Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SEDENTARY

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explore the archives: Sedentary comes from the Latin sedere, "to sit," which gave us tons of other words about literal and figurative sitting, like séance, siege, possess, and preside. And sa___ed, a word describing people who bear heavy, difficult responsibilities. (Hint: it relates to literal sitting!) make your point with... "SEDENTARY" Sedentary things involve sitting down for a long time. And sedentary people spend most of their time sitting down. Pronunciation: SED un tair ee 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 sedentary thing" or "a sedentary person." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was sedentary." or "He is sedentary.") Other forms: They're rare, but if you need them, you've got "sedentariness" and "sedentarily." How to use it: Because "sedentary" often suggests laziness and/or a variety of health problems, the word carries a negative tone. It describes both people who sit a lot and activities that involve sitting down. So, talk about sedentary animals, sedentary people, and their sedentary existences, lives, and lifestyles. Or, talk about sedentary activities; sedentary behavior; and sedentary jobs, careers, and work. examples: Netflix time with our toddler isn't quite as sedentary as it sounds; we're often running around and playing with toys while the show plays in the background. During the winter holidays, we're much more sedentary... and much more likely to snack on cookies. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "sedentary" means when you can explain it without saying "motionless" or "sluggish." try it out: Think of a job or career that forces you to sit still most of the time. Fill in the blanks: "_____ may be a sedentary (job/career), but it does offer (some specific advantage)." Example: "Tutoring may be a sedentary career, but it does offer a lot of joy and laughter." 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 called One-Word Titles! Rely on your cultural knowledge, your vocabulary, or both as we consider the power and simplicity of one-word titles. We'll recall movies, songs, books, television shows, and musicals with brief, meaningful, well-chosen titles of only one word each. Let's play! From yesterday: The title of this 2007 movie, directed by Kevin Lima and starring Amy Adams, means "captivated, delighted, under a spell." The title is _________. Answer: Enchanted. Try this today: The title of this 2009 movie, directed by James Cameron and starring Sam Worthington, means "a manifestation, an incarnation." The title is ______. review today's word: 1. The opposite of SEDENTARY is A. AGGRESSIVE B. ACTIVE C. PASSIVE 2. "_____ to 5K" is a plan that gets the sedentary off and running. A. Court B. Couch C. Treadmill Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, 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. B 2. B