Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SOLICITOUS
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pronounce
SOLICITOUS:
Say it "suh LISS ih tuss."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
When I think of the words solicitous and solicitude, I think of Mrs. Weasley, who's always caring and concerned toward Harry, always making sure he gets fed:
That's a sweet kind of solicitude.
But sometimes solicitude crosses a line into off___ousness:
To be off___ous, like Hermione right here, is to be helpful and involved in an annoying, pushy way. Can you recall that word?
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
We took the word "solicitous" from a Latin one meaning "very careful, full of anxiety, full of bothersome thoughts." That's what the word first meant in English, too. (And it makes sense when you think of how "solicit" can mean "bother, disturb.")
"Solicitous" then took on the more specific meaning that we use today. When you're being solicitous, you're giving lots of careful attention to people or things, because you're worried or concerned about them.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "He's solicitous of his customers;" "She looked solicitous as the cat limped toward her."
Other forms:
Solicitously, solicitude.
how to use it:
This word is formal and semi-common, so it helps you call just a bit of extra attention to how someone's attitude is both careful and caring, even bordering on nosy or obsessive.
We most often talk about people being solicitous in certain situations, often of people or things: "He's solicitous of his guests;" "She's solicitous of her students;" "They're solicitous of my well-being;" "We're solicitous of their comfort."
Or, just say that someone is solicitous in general: "these solicitous salespeople," "that solicitous politician," "my solicitous pen pal."
Sometimes we describe behaviors, statements, or relationships as solicitous: "a solicitous gesture," "these solicitous requests," "a solicitous courtship." You might even get figurative and talk about someone's solicitous eyes, voice, or hands.
examples:
"The golden monkey... tugged Pantalaimon out from the mesh cage as Lyra fell out herself. Pantalaimon pulled free of the monkey’s solicitous paws and stumbled to Lyra’s arms."
— Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass, 2001
"As a wound care nurse, I explain the skin is the largest organ of our body, and as we die, that organ, like other organs, can also fail. Failing skin may develop sores in spite of the most solicitous care."
— Gaylene Montez, US News, 13 July 2016
has this page helped you understand "solicitous"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "solicitous" without saying "hovering" or "attentive."
try it out:
These days, some parents are a bit too solicitous of their children: too watchful at all times, too eager to help with every little task.
"Helicopter parenting strips children of agency and the ability to cultivate their own tools to navigate the world," argues Julie Lythcott-Haims in a video for The Atlantic.
Do you agree with Lythcott-Haims: is it harmful when parents are too solicitous of their kids? Or do you disagree with her? Either way, why?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game this month is Perfectly Cromulent Words!
In each issue this month, match a scene from The Simpsons to the term that it calls to mind.
To see the answer, scroll to the bottom of the issue.
Try this one today:
Does the scene below suggest the word oblivious, obtrusive, or obstreperous?
review this word:
A. CAMARADERIE (friendly companionship).
B. VEHEMENCE (a profound and angry intensity).
C. NEGLIGENCE (a failure to care for or pay attention to).
2. We used to watch 7th Heaven and laugh at how the family members were _____. It was bizarre to us how they were so solicitous of each other.
A. slapping each other for watching MTV
B. all up in each other's business all the time
C. constantly dressed alike, as if they were headed off to a cheesy photo shoot
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my 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.
When I think of the words solicitous and solicitude, I think of Mrs. Weasley, who's always caring and concerned toward Harry, always making sure he gets fed:
We took the word "solicitous" from a Latin one meaning "very careful, full of anxiety, full of bothersome thoughts." That's what the word first meant in English, too. (And it makes sense when you think of how "solicit" can mean "bother, disturb.")
Part of speech:
This word is formal and semi-common, so it helps you call just a bit of extra attention to how someone's attitude is both careful and caring, even bordering on nosy or obsessive.
"The golden monkey... tugged Pantalaimon out from the mesh cage as Lyra fell out herself. Pantalaimon pulled free of the monkey’s solicitous paws and stumbled to Lyra’s arms."
Explain the meaning of "solicitous" without saying "hovering" or "attentive."
These days, some parents are a bit too solicitous of their children: too watchful at all times, too eager to help with every little task.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
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