Make Your Point > Archived Issues > PALPABLE

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"PALPABLE" Pronunciation: PAL puh bull 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 “palpable anxiety.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "Our anxiety was palpable.”) Meaning: Something palpable is so clear and obvious that it's as if you could touch it. Other forms: palpably, palpableness/palpability How to use it: Usually, you talk about a palpable feeling: palpable anxiety or tension, palpable hope, palpable disappointment, palpable glee, a palpable sense of optimism, a palpable hunger for success, etc. But anything that's so obviously real that it's as if you could feel or it touch it--even though you can't literally do that--can be called palpable. Their discussion about who they wanted to hire seemed too carefully worded; it had a palpable undercurrent of racism. Backstage before the choir concert, there was a hushed but palpable excitement. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "palpable" means when you can explain it without saying “obvious" or “almost tangible." Think of a time you felt so proud of someone that you could just burst, and fill in the blanks: "When __(someone accomplished something)__, my joy and pride were both palpable." Example: "When my baby daughter first scribbled on her Magna Doodle, making her very first marks as a writer, my joy and pride were both palpable." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: Our game for July is called A Verbal Tour of the US. I’ll ask you a trivia question each day this month about the names of US cities, states, geographic features, etc. Try it out each day, and see the right answer the next day. Happy verbal trails to you! From yesterday:  There’s an Alaskan summit called “M____ Hill” that got its name when the military just needed a name starting with “M” to fit in with their system. The M-word they picked means “scruffy and shabby,” like a dirty animal. What’s the summit’s name? Answer: Mangy Hill! Try this one today: According to some sources, this state’s name means “homeland.” It’s properly spelled with an ‘okina, a separating mark of punctuation that looks like an apostrophe, but that usually gets left out—especially outside of this state! What state is it? A Point Well Made: Nelson Mandela: “When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat.” 1. The opposite of PALPABLE is A. UNDENIABLE B. IMPERCEPTIBLE C. IRRETRIEVABLE 2. The author's palpable improvement in skills _____ A. is why he was not offered a second publishing deal. B. shines through in his subsequent novels, especially in the dialogue and pacing. C. has been hard to document but nevertheless may be a result of his recent and extensive reading of the classics. Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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. B 2. B