Make Your Point > Archived Issues > OPPUGN & IMPUGN
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Today's issue is a two-for-one: use oppugn or the more common impugn; they mean the same thing, both coming from the Latin pugnare, meaning "to fight."
Similarly, two English words with the same meaning derive from the Latin battuere, "to beat." Both "__te" and "a__te" mean "to shrink, to become less intense." Can you recall them?
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"OPPUGN" & "IMPUGN"
To oppugn or impugn something is to call it into question: in other words, to verbally attack it by saying it's false or wrong.
Pronunciation:
For "oppugn," say "uh PYOON."
For "impugn," say "im PYOON."
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 oppugn something or impugn something.)
Other common forms:
oppugned, impugned, impugning
Why these two words mean the same thing:
The "-pugn" inside both words means "fight." But then we have lots of different prefixes with similar and overlapping meanings, so we ended up with both "oppugn" and "impugn." (Specifically, the roots of "oppugn" literally mean "toward/against + fight." And in "impugn," they mean "into/in/on/upon + fight.")
How to use them:
Our two words today are totally interchangeable. Because "impugn" is more common, it might be more easily understood by your listeners.
You might oppugn (or impugn) someone's opinions, beliefs, claims, customs, traditions, motives, integrity, reputation, credibility, etc.
It's less common, but you can also oppugn or impugn a person, meaning you attack his reputation or his entire way of thinking.
examples:
After he delivered such a light sentence for a horrifying crime, his judgment was so widely oppugned that he resigned.
Rather than losing gracefully, with strength and humility, some prefer to impugn the integrity of the other players or of the entire game.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "oppugn" and "impugn" mean when you can explain it without saying "challenge" or "attack with words."
try it out:
Think of someone you respectfully disagree with. Fill in the blanks: "I'm not oppugning (Someone's) (education, intelligence, motives, respect for the law, capability as a parent, etc.), but I do disagree with (him/her) on _____."
Example: "I'm not oppugning her intelligence, but I do disagree with her on the issue of vaccinations."
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: In your garden, you have three rows of trees and shrubs that you've trimmed artistically into shapes. The first row that visitors see contains your best work, pristine statues of animals; the second contains your less fancy work, with basic geometric shapes; and the third row contains your experimental work--here, things look so messy that you shoo away anyone holding a camera. That last row is your ________ _______ (Two words with four syllables each. Clue: use this word.)
Answer: tertiary topiary.
Try this today: On your dinner plate, what you really care about is the steak; the baked potato is pretty good, but the salad is a tasteless little heap. Still, that salad keeps your steak company on the plate, filling the space that would have looked blank otherwise. The salad is your __________ _____ ____. (Three words: the first has two syllables, and the others have one syllable each. Clue: use this word.)
review today's word:
1. One opposite of OPPUGN is
A. INDICT
B. DISTORT
C. SUPPORT
2. Coming from the respected newspaper itself, the _____ impugned her character.
A. advertisement
B. attack
C. endorsement
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. C
2. B
Today's issue is a two-for-one: use oppugn or the more common impugn; they mean the same thing, both coming from the Latin pugnare, meaning "to fight."
"OPPUGN" & "IMPUGN" To oppugn or impugn something is to call it into question: in other words, to verbally attack it by saying it's false or wrong. Part of speech:
After he delivered such a light sentence for a horrifying crime, his judgment was so widely oppugned that he resigned.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "oppugn" and "impugn" mean when you can explain it without saying "challenge" or "attack with words."
Think of someone you respectfully disagree with. Fill in the blanks: "I'm not oppugning (Someone's) (education, intelligence, motives, respect for the law, capability as a parent, etc.), but I do disagree with (him/her) on _____."
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.
1. One opposite of OPPUGN is
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
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