Chapter 7--1
Chapter 7: Denotations and Connotations
A. Synonyms
1. obtrusive (adj.), p. 129. Undesirably
noticeable. [L. ob (against) + trudere
(to thrust)]
a. modest b. hidden c. glaring d.
indecent
“But over and above the standard
signification of a term . . . there may be
certain nuances of meaning that are
more difficult to describe because they
are less obtrusive or more dependent
upon context than designation
[connotation.].
2. perceive (tr.v.), p. 130. [per
(thoroughly, completely, intensely) +
capere (to seize)].
“Even if you were once chased by a
cow, and the word ‘cow’ is associated
in your mind with danger and violence,
you can perceive, at the same time, that
in the common world of the English
language, cow connotes the opposite
characteristics . . . .”
a. understand b. undermine c. fool
d. confuse
Chapter 7--2
3. impermanent (adj.), p. 131. The
essay uses impermanence, which is the
noun form. [L. im (not) + per
(throughout, thoroughly), + manere (to
remain)
a. stoic b. lasting c. unyielding d.
temporary
“Because most cots are rather
temporary resting places, ‘cot’ can
connote impermanence, though it
doesn’t designate impermanence, since
a cot doesn’t have to be temporary by
definition.”
4. bovine (adj.), p. 135. [LL. bovinus,
L. bos, cow] Bos is the genus name.
a. efficient b. cowlike c. liquid d.
four-legged
5. incessant (adj.), p. 134. [L. in- (not)
+ cessare (stop, yield).
a. pertinacious (holding tenaciously to
a purpose, belief, opinion, or course of
action; stubbornly or perversely
persistent; obstinate) b. intermittent
c. occasional d. without pause
6. apposite (adj.), p. 133. Strikingly
appropriate and relevant. The
quotations at the beginning of the
chapters in the text are apposite to the
content of the chapter.
a. appropriate b. intrepid c.
contradictory d. opposed
7. verbal (adj.), p. 130. The noun use is
pretty much restricted to grammar.
a. grammatical b. word-for-word c.
pertaining to words d. part of speech
Chapter 7--3
8. subtle (adj.), p. 128. Not
a. unobtrusive b. radical c. obvious
immediately obvious; able to make fine d. aboveboard
distinctions ("a subtle mind"); devious
or insidious (a subtle reminder that you
are not the breadwinner and therefore
are less-than).
Latin subtilis, the ultimate source of
English subtle, seems to have
originated as a weaving term. It
probably goes back ultimately to the
phrase sub tela, meaning "beneath the
lengthwise threads in a loom." Tela,
source of English toilet (meaning
"dressing or grooming oneself" or
"dress, attire, costume"), was a
contraction of texla, a relative of
English textile. subtilis developed the
meaning "fine woven," which
subsequently broadened out to "fine,
thin." By the time it reached English,
via OF sutil, it had evolved further to
"making fine discriminations."
“But we often need to understand
meanings that take some skill to see
the precise shade that a word has in its
context, the subtle hints conveyed by a
metaphor or simile.”
Chapter 7--4
9. coherence (n.), p. 133. The quality
or state of cohering, especially a
logical, orderly, and aesthetically
consistent relationship of parts.
a. confusion b. originality c. style
d. congruence (agreement,
conformity, harmony, correspondence.
From L congruere, "to agree")
[Latin cohaerere : co- (together), +
haerere, to cling.]
“Poetry is the best place to study word
connotations. Indeed, what makes a
poem a poem (not just verse) is in part
the complexity and coherence of its
connotations.”
10. deceptive (adj.), p. 128.
a. guileless (without deceit) b.
misleading c. analytical d. elegant
“The interplay between these two
branches [denotation and connotation]
of the signification makes possible
some of the most vital and useful, but
also some of the most tricky and
deceptive, ways of using language.”
B. Definitions
1. cope (intr.v.), p. 127. To contend with difficulties and act to overcome them.
