Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SPLINTER
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pronounce
SPLINTER:
Say it "SPLIN tur."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
When a group branches, or r__ifies, it splits into separate groups, as if growing outward in multiple directions. This kind of splitting seems natural, even healthy, like a tree expanding itself to reach more light.
But when a group splinters, it splits into separate groups in a violent, unhealthy, unnatural way, as if sharp little pieces are breaking and chipping off. This kind of splitting is destructive.
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definition:
The words "splint" and "splinter" probably come from Middle Dutch, from a word meaning "a thin piece of something that's been cut off."
A splint is a thin strip or piece of material. And a splinter is a thin, sharp, rough, long piece of something that's broken off from the main piece. Often it's a piece of wood or stone. You've probably gotten one lodged in a finger or a foot. Ouch.
Figuratively speaking, splinters are tiny pieces of something that was damaged or broken into sections.
And, to splinter is to break off into separate pieces or groups, in a way that suggests damage that can't be reversed.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Often a noun: "The dispute left the group in splinters."
Also often a verb, both the transitive kind ("The dispute splintered the group") and the intransitive kind ("The group splintered").
Other forms:
Splintered, splintering, splintery.
how to use it:
"Splinter" is a common word with endless figurative uses. Its sound perfectly encapsulates its meaning. Hear that little explosion: SPLINTer!
You can be literal and talk about splintered trees, bones, doors, fences, houses, etc. It's especially great for describing tiny individual pieces chipping off from a main piece. "She erases furiously, and tiny pink bits of rubber splinter off and smear across the page." Here's a fun example from Rick Riordan: "They shot out of the garage before it was fully open, leaving a Cadillac-shaped hole of splintered wood."
You can also be figurative and talk about splintered hopes, relationships, clubs, companies, political parties, etc.
And, you can use "splinter" to suggest a painful, violent kind of breakage. "With a migraine, you feel as though your brain will splinter." "He kept climbing up the mountain, feeling as though his spine might splinter." Here's Colson Whitehead: "Her burdens were such to splinter her into a thousand pieces."
Of course, "splinter" doesn't have to connote pain or violence. It can connote intricacy instead. Here's Jandy Nelson: "His [eyes] are such a light brown... all splintered with green."
examples:
"On the map... trails splintered off from the village and led into the Wood."
— Malinda Lo, Huntress, 2011
"The group walked to their morning classes, splintering as they broke off to find their homerooms."
— Mark Oshiro, Anger Is a Gift: A Novel, 2018
has this page helped you understand "splinter"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "splinter" without saying "smithereens" or "shatter."
try it out:
Fill in the blank: "(Some particular group of people) is really splintered."
Example: "The [One Direction] fandom... is really splintered. There are a lot of different factions. The Harry Styles fandom is probably the most visible currently because he has the most star power."
— Kaitlyn Tiffany, as quoted by Nilay Patel, The Verge, 14 June 2022
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game this month is Oddball Recall!
Given some abbreviated definitions and a few letters, try to recall some of the kookiest terms we've studied. To see the answers, scroll all the way down.
Try this set today: Nein, bitte!
1. Creepy copy: d_____g___er.
2. Sympathetic shame: fremds___m.
3. Malicious glee: Sch____fr____.
4. World-weary pessimism: W___schm__z.
5. No matter what you choose, you're out of luck: Z__zw___.
review this word:
A. TIE and TEND.
B. HEAL and UNITE.
C. HELP and IMPROVE.
2.
As the narrator explains in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, being a "splinter" requires the kind of _____ that only a _____ can achieve.
A. teamwork .. close family of operatives
B. stealth .. single operative working alone
C. allegiance .. dedicated, patriotic operative
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
When a group branches, or r__ifies, it splits into separate groups, as if growing outward in multiple directions. This kind of splitting seems natural, even healthy, like a tree expanding itself to reach more light.
The words "splint" and "splinter" probably come from Middle Dutch, from a word meaning "a thin piece of something that's been cut off."
Part of speech:
"Splinter" is a common word with endless figurative uses. Its sound perfectly encapsulates its meaning. Hear that little explosion: SPLINTer!
"On the map... trails splintered off from the village and led into the Wood."
Explain the meaning of "splinter" without saying "smithereens" or "shatter."
Fill in the blank: "(Some particular group of people) is really splintered."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |