Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CIRCUITOUS

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connect today's word to others: "Garrulous old Simon Wheeler" was a circuitous storyteller, a guy who failed to get to the point, rambling around and around, driving the narrator crazy in Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." (Such a hilarious read!) See if you can recall these other two words that also mean "going around and around," or "going from here to there, instead of getting to the point:" tor___us and me___ering. Looking at our word circuitous, you'll see how it's related to words about things that literally and figuratively go around or surround, like circle, circumference, and circumstances, as well as circus (think of the ring-shaped arenas) and our term bread and circuses: can you define it? (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "CIRCUITOUS" From Latin roots meaning "going around," the word "circuit" means "a circular path, or any line or path going around something (not straight through it)." So, something circuitous is indirect, roundabout, or going around and around in circles. In other words, something circuitous follows a rounded path or an out-of-the-way path, or it goes around and around a lot instead of being direct or straightforward. Pronunciation: sir KYOO it us Part of speech: Adjective: "a circuitous answer," "their route was circuitous." Other forms: The adverb is "circuitously." When you need a noun, you can pick between "circuitousness" and my preference, "circuity" ("sir KYOO it ee"). "Circuity" can be both uncountable ("such circuity") and countable ("these circuities"). How to use it: This sophisticated word is fun to say and easy to understand. Let's use it more often! Be literal or figurative as you talk about circuitous ways, routes, paths, and journeys. And, be figurative as you talk about circuitous comments, answers, explanations, arguments, conversations, stories, thoughts, thinking, reasoning, and so on. As you can see, it's usually thinking and language that we call circuitous. But we can also talk about circuitous systems, processes, procedures, solutions, etc. examples: In a maddeningly circuitous procedure, forms are faxed back and forth among the patient, the physician, the insurance company, and the prior authorization team. "In fact, Jacobs took a very circuitous route to her present career, at age 75, as a botanical artist."    — Jeanette Marantos, The Los Angeles Times, 12 April 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "circuitous" without saying "roundabout" or "rambling." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "I followed _____'s circuitous path from _____ to _____." Concrete example: "I followed my daughter's circuitous path from the swings to the monkey bars." Abstract example: "I struggled to follow the authors' circuitous path from their data to their findings." 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 "justice," "heinousness," and "respect for the moral order." People who argue "no" say things like "human rights violation," "cruel and unusual," and "does not reduce homicides." What's the question? The question is, "Should the death penalty be allowed?" (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.) Try this last one today: People who argue "yes" say things like "knowledgeable about civics," "develops lifelong habits," and "a voice in laws that affect them." People who argue "no" say things like "not mature enough," "low turnout," and "raise it back to age 21." What's the question? review today's word: 1. The opposite of CIRCUITOUS is A. SUBTLE. B. MANUAL. C. STRAIGHT. 2. My thoughts _____ circuitously. A. roiled B. blanked out C. unfolded, neatly and 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. A