Make Your Point > Archived Issues > GILT-EDGED

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"GILT-EDGED" Meaning: Something gilt (or gilded) is coated with gold. Books and other papers that are literally gilt-edged have edges that are coated in gold, like this: So, more loosely, something gilt-edged is extremely valuable, extremely high-quality, or extremely elegant. Pronunciation: GILT edged 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 “gilt-edged stocks.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "The stocks were gilt-edged.”) Other forms: Sometimes you'll see "gilt-edge" instead of "gilt-edged." They both make sense when you think about it, so use either. How to use it: Anything incredibly elegant, or anything with extremely high quality or value, can be called gilt-edged. You'd pick this word to place in your listeners' minds that image of shimmering, rich edges of paper. So, you might talk about someone's gilt-edged qualifications, a gilt-edged crowd at a high-fashion event, a gilt-edged home that makes you kind of nervous to touch anything in, a gilt-edged opportunity to move forward in life, a gilt-edged story that will bring happiness and a fresh perspective to the public, etc. Having to move away from my wonderful and well-established tutoring clientele was difficult, but starting over was a gilt-edged opportunity to reduce my workload and spend more time with my daughter. It's sad how often people's gilt-edged reputations get stripped away by news stories about their misconduct. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "gilt-edged" means when you can explain it without saying "golden" or "worth a whole lot." Think of something you do that's extremely valuable or important to you, and fill in the blanks: "_____ is a gilt-edged investment of (time, money, or effort.)" Example: "Days spent laughing and playing with my daughter are a gilt-edged investment of time.'" Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month, we're playing with song lyrics that include words featured in issues of Make Your Point. I’ll give you a few lines from the song, with a blank where our word appears, along with its definition. See if you can come up with it! You can follow the link to see the right answer right away, or just wait until the following day’s issue. Have fun! Yesterday's lyrics: Artist: Fiona Apple Title: Never is a Promise Lyrics:    But as the scenery grows    I see in different lights    The shades and shadows    _____ in my perception Definition: to move in waves. (We studied the adjective, but use the verb here.) Answer: undulate Try this one today: Artist: Elton John Title: Take This Dirty Water Lyrics:    Take this dirty water    Help to keep it clean    Get back to the _____    Purify the stream Definition: a place where water pops up from the ground, or a source or supply of something that is rich, abundant, and maybe even infinite. Peek at the answer... A Point Well Made: Albert Einstein: “Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.” 1. One opposite of GILT-EDGED is A. PERMANENT B. CHEAP C. CORRUPT 2. Something of a gilt-edged career, _____ is basically a _____, my father-in-law once joked. A. teaching small children .. guaranteed daily afternoon headache B. selling real estate .. license to print money C. healing the sick .. lifelong avoidance of malpractice suits Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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. B 2. B Exploring the archives: Today's word describes the highest of highs, the best of the best, the things that are so valuable or so high-quality that it's as if they've been dipped in gold. (Beautiful!) For fun, let's balance things out by recalling a phrase that describes the middle: - A j____ m______ is a happy medium: something that's just right and not too extreme. And see if you can recall that word for things at the bottom: - The b_______ is a basic starting point or a specific basic value that you use to make comparisons.