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The Latin floridus, meaning "flowery" or "in bloom," gave us today's florid. Notice how similar it is to flower, flourish, Florida, and effl____ence: a blooming, a bursting out, or a time of robust growth and development.
make your point with...
"FLORID"
This word has two meanings. The first is often an insult; the second is often a compliment:
1. Something florid is full of overly fancy words or phrases or is just generally overly fancy and showy.
2. Something florid has a red, rosy, healthy color.
(Why the two meanings? "Florid" comes from a root meaning "bloom," and when you think of blooming flowers, you can think of them as either fancy or healthy.)
Pronunciation:
FLOOR 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 florid thing."
2. After a linking verb, as in "It was florid.")
Other forms:
Floridly & floridity/floridness.
How to use it:
For the first meaning ("overly decorated, too fancy, inappropriately showy"), your tone will often be critical ("this florid prose that takes eternity to get to the point") but might be neutral or even complimentary ("joyful and florid dancing").
We most often talk about florid language: florid speeches and florid writing, florid speakers and florid writers, or a florid style. (For example: florid poems and essays and novels, florid dialogue and descriptions, florid compliments and praise, florid introductions and acceptance speeches, etc.)
You can also be more general and talk about florid clothes and accessories, florid art and music and architecture, even florid traditions and proceedings.
For the second meaning ("flushed with a healthy shade of red"), talk about florid faces; florid skin and florid complexions; and florid beauty, vigor, health, or joy. The tone here is almost always positive, but "florid" also describes people suffering from a skin condition like rosacea.
examples:
Typically dark and soulful, Fiona Apple takes a new direction with "Hot Knife." It's a bouncy celebration of love, sung in tight harmony and florid polyphony.
After every outing on the sailboat, Sarah returned giddy and florid.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "florid" means when you can explain it without saying "ostentatious" or "ruddy."
try it out:
Think of something that deserves to be extra-fancy or ceremonious. Fill in the blanks: "When you _____, you can't just _____; you need a little floridity."
Example: "When you introduce someone at an awards banquet, you can't just say, 'Here's Mr. Smith, let's clap for him as he walks up here;' you need a little floridity."
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.
Our game this month is called One-Word Titles! Rely on your cultural knowledge, your vocabulary, or both as we consider the power and simplicity of one-word titles. We'll recall movies, songs, books, television shows, and musicals with brief, meaningful, well-chosen titles of only one word each. Let's play!
From yesterday: The title of this 1987 book by Toni Morrison means "a person who is adored." Giving the title both ambiguity and eeriness is the fact that we hear this word in speeches at both weddings and funerals. The title is __________.
Answer: Beloved. ("Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to...")
Try this today: The title of this 2011 book by Veronica Roth means "departing from a common way of thinking or behaving." We use it to describe physical things, like the course of rivers, and abstract ones, like the development of separate religious sects. And in psychology, we use it to describe the thinking behind creative problem-solving. The title is __________.
review today's word:
1. One opposite of FLORID is
A. CALM
B. CHILLY
C. SIMPLE
2. Mentally, I started composing a florid apology: "_____"
A. Hey, so um, I just wanted you to know that I'm like REALLY super-duper sorry about...
B. I hate to bring this up again, but I hope it didn't bother you when I accidentally...
C. My foolishness and failure have cast a dark shadow of shame upon...
Answers are below.
a final word:
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, 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. C
2. C
The Latin floridus, meaning "flowery" or "in bloom," gave us today's florid. Notice how similar it is to flower, flourish, Florida, and effl____ence: a blooming, a bursting out, or a time of robust growth and development.
"FLORID" This word has two meanings. The first is often an insult; the second is often a compliment: Part of speech:
Typically dark and soulful, Fiona Apple takes a new direction with "Hot Knife." It's a bouncy celebration of love, sung in tight harmony and florid polyphony.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "florid" means when you can explain it without saying "ostentatious" or "ruddy."
Think of something that deserves to be extra-fancy or ceremonious. Fill in the blanks: "When you _____, you can't just _____; you need a little floridity."
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.
1. One opposite of FLORID is
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
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