Make Your Point > Archived Issues > PEDESTRIAN
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Something pedestrian is ordinary, boring, plain, dull, blah.
Now, having lots of different words at your fingertips to express fine shades of meaning--that's not pedestrian, but very exciting! See if you can recall these:
1. Something that seems empty of all creativity or interest is j_j___.
2. Something boring and unimpressive because it's been done so many times before is h_ckn____.
3. Something so tedious that it reminds you of the dull routine of a workday is w______y.
make your point with...
"PEDESTRIAN"
"Pedestrian" comes from a Latin word for "plain" that literally means "on foot." We've used "pedestrian" to describe statues of people just standing there, as opposed to fancier statues of people on horses.
And, of course, a pedestrian is a person travelling on foot.
But also, because pedestrian statues are the plain, ordinary kind, we also use "pedestrian" to mean "plain and ordinary." In other words, pedestrian people and things are dull, common, boring, and ordinary.
Pronunciation:
puh DESS tree un
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 "a pedestrian thing" or "a pedestrian person."
2. After a linking verb, as in "It was pedestrian" or "He was pedestrian.")
Other forms:
None are in common use, but if you need them, you've got "pedestrianly" and "pedestrianism."
How to use it:
The tone of this word ranges from factual ("excellent acting that transcended a pedestrian plot") to insulting ("plodding essays from pedestrian minds").
"Pedestrian" often describes writing ("a pedestrian story," "a pedestrian plot," "her pedestrian writing style," "another pedestrian novel about teen vampires"), but you can also talk about pedestrian people, ideas, values, styles, thinking, acting, squabbles and fights, struggles and issues, etc.
examples:
On elevators full of strangers, do you prefer silence or pedestrian chitchat?
Although "A Psalm of Life" has taken a ribbing for its mixed metaphors and pedestrian rhyme scheme, I still love it.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "pedestrian" means when you can explain it without saying "ho-hum" or "unimaginative."
try it out:
Think of something that was supposed to be amazing but actually seemed boring or unimpressive to you. Fill in the blank: "To be blunt, I found _____ utterly pedestrian."
Example: "I realize it was an award-winning film, but to be blunt, I found Sideways utterly pedestrian."
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.
Last month, we played with the original and literal meanings of familiar words. From our last issue, try to recall the literal meaning of "comma" and the original meanings of "gusto" and "exaggerate." Answers appear at the bottom of this issue.
Now, a new game for January: One-Word Titles! This month, rely on your cultural knowledge, your vocabulary, or both as we consider the power and simplicity of one-word titles. We'll recall movies, songs, books, television shows, and musicals with brief, meaningful, well-chosen titles of only one word each. Let's play!
Try this today: The title of this 2010 movie, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, means "a beginning, an origination." The title is _________.
review today's word:
1. The opposite of PEDESTRIAN is
A. FAST-PACED
B. EXPENSIVE
C. ORIGINAL
2. The more pedestrian posts earn _____.
A. permanent bans for the users responsible for them
B. more upvotes and rise to the top of the page
C. fewer upvotes and linger near the bottom of the page
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 game questions:
1. "Gusto" originally meant "a fondness for something."
2. "Comma" literally means "a piece cut off."
3. "Exaggerate" originally meant "to accumulate."
(For our January game questions, look for the right answer in the following issue.)
Answers to review questions:
1. C
2. C
Something pedestrian is ordinary, boring, plain, dull, blah.
"PEDESTRIAN"
"Pedestrian" comes from a Latin word for "plain" that literally means "on foot." We've used "pedestrian" to describe statues of people just standing there, as opposed to fancier statues of people on horses. Part of speech:
On elevators full of strangers, do you prefer silence or pedestrian chitchat?
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "pedestrian" means when you can explain it without saying "ho-hum" or "unimaginative."
Think of something that was supposed to be amazing but actually seemed boring or unimpressive to you. Fill in the blank: "To be blunt, I found _____ utterly pedestrian."
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. The opposite of PEDESTRIAN is
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
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