Make Your Point > Archived Issues > VIVACITY

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explore the archives: Vivacious people--those with vivacity--are animated, happy and cheerful, and full of life. We got these words from the Latin vivere ("to live"), which gave us lots of familiar words like vital, revive, and survive, even the name Vivian. You can see vivere also in     "on the q__ vive," a phrase describing sharp alertness;    sav____ vivre, your knowledge of how to fit in with sophisticated society;    and j___ d_ vivre, that happy enjoyment you get from living your wonderful life. make your point with... "VIVACITY" Vivacity is cheerful liveliness. Pronunciation: vih VASS ih dee Part of speech: Uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations." Likewise, talk about "his vivacity," "such vivacity," "a lot of vivacity," "no vivacity," and so on, but don’t say "vivacities.") Other forms: "Vivacious" (say it "vie VAY shuss") & "vivaciously."  There's also "vivaciousness," but why bother with it when "vivacity" sounds so much better? How to use it: Choose "vivacity" instead of "liveliness" (and "vivacious" instead of "lively") when you need a fun, bold word that stands out--just like the people you're describing.  Talk about his vivacity, her vivacity, the vivacity of someone, people who have vivacity (or lack vivacity), people who are full of vivacity or brimming with vivacity, etc. You can also do something with vivacity: "he dances with vivacity," "she speaks with vivacity," "they write with vivacity." You might talk about the vivacity of art, music, events, periods of time, or things in nature (like roses or the northern lights), but it's usually people who are vivacious. examples: The Glass Menagerie's Laura, shy and constantly daydreaming, has no interest in cultivating the charm and vivacity her mother wants to see. Whether you think of these kids as vivacious or simply hyper depends on how much chaos you can tolerate. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "vivacity" means when you can explain it without saying "vim" or "gusto." try it out: Think of someone you know who's outgoing and fun. Fill in the blanks: "I (appreciate/enjoy) (Person's) vivacity (at/in/when) _____." Example: "I appreciate the teachers' vivacity at my daughter's day care." 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. Our game this month is called One-Word Titles! Rely on your cultural knowledge, your vocabulary, or both as we consider the power and simplicity of one-word titles. We'll recall movies, songs, books, television shows, and musicals with brief, meaningful, well-chosen titles of only one word each. Let's play! From yesterday: The title of this 1952 movie, directed by and starring Charles Chaplin, means "a means of lighting a stage, or the attention and focus given to someone famous." The title is _________. Answer: Limelight. Try this today: The title of this 1998 movie, directed by Michael Bay and starring Bruce Willis, means "a catastrophic conflict, especially one that destroys the entire world." (And it’s a word we got from the Hebrew name of a city that will, supposedly, host the world’s last battle between good and evil.) The title is __________. review today's word: 1. One opposite of VIVACITY is A. CAPACITY B. FLIPPANCY C. LISTLESSNESS 2. What he lacks in vivacity, he makes up for in _____. A. dry wit B. boisterous jokes C. vivid storytelling 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 review questions: 1. C 2. A