Make Your Point > Archived Issues > DUALISTIC
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pronounce
DUALISTIC:
Several ways are correct. I go with "DOO uh LISS tick."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
As we check out the word dualistic, see if you can recall a synonym for it that's rare and fancy.
This synonym is named for a religion: Ma__ch___n means "seeing everything in terms of a battle between good and evil," or more loosely, "seeing everything in oversimplified, either-or, black-and-white terms."
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
In Latin, duo means "two," and dualis means "something with two parts."
We took dualis into English as "dual." Dual things come in twos, or have two parts.
We've used the word "dual" since 1607, maybe even earlier. And starting around 1833, we've used "dualism" to mean "a state of having two parts, or a state of being divided into two parts."
More specifically, we also use "dualism" to mean "the idea that there are essentially two separate things: mind and matter." Or, "the idea that there is good, and there is evil, and that's it: nothing in between." Someone who thinks that way is a dualist.
That brings us to the adjective, "dualistic." It can simply mean having two different parts. Or, it can mean involving only two simple categories, like "black and white," "good and evil," or "us and them."
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "their dualistic thinking;" "the dualistic comedy/drama model (Time)."
Other forms:
Dual, dualism, dualist(s), dualistically.
If you need a noun that just means "two-ness," there's "duality."
Finally, you can dualize something: split it into two, or think of it as having two parts. The related forms are "dualized," "dualizing," and "dualization."
how to use it:
The word "dualistic" is formal, semi-common, and often a bit negative in tone. So, it's a good choice for pointing out how very limited, limiting, and simplistic some system or way of thinking is.
You might talk about dualistic views, theories, terms, models, frameworks, understandings, etc.
examples:
"These new set pieces resemble something of a hybrid between phones and tablets. This was surely purposeful because their dualistic dominance of the communicative marketplace is akin to the way Coke and Pepsi split up carbonated beverages."
— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 20 March 2011
"Matthias Forstmann says people with a dualistic view [of the body and the mind] may be more likely to neglect the body's health because they see the body as 'a mere vessel for the mind.'"
— Tori Rodriguez, Scientific American, 1 May 2013
has this page helped you understand "dualistic"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "dualistic" without saying "binary" or "dichotomized."
try it out:
Check this out, from a translation of a Buddhist text, Sengcan's True Heart/Mind:
"Attaining the Way is not difficult,
If only you dislike picking and choosing.
Only when you do not 'hate' and 'love'
Will the Way thus be clearly and plainly revealed.
...
Do not dwell in dualistic opinions--
Be careful not to pursue them.
Not until 'right' and 'wrong' exist
Does your heart/mind thus become lost in confusion."
See if you can explain what Sengcan is saying about dualistic opinions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with him?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for August is "Heard it in Hamilton."
Check out a snippet of lyrics from Hamilton: An American Musical, and see if you can come up with the missing word. You can check your answer by scrolling all the way down.
Try this one today:
HAMILTON:
What are the odds the gods would put us all in one spot,
poppin’ a squat on conventional wisdom, like it or not,
a bunch of revolutionary ____ abolitionists?
Give me a position, show me where the ammunition is!
Definition of the missing word: "the act of setting people free, often from slavery."
Number of syllables: 4.
review this word:
A. MELLOW.
B. NUANCED.
C. HARMONIOUS.
2.
In the zodiac, _____ can symbolize a dualistic personality.
A. Leo, the lion,
B. Gemini, the twins,
C. Sagittarius, the archer,
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my 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.
As we check out the word dualistic, see if you can recall a synonym for it that's rare and fancy.
In Latin, duo means "two," and dualis means "something with two parts."
Part of speech:
The word "dualistic" is formal, semi-common, and often a bit negative in tone. So, it's a good choice for pointing out how very limited, limiting, and simplistic some system or way of thinking is.
"These new set pieces resemble something of a hybrid between phones and tablets. This was surely purposeful because their dualistic dominance of the communicative marketplace is akin to the way Coke and Pepsi split up carbonated beverages."
Explain the meaning of "dualistic" without saying "binary" or "dichotomized."
Check this out, from a translation of a Buddhist text, Sengcan's True Heart/Mind:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
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