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By definition, histrionics are ______ic, meaning they are extremely emotional and maybe exaggerated or insincere. Could you recall that word? It comes from the Greek bathos, meaning "depth," and often refers to speech and literature in general, while today's "histrionics" is rooted specifically in the theater.
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"HISTRIONICS"
Histrionics are things people say or do that are overly emotional, dramatic, and attention-seeking.
Pronunciation:
hiss tree ON icks
Part of speech:
Uncountable noun.
(Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations."
Likewise, talk about "the histrionics," "such histrionics," "a lot of histrionics," "no histrionics," and so on, but don’t say "a histrionic.")
Other forms:
The adjective is "histrionic."
For the noun, use "histrionicism" or "histrionism."
Grammar note:
Like you do with "pants," "scissors," "electronics," and "fireworks," use plural verbs with "histrionics." Say that her histrionics annoy you, that his histrionics are hard to take, for example, not that her histrionics annoys you or that his histrionics is hard to take.
How to use it:
Talk about the histrionics, someone's histrionics or the histrionics of someone, or just histrionics in general: "This call for donations would be more palatable without the histrionics." "Sorry, I can't handle her histrionics anymore." "The histrionics of this company seem to make the news daily." "Let's solve this problem without resorting to histrionics."
examples:
I love Fiona Apple songs that get all frenzied and histrionic in the middle.
No one appreciated their histrionics at the dinner table. For me at least, raised voices are less likely to be heard.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "histrionics" means when you can explain it without saying "melodrama" or "emotional display."
try it out:
Think of a situation that requires people to be calm, and fill in the blank: "There's no place for histrionics (in/when) _____."
Example: "There's no place for histrionics when you're responding to an emergency."
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: A "little thief" is a f____.
Answer: This is a ferret, whose name comes from the diminutive form of "thief" in Old French.
Try this one today: A "flame-colored" creature is a f_______.
review today's word:
1. A close opposite of HISTRIONICS is
A. GRANDILOQUENCE
B. ANONYMITY
C. EQUANIMITY
2. Her histrionics have earned her a reputation as a _____.
A. slave-driver
B. softie
C. diva
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. C
2. C
By definition, histrionics are ______ic, meaning they are extremely emotional and maybe exaggerated or insincere. Could you recall that word? It comes from the Greek bathos, meaning "depth," and often refers to speech and literature in general, while today's "histrionics" is rooted specifically in the theater.
"HISTRIONICS" Histrionics are things people say or do that are overly emotional, dramatic, and attention-seeking. Pronunciation: Part of speech: How to use it:
I love Fiona Apple songs that get all frenzied and histrionic in the middle.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "histrionics" means when you can explain it without saying "melodrama" or "emotional display."
Think of a situation that requires people to be calm, and fill in the blank: "There's no place for histrionics (in/when) _____."
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. A close opposite of HISTRIONICS is
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
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