Make Your Point > Archived Issues > OPAQUE

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explore the archives: Not just in literature but also in our vocabulary, light represents clarity and comprehension; darkness represents confusion and incomprehension. Opaque, meaning "hard to understand," originally meant "lying in shadow." It might remind you of the verb ob__cate, meaning to make something dark or to make something hard to understand on purpose--to leave people in the dark. make your point with... "OPAQUE" "Opaque" is the opposite of "transparent." Opaque things aren't see-through: an opaque sheet of glass and an opaque pair of tights aren't transparent and so you can't see through them. Figuratively, something opaque is unclear and hard to understand.  Pronunciation: oh PAKE 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 "an opaque process." 2. After a linking verb, as in "Their process was opaque.") Other forms: opaquely, opaqueness/opacity How to use it: This word usually has a negative tone.  Talk about an opaque process or system, an opaque bureaucracy, or opaque business practices: you mean that the details or steps involved are unclear or hidden and therefore suspicious. Opaque words, phrases, sentences, essays, emails, comments and so on are unclear and therefore frustrating, misleading, or useless. Opaque problems and issues are very hard to understand and therefore are especially troubling and hard to solve. Other things you might call opaque include a past or a history; figures, records, or other documentation; a work of art or literature, such as a poem, painting, novel, or film; an entire business market or industry; and an entire topic or subject, like linguistics, fate, or humanity. examples: He writes in page-long sentences that twist and turn ungrammatically and wind up saying nothing in particular. So yes, his style is opaque. Considering your expertise and background knowledge, I'm hoping you can shed some light for me on this opaque issue. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "opaque" means when you can explain it without saying "fuzzy" or "incomprehensible." try it out: Think of something you find mysterious, secretive, or suspicious, and fill in the blanks: "I'd love to get some clarity on that whole opaque (issue / problem / process / system / method) of _____." Example: "Everything is fishy about this study. But for starters, I'd love to get some clarity on that whole opaque method of how they recruited their participants." 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. Well-Named Creatures: Some names for animals and other creatures define themselves instantly or after a brief moment’s thought: anteater, grasshopper, hummingbird, seahorse, octopus (eight-foot). But other names deserve some exploration; they hold hidden clues about what the animals look like or what they do. And sometimes the names reveal how baffled people were when they first caught a glimpse of the creatures and tried to name them. This month, I’ll give you the literal meaning of a creature's name, and you come up with what it is. Answers will appear in alphabetical order this month. (Oh, and the answers might be animals, birds, insects, or even extinct creatures.) Enjoy! From yesterday: A creature whose name means "he strips off” (as in, he strips off tree bark to eat it) is a m______. Answer: It's a moose, whose name comes from an Algonquian language. Try this one today: A "little gnat" or "little fly" is a m______. review today's word: 1. One opposite of OPAQUE is A. HAZY B. DULL C. LUCID 2. Fees and surcharges that accompany airfare are frustrating and perhaps excessive, but they're not opaque: _____. A. they don't actually double the advertised price B. if you shop around, you can avoid some of them C. you can see an itemized list of those extras charges Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@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. C 2. C