Same root as coup as in coup d'etat, from the OF coper, and originally meant
"hit, punch."
The OF verb was a derivative of the noun cop, meaning "a blow," which in turn
was a variant of colp, from which modern French gets coup, borrowed into
English in the 18th century. The modern English sense of the verb developed via
"come to blows with" and "contend with" to "handle successfully."
For sentence from the text, see refinement below.
2. refinement (n.), p. 127. A keen or precise phrasing; a subtle distinction.
Chapter 7--5
Both the adjective and the noun fine have come a very long way since their
beginnings in Latin finis, end. The etymological sense of the adjective "fine" is
"finished," hence, "of high quality." It comes via OF fin from Vulgar Latin
finus, an adjective formed from the Latin verb finire, meaning "to limit" or "to
complete" (source of English to finish). A derivative of finus was the noun
finitia, from which ultimately English gets finesse. The noun fine comes from
an OF word, fin, this time a noun descended directly from Latin finis. In
medieval times this was used for "money to be paid at the completion of legal
proceedings," hence the present-day sense of "payment imposed as a
punishment." From the same ultimate source, but reflecting different aspects of
that source, come confine and define (meaning "limitation) and refine ("high
quality").
“Now, for some purposes we don’t need to concern ourselves about the full
meaning of a discourse. It’s enough to know that the house is on fire, or that
your sweetheart has jilted you. This is the gist of the message, and it’s plenty to
cope with. You aren’t interested in the refinements: that the first started at 5:19
a.m. in the cellar, or that your sweetheart sincerely hopes you will always be
friends.”
3. comprehension (n.), p.129. The sum of meanings and corresponding
implications inherent in a term.
com + prehendre (meaning “to grasp”)
“When a term acquires a fairly fixed conventional meaning, it applies to a
distinct set of things, and these things are its comprehension.”
4. import (tr.v.), p. 133. To carry or hold the meaning of; signify.
“
5. aspect (n.), p. 128. A way something can be viewed by the mind.
“And as we get a better understanding these things [the subtle hints conveyed
by words], we become better able to deal with another important aspect of
words–their effects upon our feelings.”
Chapter 7--6
6. injunction (n.), p. 134. The act or an instance of enjoining; a command, a
directive, or an order. Law A court order prohibiting a party from a specific
course of action.
“But each [word used] will also, unless the context guards against it, import a
judgment about the case–that the United States gave in too far, or got too little
in return, or was spineless, or too hasty.”
7. judgment (n.), p. 133. The act or process of judging; the formation of an
opinion after consideration or deliberation. Not the "good sense" sense of the
word.
See sentence above.
8. insinuation (n.), p. 134. Covert, sly, underhanded, often derogatory suggestion.
“[Election campaign rhetoric frequently uses] certain terms . . . over and over . .
because their very useful connotations afford a chance to make all sorts of
insinuations that would not survive careful scrutiny if they were baldly stated.”
9. grasp (tr.v.), p. 131. To take hold of intellectually; comprehend.
10. vital (adj.), p. 127. Necessary, essential.
C. Etymologies
1. rhetoric (p. 129).
Middle English rethorik, from Old French rethorique, from Latin rhetorice,
rhetorica, from Greek rhetorike (tekhne), rhetorical (art), feminine of
rhetorikos, rhetorical, from rhetor. See RHETOR. Which yields,
Middle English rether, from Latin rhetor, from Greek rhetor.
2. nuance (p. 124). [French, from Old French, from nuer, to shade, cloud, from
nue, cloud, from Vulgar Latin *nuba, from Latin nubes.]
Chapter 7--7
3. meterologist (p. 131). [Middle English metheor, atmospheric phenomenon,
from Old French meteoros, from Medieval Latin meteorum, from Greek
meteoron, astronomical phenomenon, from neuter of meteoros, high in the air :
meta-, meta- (beyond, transcending) + -aoros, lifted akin to aeirein, to lift up +
logy (study of) + IST (one who studies)]
4. succulent (p. 135). [Latin succulents, from Succos, juice.]
