Make Your Point > Archived Issues > HAUTEUR

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"HAUTEUR" Meaning: "Hauteur" is from the French word for "high," and it means arrogance. In other words, hauteur is someone's attitude of acting like he's better than everyone else. Pronunciation: "oh TUR" (if you prefer the French) or "ho TUR" Part of speech: Noun. It's usually uncountable ("the hauteur," "such hauteur," "no hauteur") but sometimes treated as singular ("a hauteur.") We don't make it plural. Other forms: none How to use it: Just say "haughtiness" if that will do. Use "hauteur" when your tone needs to be fancy or more critical. "Hauteur" truly is an unkind word, so use it with caution unless you're being silly, as in "What did I do to earn my kitty's hauteur?" Talk about doing something with hauteur, saying something with hauteur, having a reputation for hauteur, developing hauteur or shaking off hauteur, and so on. You can make it possessive ("her hauteur," "the hauteur of his tiresome girlfriend") or talk about hauteur in general ("Hauteur in your college admissions essay can only hurt your chances.") This exposé about the freelance market is fascinating, but all the profanity and hauteur are distracting... perhaps they're the reason the author ran into so many interpersonal problems in his freelancing work. For all her hauteur in the kitchen, the bread was burnt and the veggies were tasteless. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "hauteur" means when you can explain it without saying "haughtiness" or "superiority." Think of a person you know (or a fictional character) who is stuck-up or self-important, or a place or thing that seems to be full of itself, and fill in the blanks: "(Person, place, or thing) exudes hauteur, especially as/when/with _____."  Example: "The small suburb exudes hauteur, especially with the overblown holiday decorations." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month, we're sampling questions from Orijinz, an awesome series of games about the origins of words, phrases, and quotes. Click here if you want to check them out. Try a question here each day this month, and see the right answer the next day. Have fun! Yesterday's question: "Guess the phrase! Origin: Originally this phrase, first put to paper by Shakespeare, meant a sudden violent attack from a bird of prey. Today it means to do something quickly and all at once." Answer: "The phrase is: One fell swoop. Tidbit: The original meaning of fell was 'terrible.' Though fell used in this manner is now obsolete, it is still used in the root of such words as felon." Today's question: "Guess the word! Origin: This word for a sharp, ironic taunt or remark comes from a Greek word meaning 'to tear flesh'.” A Point Well Made: Herbert N. Casson: "There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to failure." 1. The opposite of HAUTEUR is A. HUBRIS B. HUMILITY C. HUMILIATION 2. Playing the role of _____ on stage naturally requires a bit of hauteur. A. stressed student B. inspiring teacher C. pushy principal Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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. B 2. C Exploring the archives: You often say "hauteur" with a little sneer, because you use it to imitate the very behavior you're criticizing. We've had a look at a similar word before: see if you can recall it. It starts with "F," it has four syllables, and it means a big show of bragging about stuff that's exaggerated or even totally false.