Make Your Point > Archived Issues > UPBRAID

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explore the archives: Just a few days ago, we looked at a slightly gentler synonym for "upbraid:"______, meaning, basically, to use words to slap someone around. Can you recall it? make your point with... "UPBRAID" To upbraid people is to criticize them harshly. "Upbraid" comes from roots meaning "to make a sudden jerky movement upwards," so when you upbraid people, it's as if you're yanking them up as you start to scold them. Pronunciation: up BRADE Part of speech: Transitive verb. (Like "eat," "try," and "want," all transitive verbs do something to an object. You eat a banana, try a game, and want a new phone. Likewise, you upbraid someone.) Other forms: upbraided, upbraiding, upbraider, upbraidingly Why it looks like "braid:" When you braid hair, you're making quick motions from side to side. And the roots of "upbraid," like I mentioned above, mean "up" + "make a quick movement." That's why these words look alike; they both involve, historically at least, quick motion. How to use it: Pick "upbraid" (instead of "criticize," "admonish," "scold," "rebuke," etc.) when it's like someone is grabbing someone else by the collar to yank that person up and yell at him for what he's done (or failed to do).  Usually you talk about upbraiding people (or groups), often for some fault: "The politician was upbraided for his ignorance of the issues." Or, "We upbraided the politician for his ignorance." You can also upbraid yourself: "I upbraided myself for putting my jeans in the dryer. Again." Finally, although it's rare, you can upbraid a thing, or simply upbraid: "We upbraided his ignorance." "I came here to help, not upbraid." examples: Without naming names, the speaker upbraided his target, saying that it's not in any sense "cool" or "keeping it real" to insist on remaining ignorant of facts. She kept upbraiding students for incorrect answers, then wondering why they became reluctant to speak. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "upbraid" means when you can explain it without saying "scold" or "berate." try it out: Think of a time you scolded yourself (silently or out loud) for doing something foolish or careless, and fill in the blanks: "After upbraiding myself for _____, I decided to _____." Example: "After upbraiding myself for letting valuable coupons expire--which was like throwing away money--I decided to carry them in my purse instead of leaving them in a drawer." 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. When it comes to word roots, everybody knows what some of them mean, like “ambi/amphi” (“both”) and “circum” (“around”) and “hetero” (“different”). This knowledge helps you explain why words like “automobile” and “autobiography” look similar—in this case, it’s because they both involve the concept of “self.” But what about some of the less obvious roots? Could you explain, for example, why “contain” looks so much like “sustain” by defining “tain”? This month, we're exploring the meanings underlying common words you know. You can usually figure these out by looking for an extremely basic concept common to all the words in each group. We’ll start with easier, more obvious roots and move on to trickier ones as the month goes on! Yesterday's question:  In accrue, crescent, decrease, excrete, increase, and recruit, what does “cru/cre” mean?  Answer: To grow.  Try this one today:  In difficult and difficulty, and in facile, facilitate, and facility, what does “fic/fac” mean?  review today's word: 1. The opposite of UPBRAID is A. APPLAUD B. ACCEPT C. UNRAVEL 2. For our _____, we got a major upbraiding. A. year of meticulous research B. petty acts of thievery C. prom night 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. A 2. B