D. Analogies
1. vocation : stethoscope as avocation : backpack
a. hobby b. leisure c. backpack d. job
A vocation is etymologically a "calling." The word comes via OF vocation from
Latin vocation. This was derived from the verb vaccaria, "to call," which came
from the same base vox, meaning "voice," source of English vocal, voice, and
so on. Also from vaccaria come convoke (to call a meeting, convene), evoke (to
summon or call forth: actions that evoked our mistrust; to call to mind by
naming, citing, or suggesting: songs that evoke old memories; to create anew,
especially by means of the imagination: Grapes of Wrath is a novel that evokes
the Depression in accurate detail); revoke (to void or annul by recalling,
withdrawing, or reversing: re- (back) + voce); vocabulary; and vouch.
An avocation means "an activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or
profession, usually for enjoyment; a hobby; sometimes "one's regular work or
profession." And closer to its etymological roots "distraction or diversion,"
from the Latin avocare, to call away : a-, away + vaccaria, to call.
Stethoscope, etymologically, comes from a Greek word stethos, meaning chest,
+ scope, coming into English via Italian, scopo, from a Greek word skopion
meaning "an instrument for observing," as in telescope, microscope, etc.
2. meticulous : careful as slovenly : slipshod
a. slipshod b. tidy c. makeshift d. fastidious
3. explicit : implicit as curse : euphemism
a. argument b. euphemism c. discussion d. anecdote
Chapter 7--8
Explicit means "fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied; fully and
clearly defined or formulated: "My mother made her explicit . . .". Or
"forthright and unreserved in expression: They were explicit in their criticism.
Or readily observable: an explicit sign of trouble. Or describing or portraying
nudity or sexual activity in graphic detail.
Something that is explicit has literally been "unfolded." Like explicate, the word
comes from the past participle of Latin explicare, a compound verb formed
from the prefix ex- (to reverse or undo, as in the prefix un-) and plicare,
meaning "to fold" (source of English ply as in plywood, and three-ply and
related to English fold). At first, in the 16th and 17th centuries, English retained
the literal sense of the original, but gradually it dropped out in favor of the
metaphorical "to make clear, distinct, and open" (already a sense in Latin).
Implicit means "understood though not directly expressed: an implicit
agreement not to raise the touchy subject." Or "contained in the nature of
something though not readily apparent: Frustration is implicit in any of my
attempts to understand the computer." Or "having no doubts or reservations;
unquestioning: implicit trust." It is a compound word, in- (in, into, within) +
plicare, to fold, meaning "to entangle, unite."
4. delicate : insensitive as attuned : discordant
a. discordant b. attenuated c. unformed d. exquisite
5. ludicrous : laughable as somber : gloomy
Something that is somber is etymologically "under a shadow, in the shade." The
word comes from the French sombre, an adjective derived ultimately from
Vulgar Latin subombrare, "put in shadow or shade." This was a compound
word formed from Latin sub-, meaning "under," and umbra, meaning "shade,
shadow, " source of English umbrage, umbrella. Another descendant of the
Latin word in the Spanish sombra, meaning "shade," from which was derived
sombrero, "hat for giving shade."
Gloom, with its adjective derivative gloomy, comes probably from the Middle
English word gloumen, meaning "to become dark."
