Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NAMELESS

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"NAMELESS" Pronunciation: NAME liss 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 nameless threat” 2. After a linking verb, as in “The threat was nameless.”) Meaning: "Nameless" is another one of those words that's very easy to understand, but it might be underutilized in your vocabulary. Literally, something nameless has no name. Figuratively, something nameless is either impossible to describe in words, or, something or someone nameless is unknown to most people (meaning, that thing or person is not at all famous or not at all distinctive.) Other forms: namelessly, namelessness How to use it: Talk about a nameless person or a nameless group of people (such as nameless workers, nameless haters, or nameless bureaucrats), a nameless place (such as a nameless small town or a nameless forest), a nameless feeling (like a nameless sadness or a nameless longing), and so on. That's the standard way to use this word ("nameless" + noun, as in the first pattern under the explanation of the part of speech above), but you can use it the other way, too: "Someone who must remain nameless," "a city that became nameless," etc. As a young student many years ago, I often felt a nameless fear and sadness come over me on Sunday evenings; I would dread the following morning for no particular reason. Most test-takers dislike the idea of their high-stakes essays being graded by a nameless representative of a faceless company. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You'll know you understand what "nameless" means when you can explain it without saying "name" or "unknown." Think of the last time you felt so happy that you couldn't even describe your feelings in words, and fill in the blank: “A nameless happiness washed over me as _____.” Example: “A nameless happiness washed over me as my newborn baby girl blinked her tiny, beautiful eyes.” 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's game is "Guess the real pop song title when I give you a long-winded, highfalutin version of it." All the answers this month will be titles of popular songs released no earlier than 2012. Try it out each day and see the right answer the next day. We're playing this in order to appreciate the simple, precise vocabulary of pop song titles, despite how often they are criticized for being sappy, trite, and simplistic.   Yesterday’s answer: “Characterized by a Spontaneous Release of Energy” is really “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons.   Try this one today: “Conflagrant Female” A Point Well Made: Ruth Krauss: "Everybody should be quiet near a little stream and listen." 1. The opposite of NAMELESS is A. DISTINGUISHED B. ANONYMOUS C. MULTITUDINOUS 2. The once-nameless cupcake shop _____. A. closed its doors for good. B. served the neighborhood with moderate success. C. posted a funny video that went viral, then served over a hundred customers a day. Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. 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. A 2. C