Make Your Point > Archived Issues > METEORIC

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connect today's word to others: Just yesterday we checked out a word for someone who reminds you of a sun, a moon, or a lamp. And today we're checking out a word for something that reminds you of a shooting star. Think of how Glinda the Good Witch first appears to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz: dazzling and beautiful, but there and gone in such a flash that Dorothy says, "My, people come and go so quickly here!" Glinda's appearance is meteoric. It's like a meteor: brilliant and sensational, but also tr____ent, or lasting for a short time only. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "METEORIC" Meteoric things remind you of a meteor (a shooting star) because they're amazing and impressive AND they come or go very suddenly and quickly. Pronunciation: me dee OR ick 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 "a meteoric thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was meteoric.") Other forms: meteor(s), meteorically How to use it: Talk about a meteoric path or flight. Or about a meteoric rise or fall: a dictator's meteoric rise, an artist's meteoric rise in popularity, a celebrity's meteoric fall from grace. Because the phrase "meteoric rise to fame" is so overused, I recommend avoiding it. You can also talk about meteoric fame or stardom, a meteoric career, meteoric talent, meteoric heights, meteoric success, meteoric sales, meteoric growth or surges, meteoric popularity, things that come and go in a meteoric blaze, etc. examples: Late-night hosts and YouTube parodists capitalized on Rebecca Black's meteoric fame while they could. I'm inspired by the meteoric success of Hamilton: An American Musical; apparently, history is cool now. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "meteoric" means when you can explain it without saying "stunning" or "fleeting." try it out: Fill in the blank: "_____ came--and went--in a meteoric blaze." Example: "The fidget spinner came--and went--in a meteoric blaze." 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, see if you can associate a snippet of song lyrics with a word we’ve studied before. For example, here's Dave Matthews: "Wasting time, let the hours roll by doing nothing for the fun. A little taste of the good life." Those lyrics call to mind the word LOTUS-EATING. From our previous issue:  In "Tattoo," Jordin Sparks sings: "You're still a part of everything I do. You're on my heart just like a tattoo. Just like a tattoo, I'll always have you." Do those lyrics call to mind the word INDELIBLE, INCHOATE, or INAPPRECIABLE? Why? Answer: INDELIBLE. Something indelible is uneraseable: it can't be wiped out or forgotten. Try this today: In "The One," Elton John sings: "In the instant that you love someone In the second that the hammer hits Reality runs up your spine And the pieces finally fit." Do those lyrics call to mind the word CANONICAL, EPIPHANIC, or SARDONIC? Why? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of METEORIC is A. DETONATIVE. B. HUMDRUM. C. GAUCHE. 2. Among girls in the tenth grade, the trendy little scarf worn as a headband _____ meteorically and, almost as quickly, _____. A. swelled .. sunk B. rose .. plummeted C. spread .. contracted Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B