Chapter 7--9
a. ridiculous b. delightful c. gloomy d. salubrious (conducive or favorable to
health or well-being)
6. mislead : deceive as misrepresent : prevaricate
a. mistake b. misunderstand c. alienate d. prevaricate
E. Imposter
1. wary
a. bold b. cautious c. on guard d. watchful
2. armaments
a. weapons b. missiles c. guns d. flags
3. stabilize
a. firm up b. shake c. immobilize d. steady
4. responsive
a. answering b. imaginative c. sensitive d. reactive
F. Matching
1. sibling (p. 130), m. brother or sister
The sibling/gossip connection: In OE sibb occurs as a noun meaning "kinship"
and as an adjective meaning "related by blood or kinship" A modern descendant
of sibb is sibling, "one of two or more persons who have the same parents." By
the 11th century, a compound had been formed from the noun sibb prefixed by
god, the ancestor of Modern English god. A godsibb, therefore, was a person
spiritually related to another, specifically by being a sponsor at baptism. Today,
of course, we would call such a person a godmother or godfather, using god in
the same way. By the 14th century, the d had begun to disappear in both
pronunciation and spelling, and godsibb, developed into gossib and then gossip,
the form which is used today. The meaning, too, had begun to change, and the
sense of gossip as a close friend or comrade developed alongside the sense of a
Chapter 7--10
godparent. Chaucer's Wife of Bath tells her fellow-pilgrims on the road to
Canterbury of having once gone walking with a lover and "my gossib dame
Alys." From there it was only a short step to the gossip of today, a person no
longer necessarily a friend, relative, or sponsor, but someone filled with
irresistible tidbits of rumor.
2. conventional (p. 126), j. customary
3. memorable (p.132), a. noteworthy
4. yearn (134), o. desire
5. scrutiny (134), b. inspection
6. concession (p. 133), d. yielding
7. simile (128), c. comparison
8. irrationally (p. 130), f. illogically
9. placidity (p. 130), k. calmness
10.dispute (p. 133), h. argue
G. Potpourri
1. full-fledged, hyphenated in the AHD. The spelling in the essay could represent
a move toward not hyphenating the word, which happens frequently,
particularly with commonly used words.
1. Having reached full development; mature.
2. Having full status or rank: a full-fledged lawyer.
3. Having fully developed adult plumage.
fledge
v. tr. 1. To take care of (a young bird) until it is ready to fly.
2. To cover with or as if with feathers.
3. To provide (an arrow) with feathers.v. intr. To grow the plumage necessary
for flight.
[Probably from obsolete fledge, feathered, from Middle English flegge, from
Old English *flycge. See pleu-.]
IE root pleu, meaning "to flow," and from which these important cognates: :
plover, pulmonary, pneumonia, Pluto, flow, flood, fly1 (to move through the
air), fly2 (the insect), flee, fledge, flight1(the motion of an object through a
Chapter 7--11
medium), fowl, fleet1(a group of vessels), fleet2 (moving rapidly, float, flutter,
flit, fluster.
fledgling
(n.) 1. A young bird that has recently acquired its flight feathers.
2. A young or inexperienced person
(adj.) New and untried or inexperienced: a fledgling enterprise; a fledgling
skier.
2. Verse has a broader context than does poetry.
3. Designation equals denotation: The most specific or direct meaning of a word
in contrast to its figurative or associated meaning. I don't see much point in
changing the term.
5. A possible synonym for intimation is suggestion, hint--any word which would
carry with it a meaning of conveying thoughts and ideas by indirection. The
derivation of intimate as a noun or an adjective: [Latin intimatus, past participle
of intimare, to make familiar with]. The derivation of intimate as a verb: [Latin
intimare, intimat-, to make known, from intimus, innermost. See en].
Intimation, intimate (as adj.), and intimate (as v.) all have a sense of
"familiarity," "innermost."
H. Questions for Thought and Discussion
2. What is the difference, as explained by the author, between "private
associations" and "public" connotations? Laurilla calling her darling daughter
“a bum.”
3. What is meant by calling an agreement a "Munich" (p. 133)?
Munich is a city of southeast Germany near the Bavarian Alps southeast of
Augsburg. Founded in 1158, it has long been the center of Bavaria. Adolf Hitler
organized the Nazi Party here after World War I and signed the Munich Pact,
widely regarded as a symbol of appeasement, which was an agreement between
Britain and Germany in 1938 under which Germany was allowed to extend its
territory into parts of Czechoslovakia in which German-speaking peoples lived.
