Make Your Point > Archived Issues > REDOUBTABLE

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

explore the archives: It might surprise you to know that "doubt" originally meant "to dread, to fear." That makes it easier to see why redoubtable means "able to be dreaded, able to inspire fear: so powerful and commanding and respected that it's scary." That explains the "doubt" part of redoubtable. How about the "re"? Here, it means "very." Of course, the more familiar meaning of "re" is "again," and that's what it means in réchauffé and recrudescent. See if you can define each of those two words by using the word "again." make your point with... "REDOUBTABLE" Redoubtable people and things are so impressive or powerful that they make us nervous or fearful. Pronunciation: ree DOWT uh 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 "a redoubtable person" or "a redoubtable thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "He was redoubtable" or "It was redoubtable.") Other forms: redoubtably, redoubtableness How to use it: Usually, it's people (and groups of people) who are redoubtable: a redoubtable rival, opponent, or competitor; a redoubtable hero or villain; a redoubtable dancer, singer, journalist, etc. Sometimes we'll say "the redoubtable (Name)" as in "the redoubtable Yao Ming" or "the redoubtable Adele." Sometimes it's skills and other qualities that we call redoubtable: a wasp with a redoubtable sting, a chess player with a redoubtable end game, a worker with redoubtable devotion. Other, more abstract things can be redoubtable, too: redoubtable technology, redoubtable superstitions, redoubtable systems and processes, the redoubtable forces of nature. Notice how your tone can range from deeply serious ("a redoubtable dictator") to very lighthearted ("my toddler and her redoubtable independence"). examples: Redoubtable stars, like Katy Perry and Elton John, declined the invitation to perform at the inauguration. For someone who hasn't enjoyed word games very much, Chad has proven himself a redoubtable adversary in the game Paperback. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "redoubtable" means when you can explain it without saying "fierce" or "intimidatingly respectable." try it out: Think of a powerful, commanding, almost scary person. It might be someone you know, someone fictional, or someone famous, living or dead. Fill in the blanks: "When I envision (Person), (he or she) is redoubtably armed with _____." Example: "When I envision Margaret Thatcher, she is redoubtably armed with a blazer and a piercing glare." 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 "What's the Difference?" I’ll give you two terms. Without using Google or a dictionary, explain how they’re different. Go beyond saying, "well, I know the difference, but I can’t explain it," or "show me an example and I'll tell you which it is." In your explanations, try to focus on features, not comparisons. For example, what's the difference between climate and weather? A good explanation focuses on features: "climate is what’s going on in the atmosphere over long periods of time, and weather is what’s going on in the atmosphere at a particular place and time." A weaker explanation focuses on comparisons: "climate is more concerning than weather." The game will get harder as the month goes on: we’ll start with objects—natural first, then man-made—then switch to concepts. Let’s do this! From yesterday: What's the difference between a maze and a labyrinth? Answer: A maze has branches, which require you to make choices about where to go. A labyrinth has no branches: it's simply one individual path from beginning to end. Try this today: What's the difference between cooking and baking? review today's word: 1. The opposite of REDOUBTABLE is A. CERTAIN B. WARY C. MEEK 2. Tim Robbins _____ redoubtable filmography. A. denies his B. has steadily built a C. raises eyebrows with his 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