Make Your Point > Archived Issues > AGGRANDIZE

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connect today's word to others: If I'm aggrandizing myself--and I hope I'm not--then I'm trying to make it seem like I'm grander than I really am: smarter, stronger, richer, prettier, more powerful, more accomplished. Let's connect this aggrandizement to two other "grand" words: 1. Grand_u_ is splendor, magnificence, or greatness. 2. Grandil____nce is an overly fancy way of talking or writing. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "AGGRANDIZE" Although "aggrandize" can mean "to make people or things truly grander or truly greater," that meaning is rarely used today. Most often, to aggrandize people or things means to make them seem more impressive than they really are. Pronunciation: uh GRAND ize Part of speech: Transitive verb. (Like "eat," "try," and "want," all transitive verbs do something to an object. You eat a banana, try a game, and want a new phone. Likewise, you aggrandize something or someone.) Other forms: aggrandized, aggrandizing, aggrandizement; self-aggrandize, self-aggrandized, self-aggrandizing, self-aggrandizement How to use it: Because aggrandizing is boastful, and because it focuses on image and reputation instead of virtues or accomplishments, the word "aggrandize" usually has a harsh, judgmental tone. That is, we think of aggrandizing as something people do that reveals insecurity, a small mind, or a need to be admired. Talk about people who aggrandize other people, especially themselves: "He spent most of the meeting aggrandizing himself and encouraging attendees to do the same." Though we often aggrandize people, we also aggrandize people's power, people's intellect, people's accomplishments and so on. And we aggrandize groups, things, and places. "In their speeches, they keep aggrandizing the company." "The book is an attempt to aggrandize her profession."  It's usually people who do the aggrandizing, but we can also say that actions aggrandize things, that decisions aggrandize things, that publications aggrandize things, and so on. "Aggrandized" and "aggrandizing" are the handy adjectives. "The 'instructors' there are aggrandized babysitters." "We cringe at every aggrandizing speech he makes."   examples: Her feedback forms leave no space for constructive criticism; they're basically an invitation to aggrandize her and her work. Some students wonder why they should bother writing essays about classic literature: books like A Tale of Two Cities have been thoroughly analyzed in published criticism and need no aggrandizement from twelfth graders. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "aggrandize" means when you can explain it without saying "hype" or "glorify." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "These days we talk about (a certain type of thing or person) only in aggrandizing terms: every one of them is (amazing in some way)." Example: "These days we talk about working mothers only in aggrandizing terms: every one of them is a saint." 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. Our game this month is called Felicitous Names.  A felicitous name for a fictional character is a highly appropriate name, a name that fits that character so perfectly that you just know the writer picked it on purpose. This month, draw on your knowledge of both vocabulary and fiction to pick out the right name for the character described. Enjoy! From our previous issue: We want a felicitous name for a mysterious, secretive character. Is it Mr. Penumbra, Mr. Skulduggery, or Mr. Goodman Brown? Why? Answer: Mr. Penumbra. A penumbra is a shadow, something that hides things from view—appropriate for the mysterious title character in Robin Sloane’s novel Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Try this today: What's the most felicitous name for a villain who starts out being goofy and harmless, then descends deeper and deeper into cruelty: Derrick, Theodore, or Warren? Why? review today's word: 1. One opposite of AGGRANDIZE is A. BELITTLE B. SEPARATE C. SILENCE 2. Strong resumes walk the middle road between _____ and self-aggrandizement. A. detail B. humility C. exaggeration 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 review questions: 1. A 2. B