Chapter 7--12
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain negotiated on behalf of Britain, and
Chancellor Adolf Hitler on behalf of Germany. Chamberlain returned to
London proclaiming that the Munich Pact had secured "peace for our time."
The Germans invaded Poland less than a year later, and World War II began.
Roots and Derivatives
coherence, incoherent, coherent, cohere
concession, concede
deceptive, deceive, deception
dispute, indisputable, disputant, disputatious
incessant, cessation, incessantly
irrationally, rational, irrational
memorable, memorably, memorabilia
obtrusive, unobtrusive, inobtrusive
perceive, perceptive, imperceptible
placidity, placid, placidly
responsive, unresponsive, response, respond, correspond
rhetoric, rhetorically, rhetorical
scrutiny, scrutinize, inscrutable
stabilize, unstable, stable, stabilizer
verse, versify
vital, vitally, vitality
wary, unwary, warily
Word Elements
Root
Key Words
Meaning
1. bibli (Gk, L) Not on its bibliography, Bible
own, but biblio- is, and
Bible, both yielding
book
2. cant (L) Cant2 reveals
as do the two keywords
canto, recant
to sing
3. cit (L) Not on its own,
but citation yields
recite, citation
to summon
Chapter 7--13
4. clam/claim (L) Not on
its own, but reclaim
yields
proclamation, reclaim
to call, cry out
5. dict (L) Not on its
own, but diction yields.
dictionary, dictaphone
to say, speak
6. gloss/glot (Gk) Not on
its own, nor are the
keywords helpful, but
gloss2 yields
glossary, glottal
tongue, language
7. graph/gram (Gk) On
its own
telegram, calligraphy
write, letter
8. leg/lig/lect (L) Not on
its own, but keywords
yield
legible, select
gather, choose, speak,
read
9. lex (Gk) Not on its
own, but lexicon yields
lexicon, lexical
to speak, word
10. libr (L) No on its
own, but both keywords
yield
library, libretto
book
11. liter (L) Not on its
own, but both keywords
yield
literal, literary
letter
12. log (Gk) Not on its
own but both keywords
yield
logos, logic
word, reason
Dictaphone is capitalized
because it is a brand
name.
Chapter 7--14
13. loqu/loc (L) Not on
its own, but both
keywords yield
soliloquy, elocution
to speak
14. onym/onoma (Gk)
On its own
synonym, onomatopoeia
name
15. scrib/script Not on its
own, but both keywords
yield
manuscript, subscribe
to write
16. verb (L) Not on its
own, but both keywords
yield
verbose, adverb
word, verb
17. voc/vok (L) Not on
its own, but invoke and
evoke yields
convocation, evoke
voice, to call
Chapter 7 Wordlist
Chapter 7--15
apposite (37)
armaments (33)
aspect (6)
avocation (24)
bovine (47)
coherence (30)
coincide (32)
comprehension (12)
concession (31)
conventional (11)
cope (2)
deceptive (10)
delicate (43)
designation (7)
disputed (34)
full-fledged (16)
grasp (25)
impermanence (22)
implicit (27)
import (35)
incessant (40)
injunction (41)
insinuation (38)
intimation (42)
irrationally (17)
judgment (36)
ludicrous (50)
memorable (28)
meterologist (23)
meticulous (26)
misleading (49)
misrepresentation (44)
nuance (14)
obtrusive (15)
perceive (18)
placidity (19)
refinement (3)
responsive (9)
rhetoric (13)
scrutiny (39)
sibling (21)
simile (5)
stabilized (8)
subtle (4)
succulent (48)
verbal (20)
verse (29)
vital (1)
wary (46)
yearn (45)
Chapter 7--16
Eponyms
1. bowdlerize. To expurgate (a book, for example) prudishly; to modify, as by
shortening or simplifying or by skewing the content in a certain manner. After
Thomas Bowdler, who in 1818, published what he titled The Family
Shakespeare. The title page proclaimed that "those words and expressions are
omitted which cannot with propriety be read aloud in a family. . . . Many words
and expressions occur which are of so indecent a nature as to render it highly
desirable that they should be erased." No play of Shakespeare's escaped
Bowdler's wide eraser.
