

After being stung by mosquitoes, we had to go in search of medication in order to relieve the itching.

MARCH 3, 2008

FAVORITE / FAVORED

FAVORITE (adj)—most preferred or liked

FAVORED (adj form of verb)—held in special regard, given special treatment or treated with partiality

Note that it is a change in suffix that alters the meaning. Note too that words relating to FAVOR have additional meanings and usages.

Some related forms:

FAVOR (verb/noun)
FAVORABLE (adj)
FAVORABLY (adv)
FAVORITISM (noun)
FAVORS (pl noun; sexual connotation)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

He is the oldest son and the favored child in the family, given advantages not given to the other children. But he isn’t the favorite—so self-important that even his parents don’t like him.

FEBRUARY 25, 2008

AT THE END / IN THE END

For a bit of a departure from the usual, this edition focuses on the difference between two similar expressions that are often confused by international speakers of English.

AT THE END (set expression)—designating a culminating point in space, time or circumstance

IN THE END (set expression)—designating the culminating point or eventual result of a situation or event

Note that the definitions above are somewhat arbitrary; and, while the sentences below give an indication of the differences in use, in actuality the prepositions are often interchangeable.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

I found it at the end of the road.
She will arrive at the end of the month.
At the end of the meeting, we took a vote.
He expressed the opinion that, at the end of the day, all governments are authoritarian.

In the end, after the heavy snowfall, the road needed to be repaired.
In the end, it doesn’t matter whether it takes two months or three.
In the end, the meeting went well.
It is the citizenry, in the end, who are responsible for the government they choose or tolerate.

And from the Beatles song:
‘And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.’

Ré “AT/IN THE BEGINNING”:
see http://www.crossculturecom.com/Synonyms_2009_3rd_Q.htm (scrolling down to 09-08-17)

FEBRUARY 18, 2008

NEGLECT / NEGLIGENCE

NEGLECT (noun)—lack of attention to, or failure to care for, someone or something (Note that NEGLECT is also a verb.)

NEGLIGENCE (noun)—carelessness or irresponsibility (Note that NEGLIGENCE is also a legal term.)

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

Some related forms:

NEGLIGENT (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

His neglect of his child had been so total, there was no way he would obtain custody after the divorce.

It was due to her negligence in filing the report on time that we lost the commission.

FEBRUARY 11, 2008

TIME ZONES

For a bit of a departure from the usual, this edition focuses on North American time zones.

ALASKA (STANDARD) TIME (AKT)*
PACIFIC (STANDARD) TIME (PT)
MOUNTAIN (STANDARD) TIME (MT)
CENTRAL (STANDARD) TIME (CT)
EASTERN (STANDARD) TIME (ET)
ATLANTIC (STANDARD) TIME (AT)
NEWFOUNDLAND (STANDARD) TIME (NT)

Note that when daylight savings time is not in effect, the letter ‘S’ (for STANDARD) is typically not inserted between the two letters of the acronym. However, when daylight savings time is in effect, the letter ‘D’ (for DAYLIGHT) is inserted between the letters: AKDT, PDT, MDT, CDT, EDT, ADT, NDT.

*Note: Western Aleutian Islands are on Hawaii-Aleutian Time (HT or HAT; HDT or HADT).

See http://wonderclub.com/Atlas/timezone.htm for a map detailing the geography of USA time zones.

See http://www.worldtimezone.com/time-canada12.php for a map detailing the geography of Canada time zones.

See http://www.timetemperature.com/tzmx/mexico_time_zone.shtml for a map detailing the geography of Mexico time zones.

FEBRUARY 4, 2008

SIGHT / SITE

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

SIGHT (noun/verb)—something seen / to see something

SITE (noun/verb)—a general area or specific piece of land where something or some event was, is or is to be located / to position something at/on a designated location

Note that the pronunciation of these words is the same, it is a change in spelling that alters the meaning. Note too that in addition to the above, these words have other meanings and usages.)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

Upon arrival, we sighted hundreds of tourists seeing the sights around Beijing.

Visiting engineers, surveying the site of the new dam, have questioned its safety—stating that it has been sited on unstable ground.

JANUARY 28, 2008

DICTIONARY

For a bit of a departure from the usual, this edition focuses on dictionaries—pointing out that dictionaries, although considered authoritative, are written by committees, not gods. Thus, they are subject to differences in interpretation and emphasis that can alter the results.

Dictionary users need also to keep in mind the difference between the definition(s) of a word and its usage(s). Also, some dictionaries give only the most common pronunciation of a word, while others include variants as well. There are also many specialized dictionaries, such as those focusing on synonyms, technical terms, legal terminology, slang, etc. And now, of course, various English dictionaries available on the Internet provide the additional advantage of audio—a great boon for international speakers.

DICTIONARY (noun)—A reference book of words, typically in order (according to alphabetic spelling or ideograph), giving the meaning(s) and often including additional information

Note that the etymology (origin) of the word DICTIONARY is the Latin dictio, meaning ‘word.’

Some related forms:

DICTION (noun)
DICTATE (verb)
DICTATION (noun)
DICTUM (noun)

See the CCC website ‘About Synonyms’ page for more about dictionaries and words:

http://www.crossculturecom.com/SYNONYMS_OF_THE_WEEK.htm#about

JANUARY 21, 2008

TRAIN (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.

TRAIN 1—to develop skill

TRAIN 2—to focus on something (or someone)

(Note that in addition to the usages above, TRAIN has a number of other meanings as a verb, and also as a noun.)

Some related forms:

TRAINING (noun)
TRAINER (noun)
TRAINEE (noun)
TRAINABLE (adj)
UNTRAINABLE (adj)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

1. Training in standard pronunciation improves the ability of international speakers of English to be understood, and allows them to become more confident in expressing themselves.

2. When you train your hearing on the sounds of English surrounding you, you become aware of details you never noticed before.

JANUARY 14, 2008

CLASSIC / CLASSICAL

CLASSIC (adj/noun)—of the highest, most enduring quality or perfectly representative of a type; something or someone with such characteristics

CLASSICAL (adj)—relating to works created in a traditional or formal style; or specifically to the culture of ancient Greece and Rome

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

Some related forms:

CLASSICALLY (adv)
CLASSICS (pl. noun)
CLASSICIST (noun)
CLASSICISM (noun)

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

She always dresses in classic style—her clothes never go out of fashion.

His undermining the project by ignoring the deadline is a classic case of self-destructive behavior.

The book is a classic because it speaks to the concerns of all generations.

They never cared for classical music until a friend introduced them to chamber ensembles rather than full orchestral works.

JANUARY 7, 2008

REPLACE / MISPLACE / DISPLACE

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

REPLACE (verb)—to substitute something with something else
REPLACEMENT—noun

MISPLACE (verb)—to put in the wrong place or lose
MISPLACEMENT—noun

DISPLACE (verb)—to move something from its habitual or rightful location
DISPLACEMENT—noun

Note that it is a change in prefix that alters the meaning. Note too that the definitions above are simplified for the sake of contrast.

SAMPLE SENTENCES:

I’ve replaced my old 35mm film camera with a new digital camera that makes taking pictures much easier and cheaper.

He misplaced his wallet and, after days of fruitless searching, had to conclude that it was lost.

In the process of modernizing the country, the Chinese government has forcibly displaced millions of citizens, often without adequate compensation.