Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CAVALCADE

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connect today's word to others: Cavalcade means "a long company of people or things marching forward together," and it also happens to be the title of a 1931 play by Noël Coward. That play trots out several decades' worth of historical events and popular songs. And, C____ C_____, which means "any event or person that causes a lot of public interest, excitement, and controversy," was the title of a 1975 radio play by Terence Rattigan, which focused on a famous murder trial. Can you recall that two-word term? (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "CAVALCADE" Latin for "a procession of people on horseback," a cavalcade is any long line of people travelling together (on horses, or in vehicles) for some event, like a battle, a celebration, or a funeral. More generally, a cavalcade is any long series of things or people that seems to move along in a formal, ceremonial way. Note: You rarely see someone take credit for a particular word's popularity, but Noël Coward, the author of the play Cavalcade, did. Here's what he said in 1941: "Before I wrote the play of that name the word had fallen into disuse. Now there are Cavalcades of fashion, Hollywood Cavalcades, Cavalcades of practically anything that can be cavalcaded."  Pronunciation: CAV ull cade Part of speech: Both a noun ("a cavalcade," "two cavalcades," "many cavalcades") and a verb (the intransitive kind: "to cavalcade down the street"). Other forms: cavalcades, cavalcaded, cavalcading How to use it: Because the verb "cavalcade" is rare, we'll stick to the noun. When it seems like the people, objects, or abstract things you're talking about are so numerous and so briskly or ceremoniously flowing that they remind you of a parade, or of a line of people travelling on horseback, then call them a cavalcade: a cavalcade of A-list celebrities, a cavalcade of made-for-TV movies, a cavalcade of craft beers, a cavalcade of headlines or insults, a cavalcade of coupons or sales, a cavalcade of misfortune, a cavalcade of good publicity. The tone of this word can be positive or negative: a cavalcade of things is just as likely to be grand, impressive, and entertaining as it is to be dull, tedious, and exhausting. Because a cavalcade is a figurative line of marchers, you might talk about people and things that lead the cavalcade, trot along with the cavalcade, get swept up in the cavalcade, stand and watch the cavalcade go by, trail after the cavalcade, etc. examples: She posts very few updates about her own life, but you can still tell what's going on by browsing her cavalcade of memes. "Florida man dons riot gear to remove iguana from toilet." "Florida Man crashes hot air balloon in alligator pond." Thanks, Florida Man, for keeping the news interesting with your cavalcade of shenanigans. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "cavalcade" means when you can explain it without saying "parade" or "procession." try it out: Fill in the blank: "I'm exhausted (or impressed) by the cavalcade of _____." Example: "I'm impressed by the cavalcade of families with babies on the Metro--it's not easy to navigate those crowds, even without a stroller." 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 Banishing Bland Adjectives. In each issue, we're strengthening our word-finding skills as we take aim at a vague little adjective and think up three ways to make it more specific. Resist the urge to sneak off to the thesaurus! From yesterday: HELPFUL. 1. When something is HELPFUL because it shows you how you can improve something, then instead of HELPFUL, call it _____. 2. When something is HELPFUL because it gives you a way to do things better than before (or better than others), then instead of HELPFUL, call it _____. 3. When something is HELPFUL because it gives you exactly what you need when you need it, then instead of HELPFUL, call it _____. Suggested answers: 1, constructive; 2, advantageous; 3, convenient. (Your answers might be different but just as precise.) Today: HURTFUL. 1. When something is HURTFUL because it's mean and it causes people harm on purpose, then instead of HURTFUL, call it _____. 2. When something is HURTFUL because it messes things up that were in good repair before, then instead of HURTFUL, call it _____. 3. When something is HURTFUL because it hurts or even kills people in a sneaky way, then instead of HURTFUL, call it _____. review today's word: 1. A close opposite of CAVALCADE is A. A RECAPITULATION B. A RETREAT C. A REVIEW 2. In the cavalcade of newer, better gadgets, Apple struggles to remain _____. A. in the lead B. in the fray C. on top 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. A