Make Your Point: AUGUST

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pronounce AUGUST:

"aw GUST."

Or, if you prefer, "AWG ust," like the month.

connect this word to others:

August things are grand, noble, majestic, magnificent, ven__able.

The word august comes from the Latin augustus, which meant "grand, noble, majestic," but it possibly first meant "made holy by the au___s:" that is, by priests who observed the heavens and the birds to interpret the will of the gods. Can you recall that word with the blanks? Today, it most often means "foretells," as in "His first hit novel au___s a long, prosperous career."

And what about August, the month? It used to be called Sextilis, but it was renamed in the year 8 BCE in honor of Augustus Caesar, a title meaning "Ven__able Caesar."

(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)

definition:

Since the 1500s, we've used "august" in English to describe things or people as grand, noble, famous, honorable, wonderful, and inspiring.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Adjective: "The Vanderbilt Mansion is an august building;" "Elton John's career has been long and august."

Other forms:

The adverb is "augustly," and the noun is "augustness." (Since "augustness" sounds awful, how about "eminence" instead?)

how to use it:

The adjective "august" is formal and semi-common, with a very positive tone.

In fact, the tone is almost holy, just a small step away from words like "glorious," "almighty," "sacred," "worshipful," and "reverenced."

We use "august" to describe buildings, institutions, organizations, publications, other things, and even people that inspire or even overwhelm us with their grandeur.

Because "august" is such a serious word, it's perfect for humor and sarcasm. Here's John Cooper Hamilton: "Need I remind my august peers that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence?"

examples:

"Offers... came his way from institutions as august as Harvard University."
— Michael A. Hiltzik, Big Science, 2015

"Jean-Michel Ares has been the CIO of such august organizations as Coca Cola and GE Power Systems prior to assuming his current role."
— Peter High, Forbes, 25 January 2015

has this page helped you understand "august"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this term, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "august" without saying "grand" or "majestic."

try it out:

Fill in the blanks: "(Something) has an august history, tracing its origins to (some time or place)."

Example 1: "Sonnets have an august history, tracing their origins to 16th-century England."

Example 2: "The company now known as the Polish National Ballet has an august history, tracing its origins to 1785."
— Brian Seibert, New York Times, 17 June 2015

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 "Name the Game!"

I'll share some tidbits about a particular board game with a one-word name, and you try to name it.

You can scroll all the way down to see the game's real name. Maybe you'll come up with the correct name, or one that’s just as apt!

Try this one today:

The game's name is 4 syllables.

It starts with S.

"You will plan and design a modern, scientifically-managed zoo for animals and visitors."

review this word:

1. The opposite of AUGUST could be

A. HIDDEN or ARCANE.
B. LOWLY or MUNDANE.
C. SOPHISTICATED or URBANE.

2. Appropriately, authors tend to choose the name "August" or "Augustus" for characters who strive for _____, like the boy in The Fault in Our Stars who _____, or the boy in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who _____.

A. glory or distinction .. makes grand romantic gestures .. tries to drink an entire river of chocolate
B. wisdom or insight .. embarks on a yearslong journey on foot .. discovers the metaphorical meaning of sugary treats
C. connection or companionship .. risks his life to reunite with his pet .. spends quality time every day with his bedridden grandparent

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:
On vocabulary...
  36 ways to study words.
  Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
  How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.

From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

A 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.

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