Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CHRISM

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connect today's word to others: Like the words Christ and Christmas, the word chrism comes from a Greek one meaning "to anoint." Chrism joins our list of words with a holy or religious tone:   1. A devoted follower, or a person who adores, admires, and obeys someone, is an ac___te. 2. A prayer, the action of saying a prayer, or a kind wish for someone else's success or happiness is a be____tion. 3. Any set of official rules, especially a set resembling the Ten Commandments, can be called a dec____ue. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "CHRISM" Literal chrism is a mixture of oil and balm that’s used in holy ceremonies. Figurative chrism is anything that seems holy and soothing in a way that reminds you of sacramental ointment. Pronunciation: KRIZZ um  (rhymes with "prism") Part of speech: Noun, often the uncountable kind ("we need chrism"), but occasionally the countable kind ("we need a chrism"). Other forms: The process is "chrismation." The adjectives are "chrismed" and "chrismal." "Chrism" is also a verb: someone can be chrismed with, or chrismed by, someone or something else. How to use it: When you need to describe something's soothing, healing, holy nature or power, and when the word "balm" isn’t dramatic enough, pick the rare word "chrism."   Talk about something being a chrism, often for the thing or person it helps. Or talk about something serving as a chrism.   You can also refer to "the chrism of something:" the chrism of music, the chrism of tears.   What kinds of things might serve as a chrism? Music that soothes and unifies us, fair elections that bolster our sense of community and our faith in democracy, special comforting routines that ease a toddler's fear about going to bed, etc.   Finally, because literal chrism is a balm applied to the skin, often the forehead, you might talk about receiving the chrism of something, being anointed with the chrism of something, laying a chrism upon something or someone, and so on. examples: She wrote her own eulogy, leaving us with chrismal words of comfort. "The eyes thus touched with the chrism of poetic art see the invisible..."    — Lilian Whiting, The Brownings, Their Life and Art, 1911 study it now: Look away from the screen to define "chrism" without saying "balm" or "unguent." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "_____ transforms into _____ by the chrism of _____." Example: "The nightmare’s terror transformed into humor by the chrism of sunrise." 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. Complete the Limerick! In each issue this month, finish off the last line of the poem with a word or phrase we've checked out before. From the previous issue: Try to read this metaphorically. Try to read this allegorically. But there’s nothing subtle, And a rebuttal’ll Fail to convince, categorically. Try this one today: The plot of Star Wars has been barbecued By nit-picky critics with attitudes Saying "Hey, that can’t happen," As if the attraction Is in a film’s ______________. review today's word: 1. A close opposite of CHRISM is A. SALVE. B. IRRITANT. C. MISBEHAVIOR. 2. He went forth without _____, as if chrismed. A. fear B. thought C. purpose 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