Make Your Point > Archived Issues > VITUPERATION

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explore the archives: Both vituperation and our recent word vitiate come from the Latin vitium, meaning "fault or defect." Often we can define an English word in terms of the Latin root it comes from, like this: "Vituperation is the use of very harsh language to point out faults and defects." Try to do the same for vitiate: define it by using the words "fault" and "defect." make your point with... "VITUPERATION" To vituperate is to say very harsh, mean, critical things about someone or something. And vituperation is the act of doing that: in other words, vituperation is using harsh, mean words to criticize people or things. Pronunciation: vie TOO pur AY shun Part of speech: Uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations." Likewise, talk about "the vituperation," "such vituperation," "a lot of vituperation," "no vituperation," and so on, but don’t say "vituperations.") Other forms: Like I mentioned above, "vituperate" is the verb: you vituperate people, you vituperate things, or you simply vituperate. The adjective is "vituperative" (say it "vuh TOO pur uh tiv"). How to use it: Talk about his vituperation, her vituperation, their vituperation, etc. Or talk about the vituperation against people and things. You can have an avalanche of vituperation, waves of vituperation, heaps of vituperation, etc. You can also talk about the vituperation that marks (or characterizes, spoils, or sours) some event or sphere or style of speaking or writing. And you can respond with vituperation, let loose a blast of vituperation, direct vituperation at someone or something, ignore all the vituperation, refrain from vituperation, or ensure that a discussion remains free of vituperation. examples: I can see that he's got a point and some genuine grievances, but in this article it's hard to comprehend them amid all his vituperation. She keeps personal photos off social media, avoiding the vituperation so many other famous women have endured for how they feed their babies, how they kiss their children, and how they dress after a certain age. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "vituperation" means when you can explain it without saying "bitter language" or "abusive blame." try it out: Think of someone who often speaks with anger or with bitter criticism. Fill in the blanks: "(Person) is a vituperative (opponent/proponent) of _____." Example: "She is a vituperative opponent of peaceful protest, calling participants 'whiners' and 'crybabies.'" 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. This month, we're playing with the original and literal meanings of familiar words. I'll give you three words and their original or literal definitions, and you'll match them up. Easy! But then the following day, see if you can recall those old meanings. Hard! :) Our game has two purposes. One, we'll visit the interesting, thought-provoking old meanings of words. And two, we'll remind ourselves of a powerful learning strategy: delayed recalling. Let's play! First, try to recall from yesterday the original meaning of "prisoner" and the literal meanings of "avalanche" and "calisthenics." Answers appear at the bottom of this issue. Next, match these words to their original or literal definitions in the answer bank below: 1. "Budget" originally meant _____ 2. "Futile" literally means _____ 3. "Quotation" originally meant _____ Answer bank: A. "easily emptied (leaky)." B. "a small leather container." C. "a numbering." review today's word: 1. The opposite of VITUPERATION is A. PANEGYRIC B. ENCAPSULATION C. ADMONITION 2.  It's a _____ forum where civilized disagreement has _____ into vituperation. A. homogeneous .. blended B. welcoming .. morphed C. hateful .. devolved 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 game questions: 1. "Avalanche" literally means "descent." 2. "Calisthenics" literally means "beautifully strong." 3. "Prisoner" originally meant "jailkeeper." Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C