Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BOUILLABAISSE

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

connect today's word to others: Today's word came into English from a dialect of French. Literal bouillabaisse is a kind of seafood stew, so you can see why the word looks a bit like boil and bouillon. The other root inside the word bouillabaisse means "to lower"--that's why it also looks like our word _bas_, meaning "to bring someone's reputation or self-respect lower." Could you recall that one? And, a figurative bouillabaisse is a heap of this and that, a random collection, a mixed bag, a me___ge, a far___o, a sa______di. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "BOUILLABAISSE" Literally speaking, bouillabaisse is a French stewed seafood that includes a variety of ingredients. For example, this recipe for bouillabaisse calls for cod, shrimp, and mussels, as well as leeks, fennel, and tomatoes. So, figuratively, a bouillabaisse is a jumble, a hodgepodge, a mishmash, a potpourri. In other words, it's a mixed collection of things--often a collection that's random, jumbled, and interesting. Pronunciation: BOO yuh BASE Part of speech: Noun, usually the countable kind: "a bouillabaisse," "this bouillabaisse," "another bouillabaisse." Other forms: Just the plural, "bouillabaisses." How to use it: This is a rare, fun, colorful, sophisticated alternative to words like "assortment" and "hodgepodge." And your readers will understand what it means from the context. So, enjoy it! To call something a bouillabaisse is to hint that, although it's a bit of a jumbled mess, it still offers flavor, artistry, beauty, comfort, and tradition. Or, you know, it's just a hot mess. We can talk about a bouillabaisse of things: a bouillabaisse of tools, housewares, clothes and accessories; a bouillabaisse of reading materials, marketing strategies, memories and desires, etc. And we can simply refer to a group of things--or any complex thing--as a bouillabaisse. "France is a cultural bouillabaisse," writes The Seattle Times.  examples: The novel offers a bouillabaisse of short myths, legends, and backstories. "Only art is one delicious bouillabaisse to him."    —Robert William Chambers, The Common Law, 1911 study it now: Look away from the screen to define "bouillabaisse" without saying "assortment" or "melting pot." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "_____ (serves, offers, prepares, houses, or contains) a bouillabaisse of _____, from _____ to _____." Example: "Their shop offers a bouillabaisse of body modifications, from traditional piercings and tattoos to teeth sharpening and magnetic implants." 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. Apt Adjective Anagrams!  I'll invent a person's name and a brief description of that person, and you unscramble the letters in the name to form an adjective that aptly describes the person or the person's situation. For example, if I say "Naomi Cirous is still holding a grudge," then you rearrange the letters in "Naomi Cirous" to form the adjective "acrimonious," meaning "sharp, bitter, and mean"--an appropriate adjective for someone holding a grudge. From the previous issue: Lilian Tulip is dainty in the extreme. Answer: She's lilliputian. Try this today: Austine Divot gets all her income from royalties, from books written by her late grandmother. review today's word: 1. A close opposite of BOUILLABAISSE is A. ASSORTMENT OF BIZARRE ARTIFACTS. B. STOCKPILE OF IDENTICAL WARES. C. CONSOLIDATION OF COMPANIES. 2. It's as if these filmmakers tried to _____ a bouillabaisse with no _____. A. construct .. foundation B. prepare .. flavorful ingredients C. compose .. sense of tone or pitch 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. B 2. B