Make Your Point > Archived Issues > FIGMENT

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

explore the archives: Did you see today's word and imagine the lovable purple dragon from Epcot's Journey into Imagination ride? I admit that this character was so precious to me as a kid that I HAD to write about his name, even though you're probably already familiar with it. If so, you may want to skim this issue anyway, because we'll look at ways you can shake "figment" free of that overused phrase "figment of the imagination." So, if you know Figment the dragon, then you know he's playful, imaginative, whimsical, optimistic, and bubbly. So I'd describe him as ef_____scent, c_____ious, and a f___tast. How many of these words can you recall? make your point with... "FIGMENT" A figment is a made-up story or theory, or any idea that only exists in someone's mind. Pronunciation: FIG ment Part of speech: Countable noun. (Countable nouns, like "bottle," "piece," and "decision," are words for things that can be broken into exact units. You talk about "a bottle," "three pieces," and "many decisions." Likewise, talk about one figment or multiple figments.) Other forms: The plural is "figments." For adjectives, choose "figmental," "figmentary," or"figmentitious," but they're all rare. How to use it: Although the most common way to use this word is to dismiss something as a mere "figment of someone's imagination," you don't have to stick to that phrase. You can also call something a figment of someone's mind or psyche, a figment of someone's delusion or dreams, a figment of society, a figment of history, and so on. And you don't even have to use "of." Just call something "a silly figment," "only a figment," "a preposterous figment," "a figment and not a fact," "a figment rather than a reality," "more of a figment than a possibility," and so on. examples: In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert reveals an odd figment that one of her fans dreamed up--something that this troubled reader claimed happened in a novel that absolutely didn't. My pet peeve these days is that offhand claim that "studies proved" something. Where are these studies? Can you cite them, or are they just figments? study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "figment" means when you can explain it without saying "invented story" or "imagined idea." try it out: Think of something silly that a lot of people seem to believe, and fill in the blanks: "_____ may just be a figment dreamed up by (society / Hollywood / optimists / out-of-touch politicians, etc.)." Example: "The difficulty we have with simple tasks, like squeezing out toothpaste, is definitely a hilarious figment dreamed up by whoever makes infomercials." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Well-Named Creatures: Some names for animals and other creatures define themselves instantly or after a brief moment’s thought: anteater, grasshopper, hummingbird, seahorse, octopus (eight-foot). But other names deserve some exploration; they hold hidden clues about what the animals look like or what they do. And sometimes the names reveal how baffled people were when they first caught a glimpse of the creatures and tried to name them. This month, I’ll give you the literal meaning of a creature's name, and you come up with what it is. Answers will appear in alphabetical order this month. (Oh, and the answers might be animals, birds, insects, or even extinct creatures.) Enjoy! From yesterday: A "legendary fiery beast" is a s______. Answer: It's a salamander, whose name comes from Old French. This creature was once supposed to have lived in fire. Try this one today: The word history is a little iffy with this one, but a "leaper" who lives in water is a s______. review today's word: 1. The opposite of FIGMENT is A. HUMOR or LAUGHTER B. TRUTH or REALITY C. TRY or ENDEAVOR 2.  We can blame _____ for all these figments of how much better it was in the past. A. pop art and the development of photography B. the pervasiveness of today's low standards C. a variety of cognitive biases Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@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. B 2. C