Make Your Point > Archived Issues > FAINEANT

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connect today's word to others: Today's word faineant means "lazy" and has roots that literally mean "do nothing." That's why it looks a little bit like these terms that also come from French faire, "to do": 1. fait ac____li, "something done that can't be undone;" and 2. s___ir-faire, "knowing what to do in social situations." Could you recall both terms? Also, see how many of these synonyms of faineant you can recall:   1. ot__se, 2. ind__ent, 3. lack_____ical, and 4. he___udinous. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "FAINEANT" This word comes straight from the French for "do-nothing," as in, "She's such a do-nothing; she needs to get off the couch and get a job." The adjective "faineant" means lazy, idle, doing nothing. "Faineant" can also be a noun. A faineant is a person who is lazy and idle and does nothing. Pronunciation: FAY nee unt. (Or, if you prefer, use the French way: "FAY nay AW," with the "AW" part nasalized.) Part of speech: Both an adjective ("a faineant policy," "she was faineant") and a noun, the countable kind ("these faineants in the administration"). Other forms: Sometimes you'll see it spelled with an accent mark over the "e," which calls more attention to its Frenchness: "fainéant." The plural noun is "faineants:" people who are lazy and accomplish nothing. When you need a noun for the idea or habit of laziness and doing nothing, pick "faineance" (my preference), "faineancy," "fainéantism," or "faineantise"--all four are acceptable in English usage. How to use it: When you need a sophisticated alternative to words like "lazy," "idle," "sluggish," and "shiftless," pick "faineant." Just keep in mind that its tone is insulting and maybe even snobby. You might choose to keep the French pronunciation as well as the accent mark and the italics: fainéant. But I'll write "faineant" and say "FAY nee unt." I agree with the language expert Charles Harrington Elster, who wrote, "Faineant and faineance have earned their place in the language and they cry out for full anglicization." To use the adjective, talk about faineant people, habits, and behaviors. Or, get figurative and talk about faineant laws, policies, methods, and so on--those that seem lazy because they do nothing and accomplish nothing. Because we use "faineant" as a noun, too, we can call someone a faineant, or talk about faineants as a group. examples: Schools now stand stronger against bullying; gone are the faineant sighs of "boys will be boys." "So this faineant took but little part in the electioneering doings, holding moodily aloof from the meetings, and councils, and public-houses..."    — William Makepeace Thackeray, The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable Family, 1855 study it: Explain the meaning of "faineant" without saying "lethargic" or "without gumption." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Some parent, manager, instructor, or other authority figure) is frustrated with these faineants who won't even (put forth some small amount of effort)." Example: "Kristin is frustrated with these faineants who won't even bring pencils, let alone their textbooks, to class." 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. Tidbits and Titles! I provide the tidbits; you provide the title. From our previous issue: Here's a quote from a novel: "'I only took the regular course… Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,' the Mock Turtle replied; 'and then the different branches of Arithmetic - Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.'" And here are some terms and phrases that often appear in that novel: soup, caterpillar, citizen bird, curious, grow, hedgehog, puzzled, Queen, remark, timidly, white kid-gloves, wish, wonder. What's the novel's title? Answer: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Try this today: Here's a quote from a novel: "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." And here are some terms and phrases that often appear in that novel: asteroid, baobab trees, desert, forget, golden, lamplighter, planet Earth, snake, stars, tamed, three volcanoes, watch the sunset, whole world. What's the novel's title? review today's word: 1. An opposite of FAINEANT is A. FACTOTUM (a person who does everything). B. FULCRUM (a very important thing or person). C. FACADE (a false front or a fake appearance). 2. Layla is blue-eyed and gray-pawed, a white ball of fluff as _____ as a faineant _____. A. frisky .. child B. plump .. aristocrat C. demanding .. drill sergeant 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