2. mesmerize. To spellbind, enthrall, hypnotize. From Franz Mesmer, a physician
of late 18th-century Europe. He used an early therapeutic hypnotism, which he
called "animal magnetism." What he had discovered, or rather rediscovered,
was the technique once called "artificial somnambulism" and now known as
hypnotism. He unwittingly contributed to the notion that the faith of a patient
goes a long way toward effecting recovery. One of Mesmer's disciples
developed a technique for inducing hypnosis and was the first to apply his
mentor's name to it. By 1802 mesmerism was an English word. From
mesmerism evolved the verb mesmerize (an example of back formation).
3. quisling. A traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his or her
country. After Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), head of Norway's government
during the Nazi occupation (1940-1945).
Why would the name of Vidkun Quisling become an accepted part of the
English language so quickly? Why not Benedict Arnold, still remains a standard
historical reference for a traitor, but whose name has never achieved the status
of a common noun, never been lowercased and pluralized, and has never been
an interchangeable synonym for traitor. Perhaps because (like sl, bl words, for
example) the sound of the name was so odious, greasy, almost wicked,
representing by sound alone something slippery and tortuous. If you think about
it, a number of q-words have negative connotations: questionable, querulous,
quavering, quivering, quibbling, quagmire, qualm, quackery, queasy. Perhaps
Benedict Arnold was just simply fortunate that his name was not so rich with
connotations.
Chapter 7--17
4. Leotard. Leotard, the close-fitting dress worn by gymnasts, ballet dancers, and
exercise enthusiasts takes it name after its inventor Jules Leotard, a 19th century
aerial gymnast. Born to a gymnastics teacher, Jules Leotard took to gymnastics
at a young age. He joined the circus, and in November 1859 became the first
person to swing from a trapeze, which was his invention. His act caused a
sensation in Paris, and soon came his other invention: a close, body-hugging
costume that allowed for unencumbered movement.
The original leotard consisted of a close-fitting suit of knitted jersey, which
reached to the wrists and ankles. The woman’s version came with a shortfringed skirt. Leotard once urged men to “put on a more natural garb that does
not hide your best features.” Leotard’s popularity grew, and eventually other
performers were adopting both his moves and his costumes. Eventually, the
“leotard” found its way into the ballet studios of Paris and onto the bodies of
ballerinas and ballet dancers.
Tragically, Leotard’s life ended at the young age of 28 when he contracted
smallpox. But his legacy endures both in circus and on dance stages of the
world. Today, the leotard is the accepted uniform of dancers around the world
and is designed in many attractive patterns, colors, and materials.
Jules Leotard is also commemorated in song:
“He flies through the air with the greatest of ease, the daring young man on the
flying trapeze. His figure is handsome, all girls he does please. My love he has
stolen away.”
4. lynch. To execute without due process of law, especially to hang, as by a mob.
From Captain William Lynch who served with the Virginia militia in the 18th
century and presided over a self-created tribunal that organized to rid
Pittsylvania County of a band of troublesome ruffians who had eluded the
proper civil authorities. On September 22, 1780, Lynch and others entered into
a compact stating their goals, reasons, and methods. Captain Lynch and his
vigilantes soon became known as "lynch-men," and in 1782 their judicial code
had become known as lynch's law and subsequently lynch law. By 1836 lynch
Chapter 7--18
law had given rise to the verb lynch in its current meaning: "to put to death (as
by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction. While Lynch and his cohorts
were not the first vigilantes to take the law into their own hands, they were
perhaps the first to proclaim and justify their methods in a formal, written
compact.