Make Your Point > Archived Issues > EFFUSIVE

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connect today's word to others: A reader recently shared with me one of his favorite words: effusive. And it really is wonderful, so let's check it out! It comes from the Latin fundere, "to pour, or to melt," which is why it resembles fuse (and defuse), infuse, confuse, profuse, refuse, suffuse, and transfuse, as well as our word d____se, meaning "widely scattered" or "overly wordy." (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "EFFUSIVE" To effuse is to shed or to pour out, and an effusion is a spilling or a pouring--especially an outpouring of many emotional words. So, someone or something effusive is overflowing--usually with emotional words. Pronunciation: eh FYOO siv Part of speech: Adjective: "an effusive letter," "he was effusive." Other forms: effusively, effusiveness (the quality of pouring out many emotional words); effuse, effused, effusing; effusion(s) (any outpourings) How to use it: Although the tone of "effusive" can be neutral or positive (as in "the film earned effusive reviews"), it's often a bit negative: effusive people tend to gush, exaggerate, repeat themselves, cause embarrassment, ec. Talk about effusive people and personalities, effusive praise and compliments, effusive descriptions and explanations, etc. You can also say that people are effusive in their praise or admiration: "he's effusive in his praise of their work," "she's effusive in her admiration for the team." examples: This novel's introduction is worse than useless, all effusive kudos and massive spoilers. "Real loyalty looks like Cordelia, refusing to flatter King Lear at great cost, not like her sisters, praising him effusively to get more land."    — Ken White, The Washington Post, 19 April 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "effusive" without saying "gushing" or "demonstrative." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "Regarding (some topic), (someone) bubbles with effusive chatter." Example: "Regarding her art projects at preschool, Taylor bubbles with effusive chatter." 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. Our game this month is "Inspired by, but in no way associated with, Jeopardy!" In each issue, I'll create three "answers" for you, and you supply the "questions." (That is, you'll respond in the form of a question, like "What is...?" or "Who is...?") From the previous issue: 1. Category: Same Name. Answer: City in Ohio and Texas, town in England, energy corporation, plumbing manufacturer, writer Katherine. Question: What is Mansfield? 2. Category: Before & After. Answer: "Chuck Berry?" "Here!" "Elvis Presley?" "Here!" "Little Richard?" "Here!" Question: What is a rock and roll call? 3. Category: Alliterative Appellations in Athletics. Answer: Known as the Big Bam, the Sultan of Swat, the Titan of Terror and more, this baseballer scored 714 home runs. Question: Who was Babe Ruth? Try these today: 1. Category: Before & After. Answer: It's an advantageous attacking device--hidden, paradoxically, on display. 2. Category: Alliterative Appellations in Athletics. Answer: Although she's no detective, thanks to her pink outfits and pink golf bag, the LPGA champion Paula Creamer earned this alliterative nickname. 3. Category: "SNOO." Answer: Overly curious, or an imaginative beagle. review today's word: 1. One opposite of EFFUSIVE is A. METRONOMIC. B. PETULANT. C. TACITURN. 2. As she took the stage, audience members greeted her with effusion, _____. A. clapping tepidly B. jeering and catcalling C. whooping and stomping 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. C