Make Your Point > Archived Issues > LIONIZE

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explore the archives: To lionize people is to treat them like lions (like celebrities). What if you want to point out how someone looks like a lion? You might use the adjective le__ine. make your point with... "LIONIZE" One meaning of "lion" is "a much-loved celebrity." So, to lionize people is to treat them like they're adored celebrities. Pronunciation: LIE uh nize Part of speech: Transitive verb. (Like "eat," "try," and "want," all transitive verbs do something to an object. You eat a banana, try a game, and want a new phone. Likewise, you lionize someone.) Other forms: lionized, lionizing, lionization, lionizer How to use it: Talk about how we lionize business executives, politicians, scientists, historical figures, even certain controversial people and criminals, like dictators and drug lords. You can lionize someone as something, or lionize someone for something: "He's lionized as an unbeatable chess player," "she's lionized in the media as a symbol of millennial irreverence," "they were lionized for their calm courage." Some people use the word more loosely and talk about lionizing places, organizations, virtues, aspects and features, ideas and plans, etc. But this usage seems odd to me: I suspect that people don't intend to compare places and things to celebrities, but that's what's happening when they use "lionize" in this way. I believe that "idealize," "idolize," and "glorify" are better words for talking about elevating things and places to a high status. examples: We shouldn't stop critically analyzing someone's work just because he's lionized in popular culture. If we hatewatch a reality show, are we complicit in society's lionization of its stars? study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "lionize" means when you can explain it without saying "raise to the status of a star" or "treat someone like a celebrity." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Person) may be the most lionized (type of person) in (some place, time, or area of interest)." Example: "Billy the Kid may be the most lionized outlaw in Wild West folklore."  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. This month, we're playing with the original and literal meanings of familiar words. I'll give you three words and their original or literal definitions, and you'll match them up. Easy! But then the following day, see if you can recall those old meanings. Hard! :) Our game has two purposes. One, we'll visit the interesting, thought-provoking old meanings of words. And two, we'll remind ourselves of a powerful learning strategy: delayed recalling. Let's play! First, try to recall from yesterday the original meanings of "harass" and "fatal" and the literal meaning of "jeopardy." Answers appear at the bottom of this issue. Next, match these words to their original or literal definitions in the answer bank below: 1. "Leeway" originally meant _____ 2. "Fascinate" originally meant _____ 3. "Trombone" literally means _____ Answer bank: A. "big trumpet." B. "to affect with witchcraft." C. "the sideways drift of a ship." review today's word: 1. A close opposite of LIONIZE is A. DEGRADE B. DISPROVE C. DISILLUSION 2. We tend to lionize them, glossing over their _____. A. extenuating circumstances B. more respectable projects C. errors in judgment Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, 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 game questions: 1. "Harass" originally meant "to wear out." 2. "Fatal" originally meant "fated." 3. "Jeopardy" literally means "an even game." Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C