Make Your Point > Archived Issues > REJOINDER

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connect today's word to others: A comeback, or a response that's often fast, sassy, and argumentative, can be called a rejoinder. But if you're in the mood for a French term instead, you might call that response a b__ m__ (if it's especially clever) or a jeu d'______ (if it's especially smart and playful). Could you recall these terms? And what they literally translate to? (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "REJOINDER" Strictly speaking, a rejoinder is a response to a response. In other words, it's a reply to someone else's reply. (That means that in a conversation, a rejoinder comes third: first, there's a question or comment; second, there's a reply to it; third, there's a rejoinder.) But more often, we ignore that specific meaning and use "rejoinder" to mean a sharp or witty response to something, usually in disagreement. Pronunciation: ree JOIN dur (or, if you prefer, "ruh JOIN dur") Part of speech: It's both a noun ("a rejoinder," "two rejoinders," "many rejoinders") and a verb, both the transitive kind ("he rejoindered that the facts remain," "she rejoindered, 'Not even if you paid me!'") and the intransitive kind ("to rejoinder right away"). Other forms: Rejoinders, rejoindered. You could use "rejoindering," but nobody else does! :) How to use it: Call a response a rejoinder when it expresses disagreement in an especially quick, lively, or spirited way. A rejoinder can simply be an oral response (something you say out loud during a conversation or a debate), or it can be any other kind of response: a tweet, a letter, a videotaped speech, a protest, an artistic creation, etc. Even people, careers, attitudes, philosophies, performances and so on can be called rejoinders: "The short, clipped writing style of Steinbeck and Hemingway offers a refreshing rejoinder to the long-winded style of Austen and Proust." Like we just saw, we can say that someone makes, gives, or offers a rejoinder. Or, say that someone draws, provokes, or invites a rejoinder. Or, say that something or someone emerges as a rejoinder or serves as a rejoinder. Often we'll follow "rejoinder" with the phrase "to someone or something:" a rejoinder to their accusations, his rejoinder to her request, their rejoinder to us, our rejoinder to the company's ads. Occasionally we'll say that someone comments or does something "in rejoinder" or "in rejoinder to someone or something:" "The newspaper printed several letters in rejoinder to that article." So far we've used "rejoinder" as a noun, and that's the most common way we use it. But it's also a verb. You can rejoinder that something is true: "She rejoindered that it was a moot point." And although I don't recommend it, you can use "rejoinder" as a dialogue tag: "'It's a moot point,' she rejoindered." (Because they're often showy and annoying, I suggest avoiding dialogue tags like this one. I say, just write "said.") examples: Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions is an entire paperback full of silly rejoinders, like "No, I'm covered in liquid sunshine" for when you're drenched and someone asks you if it's raining. Even though temperatures were rising, and even though the school allowed girls to wear skirts, it wouldn't let boys wear shorts--only slacks. To this unfair rule, the boys' rejoinder was to don the skirts. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "rejoinder" means when you can explain it without saying "retort" or "response." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "_____ serve(s) as a rejoinder to _____." Example: "Spy Hard and Austin Powers serve as a rejoinder to the laughable excesses of the James Bond franchise." 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 called Felicitous Names.  A felicitous name for a fictional character is a highly appropriate name, a name that fits that character so perfectly that you just know the writer picked it on purpose. This month, draw on your knowledge of both vocabulary and fiction to pick out the right name for the character described. Enjoy! From our previous issue: We need a felicitous name for a villain who's bulky, lumbering, powerful, deep-voiced, and gruff. Is it Sebastian, Triton, or Ursula? Why? Answer: Ursula. Ursus is Latin for "bear," and even though the Ursula in The Little Mermaid is part human and part quasi-octopus, her looks and personality are quite ursine, don't you think? Try this today: This one was brought to my attention by Mark, a subscriber. Thanks, Mark! There's a whimsical, felicitous name for a supervillain who speaks in riddles. Is it D. Note, E. Nygma, or F. Frontery? Why? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of REJOINDER is A. OPPOSE B. IGNORE C. INVOLVE 2. When a rejoinder occurs to you far too late to _____ it, perhaps when you're headed upstairs for bed, that's called l'esprit de l'escalier, or staircase _____. A. profit from .. earnings B. fix .. trouble C. offer .. wit 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. B 2. C