Make Your Point > Archived Issues > GRAPPLE

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explore the archives: Although today we're concerned with grapple as a verb, a grapple is also a grape-flavored apple. Yes, that's a thing now, apparently. While we're thinking about fruit, see if you can recall a juicy-sounding two-word term for "the first good results you get from a specific thing you're working on." make your point with... "GRAPPLE" Originally a grapple was a hook used on ships. From there it came to mean "to hook things together" and, later, "to grab at something, to wrestle with someone." Here's the definition we use most often now. To grapple with something is to try hard to deal with it or understand it. It's like your mind is trying to grab onto something with a hook and keep a firm hold on it. Pronunciation: GRAP ull (rhymes with "apple") Part of speech: Intransitive verb. You don't "grapple something," but instead you "grapple with something." Other forms: grappled, grappling How to use it: Almost always, we talk about people grappling with something. You can grapple with a problem, a situation, a task, a question, a decision, a topic, a feeling, etc. examples: In middle school she produced one book report after another with ease; in ninth grade she found herself grappling with her teacher's demands for rigorous literary analyses. The sudden death of a friend has left me grappling with grief. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "grapple" means when you can explain it without saying "wrestle with something" or "try to wrap your head around something." try it out: Think of something that's always been hard for you to understand or deal with. Fill in the blanks: "I've grappled endlessly with _____, never quite able to _____." Example: "I've grappled endlessly with these formulas, never quite able to understand why or how they work." 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 KWIKORD, an addictive, challenging new word game for solo or group play, created by Wayne Ellice.  We're dipping our toes into the game this month, trying some simple challenges first and working our way toward harder tasks. (Check out my interview with the game's creator here, and order your own copy of the full version of KWIKORD here.) You'll see a sample answer to each puzzle the following day. Enjoy! Yesterday, you took the letters RRTAEO and arranged them into words that fill the perimeter of a 3x3 grid. Many solutions were possible. Here are two: We'll do this a few more times before switching to a more complex task. Try it again today with the letters CTYAEO. Draw a tic-tac-toe board on some scrap paper and go for it! review today's word: 1. One opposite of GRAPPLE is A. IGNORE B. FAST-FORWARD C. COMPLICATE 2. The island nation is still grappling with _____. A. a history rich in unusual traditions B. unexpectedly high tourism revenues this season C. widespread homelessness after the hurricane 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. A 2. C