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Younger readers, do you say epic too much? You need Homeric in your life.
How about annoying? You need i_p__t_n_te.
Depressing? L_m_nt_bl_.
Noted troll? P_p_r t_g_r. (Two words.)
The goal isn't to talk fancier. It's to be more specific and varied in your word choice.
make your point with...
"HOMERIC"
Something Homeric reminds you of Homer, the ancient Greek writer of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. (Those super-long poems are about battles, heroes, and journeys.) So, Homeric things are grand or large-scale, like an epic poem.
Pronunciation:
ho MARE ick
Part of speech:
Proper adjective.
You always capitalize proper adjectives, like "Korean," "Shakespearean," and "Christian."
(Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late."
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in "a Homeric thing."
2. After a linking verb, as in "The thing was Homeric.")
Other forms:
Homerically
How to use it:
When you use "Homeric," you're probably being either silly ("I can't believe he polished off that Homeric steak") or dramatic ("Their speeches are as vulgar as his are Homeric").
Either way, talk about Homeric heroes and adventures, Homeric sagas and stories and quests, Homeric struggles, Homeric conflict and Homeric battles, Homeric accomplishments and tasks, Homeric scenes, etc.
Something might have a Homeric quality or character, and something can be Homeric in scale. Things can swell into (or grow into) Homeric proportions.
Finally, dictionaries list four phrases that start with "Homeric," but I'll mention these useful two. A Homeric catalogue is any extremely long and detailed list. This comes from the Iliad, which mentions a super-long list of war ships on their way to Troy. And Homeric laughter is loud, uncontrollable laughter. Also from the Iliad (and the Odyssey too), it's a reference to the laughter of the gods. Because these gods laughed at someone for being disabled, "Homeric laughter" often is not only loud but also cruel.
examples:
The Mississippi Miracle, possibly the longest play in the history of college football, spanned a Homeric 62 seconds as the Trinity Tigers made 15 lateral passes.
My eighth-grade student has conquered the Homeric task of memorizing the periodic table. That kid's going places.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "Homeric" means when you can explain it without saying "epic" or "lofty."
try it out:
Think of someone very knowledgeable about a particular subject. Fill in the blanks: "Off the top of (his/her) head, (Person) can give you a Homeric catalogue of _____."
Example: "Off the top of his head, Chad can give you a Homeric catalogue of brain structures and functions."
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 anagrams: rearrangements of the letters in a word to form new words. (For example, “care” has two anagrams: “acre” and “race.”) Looking for these makes you a stronger player in other word games. But more importantly, it helps you practice thinking flexibly and methodically. Plus you get to giggle at potential non-words and discover new real words. We’ll work our way from shorter to longer anagrams. And at any point if you wonder why I left out a word you wanted to list, or why I included a word you think isn’t a real one, hold your fire: our authority for this game is ScrabbleWordFinder.org, which draws from a highly inclusive dictionary. Let’s play!
From yesterday: What is the 1 anagram for COAT?
Answer: TACO!
Try this one today: What are the 5 anagrams for STOW?
review today's word:
1. The opposite of HOMERIC is
A. HUMBLE
B. HUMOROUS
C. HARDSCRABBLE
2. _____ sends her into a Homeric _____.
A. The sight of the rocking chair .. reverie
B. The slightest insult .. rage
C. The cookie .. memory
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. A
2. B
Younger readers, do you say epic too much? You need Homeric in your life.
"HOMERIC" Something Homeric reminds you of Homer, the ancient Greek writer of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. (Those super-long poems are about battles, heroes, and journeys.) So, Homeric things are grand or large-scale, like an epic poem. Pronunciation: Part of speech:
The Mississippi Miracle, possibly the longest play in the history of college football, spanned a Homeric 62 seconds as the Trinity Tigers made 15 lateral passes.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "Homeric" means when you can explain it without saying "epic" or "lofty."
Think of someone very knowledgeable about a particular subject. Fill in the blanks: "Off the top of (his/her) head, (Person) can give you a Homeric catalogue of _____."
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.
1. The opposite of HOMERIC is
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
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