Make Your Point > Archived Issues > AMORPHOUS

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connect today's word to others: I recall getting highly frustrated with one of my middle school teachers as she defined for us the word amorphous. Drawing a random, bulbous, blobby shape on the board, like an amoeba, she said, "Something amorphous is shapeless, like this." And in my dense and very literal teenage head, I was shouting, "Lady, you're insane. You just drew a shape and said it was shapeless. You're saying that amorphous means shapeless, but you're drawing a blob-shaped shape with all kinds of shapely curves." Clearly I've not gotten over it. Of course, what she meant was, something amorphous has no definite shape, no precise, regular, easily recognizable, easily labeled shape, like "square" or "oval." The word amorphous comes through Latin from Greek roots meaning "without" (a) and "form or shape" (morph), which is why it resembles words like morph, morpheme, and metamorphosis. It describes all kinds of concrete and abstract things that are loose, vague, messy, unorganized, and unclear, so it's a synonym of words like inc_____e ("in an early stage, not yet well-developed or organized"), neb____s ("cloudy and hazy, vague and unclear"), and nond____ipt ("featureless and therefore hard to describe"). (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "AMORPHOUS" Literally meaning "without shape," the word "amorphous" can mean either "shaped in a blobby, irregular way" or "vague, fuzzy, unorganized, or unstructured." Pronunciation: uh MORF us Part of speech: Adjective: "an amorphous cloud," "the plan is amorphous." Other forms: Amorphously, amorphousness. An alternate adjective is "amorphic." The exact opposite of "amorphous" is "morphous," but we hardly ever use it, and when we do, it's usually right along with the word "amorphous" to contrast things. How to use it: Because this word has specific uses in chemistry, biology, and geology, it has a bit of a scientific tone. We can be literal and talk about amorphous shapes, blobs, drawings, symbols and so on. Objects, too, can be called amorphous, which is often funny: "this amorphous hat," "her amorphous cloak," "that amorphous casserole." (The humor comes from the surprise--we expected hats to be hat-shaped, casseroles to be casserole-shaped, etc.) Often, we talk figuratively about amorphous plans, goals, hopes, visions, dreams, daydreams, imaginings, expectations, campaigns, concepts, and so on, even an amorphous past or future. Feelings, too, can be amorphous, meaning they lack clear definition or justification: amorphous hope, eagerness, excitement, dread, hatred, resentment, etc. examples: I've loved her since she was an amorphous little blob of cells, and even before that, when she was just a plan, a hope. "[The product line called Hers] flies the banner of self-care, beneath which so many new companies, products and services have begun to crowd. And self-care, like its near cousin wellness, is an amorphous, evolving term, an open tent."    — Matthew Schneier, The New York Times, 1 November 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "amorphous" without saying "shapeless" or "lacking form." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "It's hard to (structure, understand, or master) the vast and amorphous (body, system, culture, or world) of _____." Example: "It's hard to master the vast and amorphous body of American poetry. But well-edited anthologies help." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Controversial Catchphrases! This month, let's consider all kinds of important, ongoing controversies in our world. I'll give you a handful of key phrases that people use when they argue over a controversial question, and you try to pinpoint what that question is. I'll be drawing these issues and phrases from ProCon.org, a fantastic resource for understanding controversial issues (and for introducing those issues to your kids). From the previous issue: People who argue "yes" say things like "discretion," "vulgarity," and "finite public resources." People who argue "no" say things like "encourages empathy," "essential cultural knowledge," and "a portal to different life experiences." What's the question? The question is, "Should parents and other adults be able to ban books from schools and libraries?" (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.) Try this one today: People who argue "yes" say things like "keeps prices down," "cost-efficient to produce," and "helps raise money for charities." People who argue "no" say things like "practically no value," "environmentally costly," and "save time on transactions." What's the question? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of AMORPHOUS is A. CLEVER. B. DEFINITE. C. ENTICING. 2. They're tastier than they look, these amorphous _____. A. biscuits B. smoothies C. vats of soup 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. A