Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SACROSANCT

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"SACROSANCT" Pronunciation: SACK ro sankt 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 sacrosanct idea.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "The idea was sacrosanct.”) Meaning: Something sacrosanct is very, very holy. More loosely, something sacrosanct is so excellent (or so accepted, important, protected, or loved) that you can't even interrupt it, mess with it or change it, or even say anything bad about it. Other forms: "Sacrosanctity" and "sacrosanctness" are both correct when you need a noun, but I think the first one sounds nicer. How to use it: Talk about a sacrosanct ritual, a sacrosanct freedom or right, a sacrosanct principle, a sacrosanct period of time or holiday, a sacrosanct belief or commitment, a sacrosanct image or reputation, and so on. Someone or something can achieve a sacrosanct status, and if you're particularly open-minded or particularly cynical, you might believe that nothing in this world is sacrosanct. Head on over to Wikipedia's list of common misconceptions, and prepare to have some of your most sacrosanct beliefs torn asunder. It's fun! In my work as a private tutor, respect for the child is sacrosanct, just as patient confidentiality is to a health professional. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "sacrosanct" means when you can explain it without saying “ultra-holy” or “beyond criticism." Think of a place or a time of day that is extremely important to you, and fill in the blanks: "(Place or time of day) is sacrosanct to me; it's (here/there/then) that I (do something extremely important.)" Example: "Waking up in the morning with my baby daughter is sacrosanct to me; it's then that I snuggle her quietly and look at the way the light hits her hair." 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: Messages that go through an automated translator into several languages and back into English again often end up sounding funny and garbled-- but still somehow meaningful. We’re having fun with that phenomenon this month as we play our game: Guess the moral from Aesop’s Fables after it has been translated into a few foreign languages and back again by a computer program. Some of the morals may be very familiar to you, others not so much. You don’t need to quote Aesop verbatim but rather just understand the message being conveyed. Try it out each day and see the right answer the following day.   Yesterday’s answer: The translation-babble said, “Success reduced a lot.” Aesop said, “Success has been the ruin of many a man.” Try this one today: “It is not easy to avoid imitating something you can escape the impact of the efforts of its desire, but it will never completely disappear.” A Point Well Made: Paulo Coelho: "Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure." 1. The opposite of SACROSANCT is A. UNIVERSAL B. ASSAILABLE C. UGLY 2. _____, though _____, is sacrosanct to every scientist. A. Publishing for the sake of publishing .. questionable B. The willingness to reject one's own hypothesis when evidence disproves it .. difficult C. The theory that the planet is only a few thousand years old .. troublesome 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