Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ADDLEPATED

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

explore the archives: Today's "addlepated" describes a confused and stupid mental state. When you may as well trade your brain for a rotten egg, you're addlepated. This word has a kind of silly, down-on-the-farm feel to it. What word would you pick instead to describe someone or something brainless if you required a lofty, scientific tone instead? Maybe de____brate. make your point with... "ADDLEPATED" To addle something is to make it all confused and muddled. So, someone or something addled is confused, muddled, and just not thinking rationally. "Addlepated" is just a little more specific: it means "all mixed-up in the mind and therefore stupid." ("Pate" is another word for "head" or "skull.") Pronunciation: ADD ull pay tid 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 "the addlepated boxer." 2. After a linking verb, as in "After the fight, the boxer was addlepated.") Other forms: Addlepate, addlepating. Alternate adjectives include "addle-brained" and "addle-headed." How to use it: This isn't a very nice thing to call someone, is it? But then again, it's kind of a cute word, and fun to say. Use it lightheartedly: "In my addlepated state, I put the milk away in the cabinet." "She's all addlepated because her crush asked her for the time of day." Notice how you don't have to say that someone is addlepated by nature or all the time: you can just be addlepated in the moment, for a specific reason. Or, go ahead, let loose: "Their addlepated plans are just as inane as their bumbling, addlepated selves." If you prefer a more dignified word, just use "addled:" "The question addled me for a moment." "Having researched fruitlessly for an hour, I felt even more addled." Either way, you should know that "addled" and "addlepated" relate to rotten eggs. That is, an addled egg is one that's gone bad, or one that won't produce a chick. To say that people are addlepated is to hint that their brains are like rotten eggs! examples: I'm so glad the Internet was barely a thing when I was a young teen. Otherwise, my addlepated ramblings would have been mocked on the "I'm fourteen and this is deep" subreddit. "The Wasteland" is such a crazy poem that I'm not sure if Eliot was a genius or just addlepated. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "addlepated" means when you can explain it without saying "confused" or "acting stupid." try it out: Think of a time you felt really confused and dumb, and fill in the blanks: "When _____, I just (sat/stood) there, addlepated, trying to _____." Example: "When the true purpose for the meeting became clear, I just sat there, addlepated, trying to think of a polite way to leave." 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. Well-Named Creatures: Some names for animals and other creatures define themselves instantly or after a brief moment’s thought: anteater, grasshopper, hummingbird, seahorse, octopus (eight-foot). But other names deserve some exploration; they hold hidden clues about what the animals look like or what they do. And sometimes the names reveal how baffled people were when they first caught a glimpse of the creatures and tried to name them. This month, I’ll give you the literal meaning of a creature's name, and you come up with what it is. Answers will appear in alphabetical order this month. (Oh, and the answers might be animals, birds, insects, or even extinct creatures.) Enjoy! From yesterday: An "earth pig" is an a_______. Answer: This is an aardvark, whose name comes from Afrikaans Dutch. Try this one today: A "little armored" (creature) is an a________. review today's word: 1. The opposite of ADDLEPATED is A. LEVELHEADED B. EGG-HEADED C. HOTHEADED 2. The superstar, addlepated throughout the live interview, made things _____ for the host. A. awkward B. emotional C. easy 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. A