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"EDDY" Pronunciation: ED ee (just like the first name "Eddie") 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 eddy or multiple eddies.) Meaning: An eddy is a swirling current that goes against the main current. It's usually in liquid but can be in gas, also. More loosely, an eddy is anything that moves in its own little direction separate from everything else. It's this second meaning that we'll focus on. If it doesn't quite make sense to you now, the upcoming examples should help. Other forms: Plural: "eddies." "Eddy" is also a verb: something eddies, meaning it moves in a swirling direction against the main current. How to use it: For the noun, talk about eddies of people on the dance floor, eddies of shoppers in the crowded mall, eddies of chatter in the audience, eddies of color on a painting or a flower, eddies of harmony in the choir, the complex eddies of thought in a prodigy's mind, the random eddies of the plot in a disorganized novel, and so on. For the verb, talk about something eddying: gnats eddying around the room, steam from a mug eddying through the air, rumors eddying around your office, ideas that eddy through your mind, eddying daydreams, and so on. Young children who haven't yet learned the rules of conversation can be so refreshing; they follow the eddies of their own thoughts and often interrupt with random observations. Steam eddying up from a pot of pasta is a comforting sight. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "eddy” means when you can explain it without saying “whirl” or “swirl." Think of a time you were very unhappy yet had a few moments of happiness, or vice versa (you were very happy yet had a few moments of unhappiness,) and fill in the blanks: "There were eddies of (sadness/happiness) during _____, like when _____." Example : "There were eddies of sadness during our joyful anticipation of the birth of our first child, like when I'd start wishing some of my departed family members could still be around." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don't go straight to the review now; let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month's game content is protected by a copyright, so I can't reprint the trivia questions here--but check out the challenging, endlessly entertaining game; it's called Moot! A Point Well Made: Voltaire: "We must cultivate our own garden." 1. The opposite of EDDY is A. BUBBLE B. TIDE C. MAINSTREAM 2. In eddies winding through the plot, the author _____. A. includes exasperating scenes in which the main character recounts the adventure thus far B. reports entire conversations without using dialogue tags C. slows down the main story to note relevant episodes from a character's past Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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. C 2. C. (Note that C is the only choice involving movement against the main plot.)