Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CATERWAUL

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explore the archives: Today's word probably came from the Low German katerwaulen, "to cry out like a cat." Caterwauling is yowling or shrieking--literally or figuratively. It's pretty much the same as y__ping--just a bit more emphatic and more fun to say. Could you recall that synonym? make your point with... "CATERWAUL" This word looks like "cat wail," for good reason. Brace yourself! The most literal meaning of "caterwaul" is something cats do: make loud, obnoxious yowling sounds when they're in heat. So, when people caterwaul, they're making loud, obnoxious cries or shouts, either literally ("I can hear you caterwauling from down the block") or figuratively ("They've been caterwauling about that issue for years"). Pronunciation: "CAD er wall" or "CAT er wall" Part of speech: Both a verb (he caterwauls, she's caterwauling, they caterwaul so much) and a noun (this caterwaul, her caterwaul, it was all just caterwaul). Other forms: caterwauling, caterwauler(s) How to use it: This lively word can be either lighthearted or insulting, depending on your tone. When you use it, just keep in mind that it suggests a cat in heat! Talk about people caterwauling, or people caterwauling about things: "they caterwaul constantly," "they caterwaul about this problem constantly." "Caterwaul" is also a noun (as in "she let out a caterwaul of rage"), but the noun form that we use most often is "caterwauling." Talk about someone's caterwauling, or the caterwauling of certain people, groups, animals, or things. "Caterwauling" works as a handy adjective, too: caterwauling people and animals and musical instruments, caterwauling songs, caterwauling humor, caterwauling complaints and accusations, etc. examples: Even the congressman's voice blasting from the loudspeaker couldn't drown out the feisty crowd's caterwauling. As kids, if we started caterwauling about who had more presents under the tree, our mom would teach us a lesson by returning some of them to the store.  study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "caterwaul" means when you can explain it without saying "to wail like a crazed cat" or "to shout out obnoxiously." try it out: Fill in the blank: "It's hard to block out the caterwauling of _____." Example: "In a waiting room, it's hard to block out the caterwauling of daytime talk show guests." 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 "What's the Difference?" I’ll give you two terms. Without using Google or a dictionary, explain how they’re different. Go beyond saying, "well, I know the difference, but I can’t explain it," or "show me an example and I'll tell you which it is." In your explanations, try to focus on features, not comparisons. For example, what's the difference between climate and weather? A good explanation focuses on features: "climate is what’s going on in the atmosphere over long periods of time, and weather is what’s going on in the atmosphere at a particular place and time." A weaker explanation focuses on comparisons: "climate is more concerning than weather." The game will get harder as the month goes on: we’ll start with objects—natural first, then man-made—then switch to concepts. Let’s do this! From yesterday: What's the difference between cohesion and coherence? Answer: Something has cohesion when its individual parts stick together well, and it has coherence when the whole thing makes sense together as one unit. Joseph M. Williams likens the difference to Lego pieces: cohesion is like individual Lego pieces fitting together, and coherence is like many Lego pieces all forming something recognizable, such as a boat. Try this today: What's the difference between convincing people and persuading them? review today's word: 1. The closest opposite of CATERWAUL is A. SLINK B. TIPTOE C. WHISPER 2. In the auditorium, the principal's harsh reprimands were met with _____ and caterwauling. A. hissing B. braying C. cawing 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. C 2. A