Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BESPOKE

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connect today's word to others: Recently my sister Heidi told me how she keeps hearing and seeing an odd little word, and I agreed that it'd make an interesting issue: bespoke. Does bespoke sound British or old-fashioned to you? It's actually quite trendy here and now, appearing more and more in American English. You can see how the word bespoke is just "spoke" with "be" tacked on. See if you can tack "be" onto each of the following words, too, and define what you've created: lie, daub, cloud, and guile. And, obviously the word bespoke has something to do with speaking. So do the words free-spoken and Newspeak: can you define those, also? make your point with... "BESPOKE" "Bespeak" can simply mean "to speak of," or "to show or reveal." Here are two examples, both of which use the past tense, "bespoke:" "Her black coat and loosely fitting pants...bespoke her formal training as a costume designer," "the bloodshed in China...bespoke a rising generation with dreams of freedom." (Both are from the Washington Post.) "Bespeak" can also mean "to order," as in to order a custom product before it's made, so that it's created exactly the way you want it. (That kind of product is much more expensive, but also much nicer, than something ready-made.) "Bespoke," then, means "custom-made," the opposite of "ready-made." In other words, bespoke things are tailored specifically for the people who buy them or use them. More loosely, bespoke things are made with great care, quality, and uniqueness. Pronunciation: be SPOKE Part of speech: Adjective: "a bespoke suit," "this bespoke solution." Other forms: If you prefer, use the rarer "bespoken" instead of "bespoke." The base verb is "bespeak," as in "He'll bespeak a suit," but we hardly ever use it or its other forms, "bespeaks," "bespeaking," and "bespeaker(s)." You can also use "bespoke" as a noun meaning "a thing that's custom-designed:" "these bespokes are highly expensive." How to use it: "Bespoke" is a trendy word with with a positive tone. Talk about bespoke products, especially clothing: bespoke suits, tuxedos, gowns, dresses, glasses, devices, flooring, decorations, ornaments, artwork, meals, etc. Sometimes it's a technical or biomedical product or process that we call bespoke: bespoke vaccines, cancer treatments, chemical reactors, immunosuppression protocols, etc. Parts and features, too, can be called bespoke, like bespoke laser chips and bespoke frames for glasses. Or, say we're talking about designing our babies' DNA: "bespoke eye color." Larger and more abstract things can also be bespoke, like bespoke plans, contracts, activities, adventures, solutions, stores, and restaurants. If you have a few minutes, check out how Matt Zoller Seitz has explored the idea of "bespoke TV," with shows now being created and structured in a freer, more artistic way. Finally, we can talk about something's bespoke quality, or a bespoke version of something. examples: My daughter loves her stuffed gingerbread doll, a bespoke little toy crocheted by hand, with pastel gumdrop buttons and a cherry-topped cupcake hat. "[David Silverman's] vanity books tell of the Tudor revivals and Spanish colonials that played host to Golden Age movie stars and moguls, house histories written for a limited readership of the famous and wealthy who currently own them. The books are not sold on Amazon or at bookstores, but rather meticulously crafted as bespoke tomes for clients seeking to learn more about the rarefied worlds they inhabit."    — Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 4 October 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "bespoke" without saying "tailored" or "made-to-measure." try it out: Fill in the blank: "_____ is as sharp and top-notch as a bespoke suit." Example: "Pentatonix's recording of 'Hallelujah' is as sharp and top-notch as a bespoke suit." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Controversial Catchphrases! This month, let's consider all kinds of important, ongoing controversies in our world. I'll give you a handful of key phrases that people use when they argue over a controversial question, and you try to pinpoint what that question is. I'll be drawing these issues and phrases from ProCon.org, a fantastic resource for understanding controversial issues (and for introducing those issues to your kids). From the previous issue: People who argue "yes" say things like "life-saving cures," "similar to human beings," and "no adequate alternative."  People who argue "no" say things like "cruel and inhumane," "alternative methods," and "speciesism." What's the question? The question is, "Should animals be used for scientific or commercial testing?"  (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.) Try this one today: People who argue "yes" say things like "in the US Constitution," "all parts of the country," and "guarantees certainty to the outcome." People who argue "no" say things like "no longer relevant," "too much power," and "ignores the will of the people." What's the question? review today's word: 1. The opposite of BESPOKE is A. COST-CUTTING. B. CUTTING-EDGE. C. COOKIE-CUTTER. 2. The small tutoring company offers a bespoke exam that _____. A. has rarely been taken seriously by the students B. gives students a chance to practice realistically for the ACT and SAT C. generates scores informing instruction but meaning nothing to colleges and universities Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's 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. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. C