Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INAPPRECIABLE

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explore the archives: More precise than "small," "insignificant," and "negligible," today's inappreciable is a valuable addition to your vocabulary--but with five or six syllables (depending on how you say it) and with a prefix and a suffix, it's a beast of a word that you should summon only when no other will do. The same goes for these five-syllable mouthfuls: - C__________: the spirit of loyal, fun, easy friendship in a group of people. - D__________: the misleading of a large group of people by taking advantage of their fears and desires. - E___________: a weird little habit that someone has. make your point with... "INAPPRECIABLE" To appreciate something does mean to be grateful for it or to value it. But "appreciate" also means "to understand something clearly" and "to recognize something with your senses (your vision or your hearing, etc.)." So, something appreciable is able to be understood, or able to be recognized with your senses. Here's the opposite. Inappreciable things are so small or so unimportant that you can't even notice them. Pronunciation: Either "in uh PREE shuh bull" (my preference) or "in uh PREE shih uh bull." 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 "an inappreciable thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was inappreciable.") Other forms: inappreciably How to use it: Talk about inappreciable amounts and quantities of things; inappreciable increments, decrements, increases, and decreases; inappreciable changes, differences, and fluctuations; an inappreciable effect or an inappreciable influence, etc. examples: If a graph's Y-axis doesn't start at zero, don't trust the graph. It may be magnifying an otherwise inappreciable change. It's frustrating to tutor a child who doesn't want to learn and expends no effort. Her skills grow, but inappreciably; her parents pay for the lessons, but it's money wasted. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "inappreciable" means when you can explain it without saying "imperceptible" or "unable to be seen, heard, or felt." try it out: Think of a small detail that you really care about--something that makes a difference to you. Fill in the blanks: "The difference may seem inappreciable, but I always _____, rather than _____." Example: "The difference may seem inappreciable, but if someone opens the door to their home and doesn't say 'Come in' when they greet me, I always ask if I may, rather than assuming." 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 anagrams: rearrangements of the letters in a word to form new words. (For example, “care” has two anagrams: “acre” and “race.”) Looking for these makes you a stronger player in other word games. But more importantly, it helps you practice thinking flexibly and methodically. Plus you get to giggle at potential non-words and discover new real words. We’ll work our way from shorter to longer anagrams. And at any point if you wonder why I left out a word you wanted to list, or why I included a word you think isn’t a real one, hold your fire: our authority for this game is ScrabbleWordFinder.org, which draws from a highly inclusive dictionary. Let’s play! From yesterday: What are the 3 anagrams for TREASON? Answer: ATONERS, SENATOR, and SANTERO. In Mexico and parts of the U.S., a santero is someone who makes religious images. It’s also a leader of a religious cult. You might be more familiar with the general noun form "Santeria," thanks to the Sublime song of that name: "I don't practice Santeria, I ain't got no crystal ball." Try this one today: What are the 3 anagrams for FRIENDS? review today's word: 1. The exact opposite of INAPPRECIABLE is APPRECIABLE. But another opposite of INAPPRECIABLE is A. CREDIBLE B. DISCERNABLE C. EMBRACEABLE 2. The _____ are inappreciable to casual readers. A. glossaries and indexes B. improvements in the second edition  C. extensive footnotes, often taking up half the page, 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. B 2. B