Make Your Point > Archived Issues > EPITOMIZE

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connect today's word to others: Today's word, epitomize, has Greek roots that mean "to cut into (something)." Say that one artist epitomizes an entire artistic movement: it means that he represents it perfectly, as if he's cutting straight into the heart of it. Another way to express that idea is to say that the artist, and his work, are em____atic of that artistic movement. Could you recall that word? It means "providing a typical example of something, or being a clear representation of something." (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "EPITOMIZE" An epitome ("ih PIT uh me") is a summary of something, or a little representation of something. So, to epitomize something is to summarize it, or to be a perfect example or representation of it. Pronunciation: ih PIT uh mize Part of speech: Transitive verb. (Like "eat," "try," and "want," all transitive verbs do something to an object. You eat a banana, try a game, and want a new phone. Likewise, say that someone or something epitomizes another thing.) Other common forms: epitomized, epitomizing, epitome(s) How to use it: Although "epitomize" can simply mean "to summarize," we'll focus on the more common meaning: "to have or show the most important characteristics of something larger or broader." Talk about a person epitomizing a thing: a professor who epitomizes her university's strong work ethic, a blogger who epitomizes a certain type of discourse, an athlete who epitomizes the team's strategy, a singer who epitomizes a musical trend or movement, a politician who epitomizes his party's philosophy, a child who epitomizes (in someone's nasty opinion!) all that's wrong with kids today. Or, talk about one thing epitomizing another thing: an object or product that epitomizes glamour or privilege, an event that epitomizes a trend or a conflict, a novel that epitomizes a literary movement, a memory that epitomizes your childhood. examples: His workweek averaged 80 hours, epitomizing Houston's work-yourself-to-death culture. Tiffanie epitomized childhood innocence; she once told me that you can tell boys and girls apart only by how long their hair is. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "epitomize" means when you can explain it without saying "encapsulate" or "typify." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "In a moment that epitomized the (grace, beauty, glamour, magic, frustration, terror, struggle, silliness, etc.) of _____, (something happened)." Example: "In a moment that epitomized the magic of singing in a choir, we made it through the Brahms piece without a flaw and felt as if we were flying in formation." 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. This month, we're playing with some beautifully worded passages from the Bible as we recall words we've studied before. From our previous issue: "I a__re you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases." (English Standard Version, Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 7.) What's the missing word? It means "to be very serious and earnest as you're commanding or begging people to do something." Answer: adjure. Try this today: "Whatever in the water does not have fins and scales is ab_____ to you." (New American Standard Bible, Leviticus, chapter 11, verse 12.) What's the missing word? It means "disgusting, horrible, shudder-inducing, and deserving of hate." review today's word: 1. A close opposite of EPITOMIZE is A. BELIE. B. CAVORT. C. DETER. 2. Naturally, every politician tries to epitomize _____. A. the greatest fears of the populace B. family values C. scandals 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. A 2. B