Make Your Point > Archived Issues > HERCULEAN
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"HERCULEAN"
Meaning:
When you think of Hercules, the hero from classical mythology, you think of superhuman strength, since Hercules slayed demons, fought giants, and so on.
So, something Herculean takes a ton of strength, bravery, or work. Something Herculean can also be incredibly powerful or immense.
Pronunciation:
her KYOO lee un
Part of speech:
Adjective.
(Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.”
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in “Herculean tasks.”
2. After a linking verb, as in "The tasks were Herculean.”)
Other forms:
none
How to use it:
Talk about Herculean tasks or labors, Herculean challenges, Herculean feats and accomplishments, Herculean effort or strength, and so on.
Should you capitalize this word? Sure, if you want to. A lot of people do, including me. But just as many folks these days use a lowercase. Use the capital if you like to stay true to the word's association with the character Hercules.
Dr. Seuss's books may be a breeze for a child to read, but actually writing each one was a Herculean task for him.
It seems hard to write a good college application essay when your life as a sheltered teenager hasn't involved overcoming any Herculean obstacles, but honesty and thoughtful reflection can go a long way in those essays.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "Herculean" means when you can explain it without saying "hard" or "laborious."
Think of something extremely difficult that someone you know has accomplished, and fill in the blank: "_____ must have taken Herculean strength."
Example: "Sticking to his diet until he was a healthy weight again, resisting every single cupcake and plate of creamy pasta offered to him, must have taken Herculean strength."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
Playing With Words:
This month, challenge your powers of memory and recall (or just get ready to reign supreme on Wheel of Fortune) as we play with two-word phrases that you’ll find in a dictionary. We’ll start off with easy tasks and advance to harder ones as the month goes on. See the right answer to each question the following day. You might even see a new phrase that inspires your curiosity and makes you look it up. Have fun! (Note: Every dictionary recognizes a different set of two-word phrases. I used the OED to make these game questions.)
Yesterday's question:
You’ll see the first word of each phrase, along with a blank line hinting at the length of the second word. See how many of them you can think of:
class ____
class _________
class __________
class ______
class _________
class _________
class _________
class ______
Answers:
(As before, you may have thought of even more phrases starting with “class” than I listed below, due to differences in our dictionaries, and in me being selective when building my list!)
class bias
class conflict
class difference
class divide
class prejudice
class privilege
class relations
class status
Try this one today:
Now we’ll switch gears and play with trivia questions about two-word phrases, building toward harder questions as the month comes to an end.
What’s a two-word phrase meaning a target that isn’t moving, and therefore is easy to hit? Hint: the second word in the phrase is a type of animal.
A Point Well Made:
C. S. Lewis: “Try to say the very thing you really mean, the whole of it, nothing more or less or other than what you really mean.”
1. The opposite of HERCULEAN is
A. WASTEFUL
B. WISTFUL
C. WIMPY
2. They undertook the Herculean effort to _____.
A. notify parents three weeks before any planned field trips
B. clean out the dust and lint from behind the washer and dryer
C. write an entertaining musical episode although none of them were musicians
Answers are below.
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Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. C
2. C
Exploring the archives:
Today's Herculean joins several other mythological adjectives. Could you recall these?
- A tall, beautiful, kinda scary woman is J________.
- Something glorious or perfectly happy is E______.
- A scary situation that's about to turn disastrous is D________.
"HERCULEAN"
Pronunciation: Part of speech: How to use it: Now we’ll switch gears and play with trivia questions about two-word phrases, building toward harder questions as the month comes to an end. |