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"ABJECT" Pronunciation: AB ject (but many people say "ab JECT," so go with whichever way sounds best to you.) Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.” They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in “abject failure.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "The failure was abject.” Most of the time, you use "abject" in the first way above, not the second way.) Meaning: Something abject is totally miserable or absolutely hopeless. Other forms: abjectly, abjectness, abjectedness How to use it: Talk about abject poverty when you mean extreme, horrible poverty that causes suffering and humiliation. Talk about abject failure when you mean total, miserable failure. These two phrases are the most common. You can also talk about abject terror or abject fear, abject misery, abject grief, abject waste, abject racism, abjects pleas or abject apologies, and so on. It's really hard to start another healthy-eating plan when all of your previous attempts were met with abject failure. Here's why scrolling through your Facebook feed can be an addictive behavior: you never know whether you'll stumble across important information about people you love, or fascinating news from around the web, or abject nonsense about which Days of Our Lives character your acquaintance from middle school most resembles. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "abject” means when you can explain it without saying “really unfortunate” or “totally hopeless." Think of a time you were hurt or shocked because people didn't care about something they should have, and fill in the blanks: "I just (couldn't/can't) believe (someone's) abject indifference to (problem or issue)." Example: "I just can't believe some people's abject indifference to their pets' suffering when they leave them locked up in parked cars that get hot as ovens." 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: Messages that go through an automated translator into several languages and back into English again often end up sounding funny and garbled-- but still somehow meaningful. We’re having fun with that phenomenon this month as we play our game: Guess the moral from Aesop’s Fables after it has been translated into a few foreign languages and back again by a computer program. Some of the morals may be very familiar to you, others not so much. You don’t need to quote Aesop verbatim but rather just understand the message being conveyed. Try it out each day and see the right answer the following day.   Yesterday’s answer: The translation-babble said, “A orator can subtly directed against him his enemies praise.” Aesop said, “A discerning speaker can deftly turn the insults of his enemies into compliments.” Try this one today: “Great man, at risk, but also safer face than glory.” A Point Well Made: Lily Yeh: “At this stage of my life, time is limited and ever more precious. Each morning I get up breathing and seeing the sunlight, my heart is filled with gratitude.” 1. The opposite of ABJECT is A. MAGNIFICENT B. CONFLATED C. SUBTLE 2. _____ are an insult to those in abject _____ A. Public demands to give more and more of their income away .. prosperity. B. Arguments over technical details such as how many seconds long a voicemail can be .. technology. C. First-world problems such as "I hate when my neighbor blocks the wi-fi" .. poverty. 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. A 2. C