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It's less emphasized now, but remember how vocabulary used to be the key to a strong SAT score? Teenagers would slave over these long lists of definitions and polysyllabic words, like assiduous (they hated that one) and impetuous (they hated that one, too).
But gregarious, they loved because it described them and their lives. If you're sociable, popular, outgoing, friendly, and fun, you're gregarious. You flock to your group; you run with your herd.
Gregarious originally described animals that live in communities or flocks, and the "greg" part means "flock or herd." It's a root we see also in congregate (to flock together), segregate (to separate from the flock), and _greg____ (literally "above the flock," or sticking out and easy to notice because it's really bad or wrong).
One more note! Recently we noticed how vivacious shares a root with the name Vivian. Does gregarious share a root with Greg, then? Nope, it's a coincidence. The name Greg traces back to the Greek gregoros, which means "to be watchful."
make your point with...
"GREGARIOUS"
Gregarious people are very social: they don't like being alone, and they love being in a group.
Pronunciation:
grig AIR ee us
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 gregarious person."
2. After a linking verb, as in "He was gregarious.")
Other forms:
gregariously, gregariousness
How to use it:
This word almost always describes people: "her gregarious roommates," "this gregarious salesman," "lively and gregarious musicians," "she's becoming so much more gregarious."
You can also talk about gregarious habits, tendencies, and personalities.
If you talk about gregarious time periods, events, or groups, you simply mean that the people involved in them are gregarious: socializing constantly or socializing in big groups.
examples:
Theresa was a warm, funny, gregarious conversationalist.
I enjoyed a few gregarious years in college, but what I love most now is a quiet night at home with the family.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "gregarious" means when you can explain it without saying "preferring to spend time in a group of people" or "always socializing with other people."
try it out:
Who's someone who loves to be with his/her friends? Fill in the blanks: "(Person) has always been gregarious and (some other nice quality)."
Example: "Grace has always been gregarious and hardworking."
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 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 __________.
Answer: Divergent.
Try this today: The title of this 2001 book by Ian McEwan means "the process of making things right after having hurt someone." If you remove the word’s suffix, you can break the remaining letters into two words that, together, describe a feeling of harmony or concord. The title is __________.
review today's word:
1. Its exact opposite is UNGREGARIOUS, an awkward word I don't recommend using, but another opposite of GREGARIOUS is
A. UNEASY
B. DEFIANT
C. WITHDRAWN
2. At camp, the more gregarious kids were too _____ to _____
A. competitive .. see the group activities as "just games."
B. caught up in the group activities .. get homesick.
C. timid and reserved .. enjoy the group activities.
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. B
It's less emphasized now, but remember how vocabulary used to be the key to a strong SAT score? Teenagers would slave over these long lists of definitions and polysyllabic words, like assiduous (they hated that one) and impetuous (they hated that one, too).
"GREGARIOUS" Gregarious people are very social: they don't like being alone, and they love being in a group. Part of speech:
Theresa was a warm, funny, gregarious conversationalist.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "gregarious" means when you can explain it without saying "preferring to spend time in a group of people" or "always socializing with other people."
Who's someone who loves to be with his/her friends? Fill in the blanks: "(Person) has always been gregarious and (some other nice quality)."
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. Its exact opposite is UNGREGARIOUS, an awkward word I don't recommend using, but another opposite of GREGARIOUS is
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
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