Make Your Point > Archived Issues > RIBALD

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connect today's word to others: If you're ribald, you're always cracking jokes that are just rude enough--just off-color enough--to get everyone laughing or blushing. But you don't take things too far. Your ribaldry is just mildly indecent, just gently bawdy--not quite s__brous (rude, mean, and inappropriate) or sc_rr__ous (rude, insulting, and indecent). (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "RIBALD" Ribald things and people are funny in a rude, slightly vulgar way. Pronunciation: RIB uld (rhymes with "scribbled") Part of speech: Adjective: "a ribald comment," "he's so ribald." Other forms: ribaldly, ribaldish (meaning "somewhat ribald"), ribaldry How to use it: "Ribald" is a fun, sophisticated alternative to more common words for mildly indecent speech and behavior, like "off-color," "bawdy," and "raunchy." Talk about ribald people and personalities, ribald comments and questions, ribald jokes and stories, ribald speeches and roasts, ribald humor and comedy, ribald satire and parody, ribald movies and shows, etc. examples: In Dumb and Dumber, the humor ranges from ribald to flat-out disgusting. "But the starlet in question was no blushing waif. She was Rebel Wilson, the Australian actress and comedian known for her ribald turns in 'Bridesmaids' and 'Pitch Perfect.'"    — Michael Schulman, The New York Times, 4 November 2015 study it: Explain the meaning of "ribald" without saying "coarse" or "earthy." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "_____ (is/are) full of ribald (jokes, dialogue, or observations)." Example: "Nick Offerman's stand-up routine is full of ribald observations." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is "Inspired by, but in no way associated with, Jeopardy!" In each issue, I'll create three "answers" for you, and you supply the "questions." (That is, you'll respond in the form of a question, like "What is...?" or "Who is...?") From the previous issue: 1. Category: Ends in "Ends." Answer: By making them, you right wrongs. Question: What are amends? 2. Category: Dickensian Letters. Answer: Ms. H.: The spinster in the wedding dress who demanded "love her, love her, love her!"  Question: Who is Miss Havisham? 3. Category: Ditloids. Answer: It’s a weighty matter: 2,000 P I A T. Question: What is "2,000 pounds in a ton"? Try these today: 1. Category: Dickensian Letters. Answer: W. M.: The hapless clerk. "Something will turn up!" 2. Category: Ditloids. Answer: Lincoln didn't start the fire: 4 S A 7 Y A. 3. Category: WWW. Answer: This tree, native to eastern Asia and bearing long, slim branches, symbolizes mourning. review today's word: 1. The opposite of RIBALD is A. BRUSQUE. B. DECOROUS. C. FACELESS. 2. Having to translate and explain Shakespeare's ribaldries often kills their essence, _____. A. depth B. beauty C. humor 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