Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ANTHOLOGY

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pronounce ANTHOLOGY: Say it "an THOL uh jee." To hear it, click here. connect this word to others: If you're hefting around a thick book of short stories by lots of different authors, you might call it an o____us, which would suggest that each story is like a traveler. And if you call it an anthology, that would suggest that each story is like a flower. It checks out, y'all. Lots of the prose in this anthology is flowery. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) definition: The word "anthology" has Greek roots that literally mean "flower collection."  Originally, going back to the year 1621, an anthology was a little booklet listing all the prayers and such to be read and sung in a church service.  Soon after that, we also used the word "anthology" to refer to a collection of poems, and then, to any collection of written pieces or musical pieces.  So in other words, today, an anthology is any collection of things (usually songs or pieces of writing) that are carefully chosen for their value and their variety, as if each were a special flower. Literal anthologies are physical things, like books or sets of CDs. And figurative anthologies (in general) aren't: they're sets of things that we've collected mentally, not physically. grammatical bits: Part of speech: Usually a noun, the countable kind: "It's an anthology of monster stories." Also sometimes an adjective: "It's an anthology series." Other forms:  The plural is "anthologies." People who put anthologies together are "anthologists." You can describe things as "anthologic" ("AN thuh LODGE ick"), or "anthological." And you can "anthologize" things: add them to an anthology. The other verb forms are "anthologized" and "anthologizing." how to use it: We often apply the word "anthology" in a straightforward way to any finely-crafted collection of poems, songs, stories, or musical pieces. And often we refer to certain television shows as anthology series, meaning each episode focuses on new characters and new storylines. To use "anthology" more figuratively, refer to something as an anthology when it seems like a finely-crafted collection--even if it isn't literally a book, a show, or any other kind of publication. Here's an example from Michael Field: "Her whole religion is an anthology of Olympic scandal." And here's one from the New York Times: "The house... is an anthology of the signature features of the original Sea Ranch Condominium." examples: "This new sci-fi series...[follows] the lives of the town's residents, slowly uncovering how they're interconnected with the Loop. The show is an anthology, but it's best to watch in chronological order."    — Sara Aridi, New York Times, 4 April 2020 "Playing World of Horror is like flipping through a comics anthology. After you pick one of several playable characters, it selects five stories from a larger pool of 'investigations': a popular ramen shop with a sinister secret, a best friend suddenly obsessed with eels, a ghost with scissors stalking the local school."    — Adi Robertson, The Verge, 19 February 2020 "Here, Courtney, is your contribution to the anthology of my life."    — Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why, 2011 has this page helped you understand "anthology"? Awesome, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for letting me know! If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. study it: Explain the meaning of "anthology" without saying "compilation" or "collection." try it out: Let's get figurative! Imagine how your life's most important moments and memories make up an invisible anthology. Fill in the blank: "Even as it was happening, I anthologized it: _____." Example: "Even as it was happening, I anthologized it: Taylor climbing for the first time onto the school bus." If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.) before you review, play: Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out. Our game this month is "Polygon of Predestination!" With a high five to TheWordFinder.com for its puzzle generator, I'm Pat-Sajacking that spin-the-wheel game from TV. Apply your alliterative acumen to solve the puzzle. The category all month long is: "Beastly Blunders and Criminal Capers." From the previous issue: I couldn't find the age or birthplace of this phrase, but I did learn at Merriam-Webster.com that it's currently in the bottom 10% of look-ups, meaning the phrase is approximately as unpopular as the people who do it. Try this one today: Not sure yet? Need to see a bit more? Click here. review this word: 1. A near opposite of ANTHOLOGY is A. VICIOUS CYCLE. B. COMPLETE RECORDS. C. INCONVENIENT ARRIVAL. 2. The essay was _____, and as a result, widely anthologized. A. blunt and offensive B. brief, hilarious, and deeply insightful C. an embarrassing example of teenage angst Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B a final word: I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.