Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NADIR
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connect this word to others:
Originally an astronomy term, our word nadir means "the lowest point" and has two beautiful opposites, both of which also started out in talks of stars and planets:
1. From an Arabic term meaning "the way over the head," the word z___th means "the highest point, the very best part of something."
2. From a Latin word meaning "midday" or "noon," the word m____ian means "the highest point, the most developed point, or the most perfect point."
But today we're talking about nadirs: low points, rock bottoms, all-time lows, the times when you're at your personal worst, whether it involves rage quitting, spontaneously shaving off your hair, or dining solely on stolen ketchup packets.
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make your point with...
"NADIR"
This word comes from an Arabic one meaning "opposite." Originally, the nadir of the sun was the point directly beneath it, or directly opposite it.
Today, the nadir of something is the lowest point, the worst point: in other words, the time, the value, or the situation that's as bad as it's ever been.
Pronunciation:
NAY der
(Rhymes with "later." Sounds the same as "Nader," as in Ralph.)
Part of speech:
Noun, the countable kind: "the nadir of her career," "he's plummeting toward his nadir."
Other forms:
The plural noun is "nadirs."
The adjective is rare: "nadiral," pronounced "NAY deer ull."
How to use it:
Even though "nadir" has been an English word since 1392, it still looks so foreign, and it still carries such a strong whiff of astronomy--think astrolabes, laboratory robes, and Chaucer writing things like "the nader of the sonne"--that it adds a wonderfully emphatic and celestial flavor to whatever idea you're describing.
In other words, pick "nadir" instead of "low point" when you need drama, emphasis, and sophistication.
Talk about someone's nadir, something's nadir, or the nadir of someone or something. Or, talk about someone reaching his nadir, surviving her nadir, rising up from that nadir, etc.
examples:
"The North American wild turkey population shrank down to 1.5 million by the 1970s. From its nadir in that decade, the turkey population slowly grew again, before peaking at 6 million in 2001."
— Nicole Karlis, Salon, 22 November 2018
"But there were low points, and they were low. The 85 at Muirfield Village, topped shots at Chambers Bay, a disastrous PR stunt at Congressional, the aforementioned missed majors. Most would point to his Memorial Day arrest as the nadir."
— Joel Beall, Golfworld, 23 September 2018
has this page helped you understand "nadir"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "nadir" without saying "bad times" or "literally the worst."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "When (some bad thing happened), (something) had reached its nadir."
Example: "When the waiter crossed his arms and refused to remove the undercooked, uneaten chicken dishes from the bill, our dinner had reached its nadir."
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
Our game this month is "Inspired by, but in no way associated with, the game show Chain Reaction."
In each issue, try filling in both puzzles—the easier one and the tougher one—by supplying the terms to complete the chains.
From the previous issue:
An easier puzzle:
Landscape
S_____
Chain
A tougher puzzle:
Inherent
R___
I_
Kids
Answers:
Landscape
Supply
Chain
Inherent
Risk
It
Kids
Give these a try today:
An easier puzzle:
Imperial
M____
Madness
A tougher puzzle:
Gravity
C____
L___
Spirits
review this word:
1. The exact opposite of NADIR is ZENITH.
But a close opposite of NADIR is
A. ACME.
B. BEVY.
C. CHAFF.
2. That semester was _____ for her, a nadiral _____.
A. heinous .. hell
B. irrelevant .. do-over
C. thrilling .. exploration
a final word:
Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From Liesl's blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
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Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Originally an astronomy term, our word nadir means "the lowest point" and has two beautiful opposites, both of which also started out in talks of stars and planets:
"NADIR" This word comes from an Arabic one meaning "opposite." Originally, the nadir of the sun was the point directly beneath it, or directly opposite it.
"The North American wild turkey population shrank down to 1.5 million by the 1970s. From its nadir in that decade, the turkey population slowly grew again, before peaking at 6 million in 2001."
Explain the meaning of "nadir" without saying "bad times" or "literally the worst."
Fill in the blanks: "When (some bad thing happened), (something) had reached its nadir."
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. The exact opposite of NADIR is ZENITH.
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