Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NEE

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connect today's word to others: Many thanks to Terry, the reader who recently brought to my attention the quirky little word nee. Nee literally means "born," so it's related to words like nature, nation, native, Noel, Natalie, and na____t ("just starting to develop, or just starting to exist"). (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "NEE" "Nee" is French for "born." We use "nee" to mean "born with (this name)." By using "nee," we explain more fully who the person is by giving her previous name, usually the one she had before she got married. For example, "Rachel Katz nee Menken" means "Rachel Katz, who used to be called Rachel Menken." That's the specific way to use "nee." We can also use it more generally to mean "formerly called," or "previously known as." In other words, "nee" means "used to be named." Pronunciation: NAY (the same as "neigh") Part of speech: Adjective.  Other forms: Technically speaking, "nee" is feminine, and the masculine is "né." But you won't see "né" too often. How to use it: In older texts you'll see this word with a mark over the first "e" (née) and/or italicized (nee). These days, we do neither. You can be literal, using "nee" to introduce your married female friends, as in "Sarah Smith, nee Johnson." When you use "nee" more generally, you're being playful, comparing something to a woman who got married and changed her name, often with a giggle as if to say, Remember what that used to be? or Gee, we aren't allowed to call them that anymore. That is, use "nee" to talk about the new and old names, labels, titles, or nicknames of people, places, animals, landmarks, buildings, wars, processes, phenomena, etc.  Use the pattern "current name, nee previous name," as in "Rogers Centre, nee Skydome." Actually, you don't have to use the commas; instead, you can use dashes, parentheses, or no punctuation at all:     "Rogers Centre--nee Skydome--"    or    "Rogers Centre (nee Skydome)"    or     "Rogers Centre nee Skydome." And remember that, despite its spelling, "nee" doesn't rhyme with "bee" but with "bay." That is, say "nee" with a long "A," just as you do with the related words "native," "nation," and "nature." examples: We joke that the Istanbul Cafe is actually The Istanbul nee Constantinople Cafe and that the full name won't fit on the sign. "This was supposed to be the year the Miami — nee Florida – Marlins made a statement: we are a legitimate baseball franchise."    — Sean Gregory, Time Magazine, 14 November 2012 study it now: Look away from the screen to define "nee" without saying "known earlier by the name" or "in the past, titled." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "_____, nee _____, no longer _____." Example 1: "Jacksonville, nee Cow Ford, no longer stands out for its cattle but for its flourishing metropolis." Example 2: "Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nee Mormons, no longer tolerate being associated with polygamists." 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. Our game this month is "A Doodad Named After a Thingamajig." If I give you two categories, X and Y, can you think of an X that was named after a Y? We'll start off easy--these first few questions will have lots of correct answers each that you might think up--and we'll work our way toward harder questions that, as far as I know, have only one correct answer each. From the previous issue: Can you think of a method of social protest named after a person? The only answer I know of is the boycott, named for Captain Charles Boycott. (If you know more, please share them!) Try this one today: Can you think of a type of poem named after a city? review today's word: 1. The literal opposite of NEE would mean DIED, but a close conceptual opposite of NEE is A. FAR. B. UNDER FIRE. C. NEVER DEEMED. 2. Every menu item got a _____ makeover, including _____, nee _____. A. spicy .. the macaroni .. jalapeños B. verbal .. the aioli steakburger .. burger with mayo C. visual .. the flight of desserts .. an oval marble platter Answers are below. 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. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. 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. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. B