Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INCENSE

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explore the archives: We got a bunch of words from the Latin incendere, "set on fire," including incense, the perfume-y sticks you burn; incense, the verb meaning "to make people burn with anger and rage;" and incendiary, the adjective for people and things that set us on fire with fury. Break down that Latin word incendere and you see it's based on candere, meaning "to shine, to be on fire." That's the word that gave us candle and __cand______, meaning "warm and glowing with excitement or anger." make your point with... "INCENSE" To incense people is to make them so angry that it's like they're on fire. Pronunciation: "in SINSE," or "IN sinse," if you prefer. (When dictionaries give you two pronunciations, generally the first one is older and more traditional, and the second one came along later because that's just how a lot of people said the word. Which one is "right"? Depends on who you ask. I say both.) Part of speech: Transitive verb. (Like "eat," "try," and "want," all transitive verbs do something to an object. You eat a banana, try a game, and want a new phone. Likewise, you incense someone.) Other forms: Incensed, incensing, incendiary. (Technically, "incendiary" is a separate word from "incense" rather than another form of it. Because the two derive from the same root and have identical meanings, I've lumped them together.) How to use it: Talk about people, actions, and comments that incense people: "The company incensed its customers;" "The astronomical leap in prices incensed customers;" "The CEO's crude comments incensed customers." We're often incensed by something or incensed that something has happened: "Incensed by the scandal, she closed her account;" "Incensed that the bank had defrauded her, she closed her account." Less commonly, we're incensed at something: "She closed her account, incensed at the bank's greedy and criminal behavior." The adjective "incensed" is a quick way to describe entire groups of people who are enraged by the same issue: incensed customers, incensed voters, incensed students. And that adjective "incendiary" (said "in SIN dee air ee") is perfect for describing the comments and actions that make us burn with rage: "She's tweeting incendiary comments night and day," "They didn't realize that sitting down during the national anthem could be so incendiary." examples: Incensed by the article's slapdash and error-ridden summary of her speech, she stormed into her office to write a firmly-worded response. Joseph Fiennes, the white actor chosen to play Michael Jackson in a comedy special, has been an incendiary choice--TIME's Darlena Cunha denounced it as an attempt to dismiss "the struggles, burdens and history of a beleaguered people." study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "incense" means when you can explain it without saying "infuriate" or "make very angry." try it out: Think of a first-world problem: something that makes people really frustrated or mad even though it's not a big deal. Fill in the blanks: "These days, (kids/we) get incensed (by/if/when) _____." Example: "These days, we get incensed if our Amazon order takes three days to arrive." 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 rhyming puzzles as we review previous words.  Examples: Someone who belts out songs in church with great gusto has ____ ___. Answer: hymn vim. And the barbecue place where you always meet up with your friends from Dallas and Houston is your _____ _____. Answer: Texas nexus. The puzzles, and their answers, will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. Click or mouse-over the link to the clue if you need it, and see each answer the following day. Enjoy! From yesterday: When we directly address our nation's commander-in-chief, we use an extremely respectful, humble tone. We should call that tone the ____________ ___________. (Two words of four syllables each. Clue: use this word.) Answer: presidential deferential. Try this today: Are you an excellent tipper? In every situation, do you display sensitivity and sharp insight when it comes to calculating a fair and appropriate tip? You've got ________ ______. (Two words of four syllables each. Clue: use this word.) review today's word: 1. The opposite of INCENSE is A. IGNITE B. PACIFY C. TEACH 2.  Incensed, residents banded together to _____. A. block the construction crews from their sacred Mauna Kea B. support and cheer for their newly elected mayor C. keep each other warm during the power outage 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. B 2. A