Make Your Point > Archived Issues > RECANT

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explore the archives: To recant something is to take back what you said. If you need to scold or criticize what someone else said, you can't recant it, but you can re____ it. With both words, you see "re-," meaning "back." "Recant" literally means "to sing back," and "re____" literally means "to beat back." make your point with... "RECANT" "Recant" has Latin bits that literally mean "to sing back." Imagine standing in the public eye, apologizing for something you've said, as if you're singing, "I was wrooong! Sorrrrry!" To recant, or to recant something, is to formally and publicly take it back. In other words, you're recanting the things you said when you officially announce something like "I didn't mean that," "I take it back," "I shouldn't have said that," "I changed my mind about that," or "I don't believe that anymore." Pronunciation: Either "rih KANT" or "ree KANT." Either way, say the second syllable just like the word "can't." Part of speech: Verb. It’s most often transitive (you recant something)  but can also be intransitive (you recant). Other forms: recanted, recanting, recantation(s), recanter How to use it: Talk about someone who recants an idea or theory, recants his or her criticisms or comments, recants a statement or accusation, recants his or her testimony or confession, etc. You can also just recant: "The witness described the crime, then later recanted." "He tweeted some seriously crazy stuff, then refused to recant." "Rather than recant, she repeated her offensive remarks." Notice how recanting is generally done in a public, official way, and it's often done under pressure--that is, other people or groups often take offense at something said, and in response, the speaker often recants. examples: You know how the authors of The Bell Curve claimed, ludicrously, that some races are more intelligent than others? Did they ever recant? More than one professor was forced to recant a dismissive assessment of the author's talent when it garnered a Pulitzer Prize. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "recant" means when you can explain it without saying "retract" or "disavow." try it out: Think of someone famous who says inappropriate things and then apologizes for them, and fill in the blanks: "(Person) said _____, then instantly recanted." Example: "Daniel Tosh made an off-color joke about a woman in his audience, then recanted via Twitter as soon as she blogged about it." 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. Language Techniques: When language sounds beautiful or memorable, often there’s some particular technique responsible for that effect. Each day this month, I’ll give you a specific stylistic technique or quality, and I’d like you to recreate (as closely as you can) the quote that I’ve botched by removing it. We’ll work our way from the easiest to the hardest techniques. Enjoy! From yesterday: Alliteration is when you repeat the same sounds at the beginning of several words. For example, in a speech written by William Safire, Spiro Agnew once said: "In the United States today we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism." And in Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet doesn't say, "Parting is a mixture of happiness and sadness." What alliterative statement does she make instead? Answer: "Parting is such sweet sorrow."  Try this one today: Anastrophe is when you flip around the regular word order. Yoda is the Jedi master of anastrophe: "Ready are you?", "My own counsel will I keep." And you hear so much anastrophe in those Lord of the Rings movies that it starts to sound normal: "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." "Long has my father...kept the forces of Mordor at bay." In David Copperfield, Charles Dickens didn't write, "Mr. Micawber has talent; Mr. Micawber doesn't have capital." What did he write instead? review today's word: 1. The opposite of RECANT is A. REAFFIRM B. CONTRADICT C. MISCONSTRUE 2.  These forced recantations bear very little _____. A. detail B. credibility C. enthusiasm Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, 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. A 2. B