Make Your Point > Archived Issues > KEYSTONE

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"KEYSTONE" Pronunciation: KEE stone Part of speech: Countable noun. (Countable nouns, like “bottle,” “piece,” and “decision,” are words for things that can be broken into exact units. You talk about “a bottle,” “three pieces,” and “many decisions.” Likewise, talk about one keystone or multiple keystones.) Meaning: A keystone is the piece at the top of an arch that keeps all the other pieces in place: ("Arch voussoirs" by Jhbdel - inkscape. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arch_voussoirs.svg#/media/File:Arch_voussoirs.svg) Abstractly, a keystone is the most important part of something. The keystone holds the other parts together and supports them. (Take out the keystone of something, and all the other parts will crumble.) Other forms: keystones How to use it: Usually, you talk about something being the keystone of something else: "Communication is the keystone of a relationship." You might mention a keystone in general when your meaning is clear ("That product line lost its keystone") or add a description before the word: a cultural keystone, a pop music keystone, a weight loss keystone, etc. And, every now and again you'll see "keystone" used like an adjective, mostly in the phrase "a keystone species." A delicious tortilla is the keystone of a burrito. You can have the freshest beans and veggies and an amazing homemade salsa, but wrap it all up in a dry, tasteless tortilla and the whole thing is ruined. Children's sense of being respected is the keystone of the trust they place in a tutor.  Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "keystone” means when you can explain it without saying “support" or “mainstay." Think of an important thing that helps your city, town, community, school, or workplace thrive, and fill in the blanks: "_____ is one of (Place)'s keystones." Example: "Tourism is one of Hawaii's keystones." 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's game content is protected by a copyright, so I can't reprint the trivia questions here--but check out the thoughtful and thorough reference book that I got them from: Last Words of Notable People! A Point Well Made: Rebecca Newberger Goldstein: “[Philosophy’s] mandate is to render our views and our attitudes maximally coherent.” 1. One possible opposite of KEYSTONE is A. SUBSIDIARY B. LOCK C. WOOD 2. Most of us have forgotten the details we learned in science courses but retained the keystones, like _____. A. the most exciting lab experiments B. the fact that matter can't be created or destroyed C. the uproarious but inappropriate shenanigans of the class clown during dissections 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. A 2. B