Make Your Point > Archived Issues > FETID

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explore the archives: Today's "fetid" describes things that smell so gross that they're truly offensive. Could you recall some synonyms for "fetid"? One means "so gross that it seems to be rotting" and another means "so gross that it makes you hate it." All three can be used figuratively also. make your point with... "FETID" Straight from the Latin word for "having an offensive smell," "fetid" means, literally or figuratively, smelling so terrible that it completely disgusts you. Pronunciation: FED id Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a fetid swamp." 2. After a linking verb, as in "The swamp was fetid.") Other forms: fetidly, fetidity/fetidness How to use it: When something's worse than "malodorous," "noxious," and "reeking," call it fetid. You might talk literally about fetid streets, fetid waters, or the fetid fumes from the gym. A place might be "fetid with something," as in "fetid with sweat" or "fetid with rotten food." Or be figurative and describe a fetid roomful of corrupt investors, the fetid atmosphere of politics today, a fetid stream of lies, etc. Notice that figuratively fetid things usually include places, spaces, atmospheres, streams, rivers, etc., and not specific actions or words or other objects. Don't say, for example, "fetid crimes" or "his fetid mind." The idea is that the awful stuff makes the space around it stink: so say "the fetid warren of his mind." examples: Bloggers have written extensively of their experiences in the fetid atmosphere of the demagogue's rallies. I'll never forget the fetid bathroom smell that pervaded an elementary school I visited--the staff and kids had either become experts in tolerating it or, I hope, they couldn't smell it anymore. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "fetid" means when you can explain it without saying "having a repulsive smell" or "totally reeking." try it out: Think of the worst thing you've ever smelled, and fill in the blanks: "_____ (wasn't/weren't) just stinky. (It was/ They were) fetid." Example: "The water reclamation facility, where we took our one and only field trip in college, wasn't just stinky. It was fetid." 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. Well-Named Creatures: Some names for animals and other creatures define themselves instantly or after a brief moment’s thought: anteater, grasshopper, hummingbird, seahorse, octopus (eight-foot). But other names deserve some exploration; they hold hidden clues about what the animals look like or what they do. And sometimes the names reveal how baffled people were when they first caught a glimpse of the creatures and tried to name them. This month, I’ll give you the literal meaning of a creature's name, and you come up with what it is. Answers will appear in alphabetical order this month. (Oh, and the answers might be animals, birds, insects, or even extinct creatures.) Enjoy! From yesterday: Actually a rodent, a "little bug" is a c________. Answer: This is a chinchilla, whose name comes from Spanish. You'll recognize the diminutive suffix, like in "flotilla" and "tortilla."  Try this one today: Much, much bigger than a worm, a "pebble worm" is a c________. review today's word: 1. The opposite of FETID is A. FRAGRANT B. EVOCATIVE C. CALM 2. Though Charleston is beautiful, in the summer all those _____ in the blazing heat leave the air fetid. A. cobblestone streets B. horse-drawn carriages C. restaurants Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. B