Make Your Point > Archived Issues > OCCLUDE

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connect today's word to others: Etymologically speaking, to include something is to close it in, to exclude something is to close it out, and to occlude something is to close it against something else--that is, to block it so that it can't be seen, or so that nothing can flow through it. Let's enjoy that weird little word, occlude.  It's an interesting, scientific-sounding synonym of hide and close up and close off, one that calls to mind crystals trapped inside other crystals, anatomical ducts and passageways all blocked up, upper and lower teeth closing together neatly, meteorological frontal systems colliding, and celestial bodies moving across each other. See if you can recall these other terms that also carry the whiff of science: 1. Im____ible things, like fluids, molecules, and worldviews, can't be mixed: they don't blend together well. 2. In____a is an object's resistance to motion, or a lazy tendency to stay inactive. 3. Something em____nic is like an unborn offspring, or currently in a very early stage of development. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "OCCLUDE" This word has Latin roots that mean "to close against." To occlude something is to block it or hide it. Pronunciation: uh KLOOD Part of speech: Verb, usually the transitive kind: "a mindset that occludes a clear view," "a narrator who occludes the truth." Other common forms: occluded, occluding, occlusion, occlusive How to use it: Although you might use the word "occlude" in all kinds of specific scientific and medical contexts, we'll focus on general usage. When you need to strike a formal tone, talk about things and people who occlude light, objects (like the sun, the horizon, or the sign identifying a building), views, scenes, perspectives, fluids, gases, information, progress, understandings, perceptions, meanings, truths, stories, experiences, realities, complexities, nuances, etc. examples: The camera pans to the cockpit of the spaceship, its walls echoing with Wash and Zoe's whispers, our view of them partially occluded as if to emphasize their privacy and intimacy. "In 3D games, visual features are more subtle and a first-person view occludes much of the world."    — James Vincent, The Verge, 1 November 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "occlude" without saying "hide" or "block." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Someone) resisted the story of (some very broad or complex group, period, or subject) that occluded (some subgroup or minority, or some overlooked or important aspect, feature, cause or effect)." Example: "Baldwin was one of a long line of black American artists, thinkers and writers, who resisted the singular story of the American people that occluded black people." — Syreeta McFadden, The Guardian, 15 May 2016 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. Quintessential TV Quotes! Each day, match the given vocabulary word to the quote that best illustrates it. From the previous issue: From Sports Night, which quote below best demonstrates someone being caustic? Quote A: Bill: This is a third place show on a fourth rate network. Dan: Yeah, but that's all gonna change once I grow a goatee. Quote B: Elliot: How's the writer's block? Dan: You're gonna need to get someone to fix my computer. Kim: What's wrong with it? Dan: It's in several pieces on my floor. Quote C: Dan: I was gonna hop a ride on the Staten Island Ferry for awhile, eat a hotdog. You wanna come? Casey: Yeah, absolutely, and I'll tell you why. 'Cause it's seventeen degrees outside with the wind chill so what I want to do is stand on a boat in the middle of New York harbor at half-past midnight. Answer: In quote C, Casey's response is caustic. Try this one today: From Freaks and Geeks, which quote below illustrates a raison d'etre? Quote A: Jenna: You know what punkers don't do? Call themselves punkers. Quote B: Nick: Teachers want us to work, and I say, "Fine, I'll work. But you've gotta let me do the kind of work that I wanna do." And for me, it's my drum kit, man. This is my passion. This is the essence of who I am now. But before I had this, I was lost, too. You see what I'm saying? You need to find your reason for living. You've gotta find your big, gigantic drum kit. Quote C: Mr. Weir: I like how things are! I like eating the same things. You know why? Because those are the things I like! I like chicken. And I like pot roast. And, that's how I feel about you, Jean. Mrs. Weir: Oh, please. You like me like you like a pot roast? Mr. Weir: I love pot roast! review today's word: 1. One opposite of OCCLUDE is A. CLEAR. B. CLOUD. C. CARVE. 2. Years of _____ occluded his _____. A. chewing tobacco .. dental health B. sitting still and filling in worksheets .. imagination C. daydreaming about Paris and Rome .. growing travel funds 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. A 2. B