Make Your Point > Archived Issues > DIAMETRIC
Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.
connect today's word to others:
If you and I believe completely opposite things, or if we hold totally opposite values or strive toward perfectly opposite goals, then it's like we're on opposite ends of a circle, each of us standing on an endpoint of the circle's diameter. We're diametrically opposed.
Imagine that the circle itself is our subject matter: our goals, values, beliefs, or whatever. What's the word that describes thoughts or comments that are slightly relevant--connected only a little bit--that to that subject matter? It's ta______ial.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
make your point with...
"DIAMETRIC"
Think of how a diameter cuts perfectly straight across a shape, and how it stretches the full distance from the two opposite ends.
Something diametric reminds you of a diameter because it's perfectly direct, or total and complete. We use this word to talk about reverses, differences, opposites, and opposition. That is, diametric reverses are complete reverses; diametric differences are as opposite as they can possibly be; diametric opposites are utter, total, complete opposites; and diametric opposition is 100%, absolute opposition.
Pronunciation:
DIE uh MEH trick
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 diametric difference."
2. After a linking verb, as in "The difference is diametric.")
Other common forms:
The adverb is "diametrically."
An alternative adjective is "diametrical."
How to use it:
"Diametric" is the word you need to emphasize how things (like ideas, theories, opinions, and purposes) are not just opposite but starkly opposite, fully opposite, utterly opposite.
Talk about diametric changes or reverses, diametric differences and transformations, diametric contrasts and opposites, and diametric opposition.
The adverb, "diametrically," is especially useful.
We usually follow it with "opposed." Talk about diametrically opposed purposes, diametrically opposed theories and theorists, and diametrically opposed concepts and goals. You can say that someone or something is diametrically opposed to something ("his views on parenting are diametrically opposed to ours," "this approach is diametrically opposed to the traditional one") or say that two people or groups are diametrically opposed on an issue ("she and I are diametrically opposed on how to raise children").
Or, say that people or things are diametrically opposite, or that they differ diametrically: "Our values are diametrically opposite." "Our values differ diametrically."
examples:
For the final tally, it doesn't matter whether your opposition to the bill is diametric or just hesitant--a "no" vote is a "no" vote.
Two of the students showed up with diametrically opposed attitudes: hers, excitement and an eagerness to learn as much as possible; his, annoyance and an open vow to do as little work as possible.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "diametric" means when you can explain it without saying "pure" or "flat-out."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "Although we agree on _____, we differ diametrically on _____."
Example: "Although we agree on the need to aid and protect the poor, we differ diametrically on who should be in charge of providing that help."
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 "A Vocabulary of Movie Quotes."
Jean Picker Firstenberg at the American Film Institute (AFI) says, "Great movie quotes become part of our cultural vocabulary." I believe it! I bet you can recall, verbatim, any of the AFI's "100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time" if all I give you is a single word from the quote.
For example, if I give you the word KANSAS, I bet you can recite this: "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," from The Wizard of Oz (1939).
I'll share each answer in the following issue. And we’ll work our way forward in time, starting with the oldest movies. Let’s play!
From the previous issue: From a 1939 film, what's the famous quote that includes the word ELEMENTARY?
Answer: From The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: "Elementary, my dear Watson."
Try this today: From another 1939 film, what's the famous quote that includes the word FRANKLY?
review today's word:
1. A close opposite of DIAMETRICALLY is
A. PARTIALLY
B. EARNESTLY
C. DRAMATICALLY
2. The two psychologists agreed that too much praise heaped on children is a bad thing, but their reasoning was diametrically opposed: one feared children would develop inflated self-esteem, the other that they would _____.
A. become entitled after thinking too highly of themselves
B. base their self-worth on the approval of others and grow insecure
C. fail to develop any meaningful sense of excellence or what it means to succeed
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. A
2. B
If you and I believe completely opposite things, or if we hold totally opposite values or strive toward perfectly opposite goals, then it's like we're on opposite ends of a circle, each of us standing on an endpoint of the circle's diameter. We're diametrically opposed.
Imagine that the circle itself is our subject matter: our goals, values, beliefs, or whatever. What's the word that describes thoughts or comments that are slightly relevant--connected only a little bit--that to that subject matter? It's ta______ial. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
"DIAMETRIC" Think of how a diameter cuts perfectly straight across a shape, and how it stretches the full distance from the two opposite ends. Part of speech: Other common forms:
For the final tally, it doesn't matter whether your opposition to the bill is diametric or just hesitant--a "no" vote is a "no" vote.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "diametric" means when you can explain it without saying "pure" or "flat-out."
Fill in the blanks: "Although we agree on _____, we differ diametrically on _____."
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. A close opposite of DIAMETRICALLY is
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. |