Make Your Point > Archived Issues > TROGLODYTE

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connect today's word to others: A cave-dweller is a troglodyte. So, I really want to start today's issue with Trogdor the Burninator, everyone's favorite Internet dragon--and that's exactly what I'm doing--but the problem with Trogdor is that he doesn't skulk around in caves as often as his name suggests. He's more about getting out there among the peasants, burninating the countryside.  And a true troglodyte stays well away from society, or at least from its youthful, liberal, fast-paced, technological centers. That should remind us of the word L___ite: someone who hates or resists new technologies. Can you recall it? (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "TROGLODYTE" From Greek roots meaning "entering a hole," a troglodyte is a person (or other living thing) who lives in a cave. More generally, troglodytes are people who seem as if they live in caves, because they keep to themselves, they don't participate in society or keep up with it, and they have outdated ways of thinking. Pronunciation: TROG luh dite 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 troglodyte or multiple troglodytes.) Other forms: troglodytes, troglodytic ("TROG luh DIT ick") How to use it: This word is always fun to say. The tone can be funny and lighthearted, or harsh and insulting. You might call someone a troglodyte, or talk about troglodytes in general: "Instagram confuses me; I feel like such a troglodyte;" "his supporters are a bunch of cranky troglodytes." To use the adjective, talk about troglodytic people, groups, habits, attitudes, perspectives, etc. Although "troglodytic" is the official adjective, you can also just use "troglodyte" loosely like an adjective: "that troglodyte worldview," "her comments sounded so troglodyte," "his understanding is troglodyte at best." examples: Bilbo fiercely resists his transition from troglodyte to adventurer. Douglas Coupland's narrator begins by recalling a troglodytic youth: "Politics, we supposed, existed elsewhere in a televised non-paradise; death was something similar to recycling." study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "troglodyte" means when you can explain it without saying "hermit" or "reactionary." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "Compared to (someone else's), my understanding of _____ is troglodytic." Example: "Compared to Wayne's, my understanding of world history is troglodytic." 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. "Bits & Pieces." This month, we're playing with affixes and combining forms, the bits and pieces of our language, matching them to their meanings. The more of these bits and pieces you know, the better you are at decoding unfamiliar words, which is sooo satisfying! I'll share the answers in each subsequent issue. Here are the answers from our previous issue: 1. "paleo-" means "old or ancient." 2. "proto-" means "first or primitive." 3. "après" means "after." 4. "-cene" means "a unit of time." 5. "ante-" means "before." Try this set today. It's about shapes: 1. "falc-" means _____. 2. "platy-" means _____. 3. "nemato-" means _____. 4. "reni-" means _____. 5. "stereo-" means _____.    Answer bank:       A. kidney-shaped       B. sickle-shaped       C. thread-shaped       D. flat or broad       E. solid or 3D review today's word: 1. A close opposite of TROGLODYTIC is A. WARM. B. GRACEFUL. C. INNOVATIVE. 2. The editorial slams him as a troglodyte unable to _____.  A. peer beyond his own dark den of ignorance B. connect with the Baby Boomer generation C. stem the flow of scandals Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. 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. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. A