Make Your Point > Archived Issues > OUTRÉ

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connect today's word to others: Outré things are really out there: they're far beyond what we consider proper, normal, or conventional. Although outré is obviously borrowed from French, you can trace it all the way back to the Latin ultra, meaning "beyond." Can you recall a related term meaning "a state of being the best or the highest"--literally, "not more beyond"? It's three words: __ ____ ultra. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "OUTRÉ" This word comes from a French verb meaning "to overdo it; to push beyond the limits." Something outré is so weird that it shocks people. Pronunciation: oo TRAY Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "an outré thing" or "an outré person." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was outré" or "He was outré.") Other forms: None, but you can use it like a noun and talk about "the outré," meaning, in general, "things that are bizarre." How to use it: Be sure to write the little mark over the "e." (Even though we've used "outré" in English since 1722, we still haven't completely naturalized it.) This word usually has a harsh tone. The things we call outré might be interesting, original, risque, and cool, but they're more likely to be freakish and off-putting. Talk about outré people, like outré artists, designers, bloggers, protesters, and so on. Or, talk about outré things and places: outré characters and settings, books and films, art and music, behavior and comments, views and opinions, clothing and accessories, dishes and restaurants, products and companies, cultures and cities, etc. examples: Yes, it's a real thing, and quaint if a bit outré: competitive hobby horse racing.  The "Activist Mommy" has ten children, a sizable following on Twitter and Facebook, and, unfortunately, a vast array of opinions both hateful and outré. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "outré" means when you can explain it without saying "eccentric" or "bizarre." try it out: Fill in the blank: "_____ try/tries too hard to be outré." Example: "Some episodes of Family Guy try too hard to be outré." 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 Banishing Bland Adjectives. In each issue, we're strengthening our word-finding skills as we take aim at a vague little adjective and think up three ways to make it more specific. Resist the urge to sneak off to the thesaurus! From the previous issue: UGLY. 1. When something seems UGLY because you don't like the way it looks and it's not at all the way that you would have chosen to make it look, then instead of UGLY, call it _____. 2. When something seems UGLY because you didn't expect it to look that way and it gives you the shivers, then instead of UGLY, call it _____. 3. When something is so UGLY that looking at it or thinking about it makes you feel ill, then instead of UGLY, call it _____. Suggested answers: 1, unappealing; 2, grotesque; 3, nauseating. (Your answers might be different but just as precise.) Today: NICE. 1. When people seem NICE because they're so easy to talk to and so easy to spend time with, then instead of NICE, call them _____. 2. When people seem NICE because they are very aware of the people around them and they make sure to say and do the right things to make those people feel comfortable, then instead of NICE, call them _____. 3. When things or places seem NICE because they have everything you need to make you feel relaxed and happy, then instead of NICE, call them _____. review today's word: 1. One opposite of OUTRÉ is A. CRITICAL B. BONKERS C. ORTHODOX 2. The jokes grew so outré as the series went on that _____. A. their humor was sometimes lost on the audience B. the show's "cult" following became more mainstream than ever C. it was hard for even the most devoted fan to forgive the repetition 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. A