Make Your Point > Archived Issues > TORRID

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connect today's word to others: Something so frenzied or dramatic that it seems aflame with scorching heat is torrid. And something so excited or angry that it seems aflame with glowing warmth is __cand___ent.  (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "TORRID" "Torrid" is based on a Latin verb meaning "to dry something with heat." Something torrid is    dry and very hot,    or very emotional and energetic,    or sexy and passionate. Pronunciation: Either "TORE id" or "TORE ud." 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 torrid thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was torrid.") Other forms: torridly, torridness/torridity How to use it: To use the literal meaning ("dry and scorching hot"), talk about torrid weather, torrid sands and deserts and earth, torrid regions and climates, torrid days and other periods of time, and torrid heat. (Does "torrid heat" seem redundant? Think of it as "dry, scorching heat.") Notice that I did NOT suggest talking about torrid hair after you blow-dry it, or torrid clothes pulled from the dryer, or a torrid burger patty left too long on the grill. "Torrid" still has an emotional, feverish tone even when you're using it literally, which is why we don't use it to talk about small, neutral things. "Torrid" is better suited to talking about vast, intense things (like weather, deserts, the earth, and the sun). To use the figurative meaning ("burning hot in an emotional or energetic way"), talk about torrid excitement, torrid growth or a torrid pace, torrid music and rhythms and dancing, and, again, torrid days or other periods of time. (Your context will make it clear whether "torrid week" means that it was 110 degrees or that your colleagues kept running around screaming at each other.) "Torrid" is especially great for talking and writing about sports: "he's off to a torrid start this season," "look at their torrid three-point shooting," "his numbers were torrid last spring." Although you can talk about torrid flings, torrid love affairs, and torrid relationships, I suggest you don't. Those phrases are overused. examples: There's little relief from the torridity of their drama. I dreaded pep rallies, which at my high school were sweaty, crowded, thoroughly unpeppy affairs held in an outdoor stadium under the torrid midday sun. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "torrid" means when you can explain it without saying "burning" or "ardent." try it out: Fill in the blank: "In torrid spurts, (something emotional happened, or someone accomplished something)." Example: "In torrid spurts, Drew wrote and re-wrote the song that had been trying for years to take form in his mind." 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 last month was 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, we drew on your knowledge of both vocabulary and fiction to pick out the right name for the character described. From our previous issue: We need a felicitous name for someone suave, charming, and smooth-talking. Is it Dr. Decibel, Dr. Facilier, or Dr. Nefario? Why? Answer: Dr. Facilier is the fluent and facile villain in The Princess and the Frog. Did I miss any of your favorite felicitiously-named characters? Please hit reply and tell me about them!  Now, a new game for July: Banishing Bland Adjectives. In each issue this month, we’ll strengthen our word-finding skills as we take aim at a vague little adjective and think up three ways to make it more specific. (Resist the urge to sneak off to the thesaurus!) Let’s do this! Today: GOOD. 1. When something is so GOOD that it makes you feel happy, like you don't need anything else, then instead of GOOD, call it _____. 2. When something is so GOOD that you just have to talk about it and tell other people how good it is, instead of GOOD, call it _____. 3. When something is so GOOD that you'd be willing to trade a lot of time or money for it, instead of GOOD, call it _____. I'll suggest some answers in the next issue. Your answers might be different than mine but just as precise. review today's word: 1. One opposite of TORRID is A. FRENZIED B. REVERED C. STAID 2. With its line of clothing featuring _____, Torrid appeals to teens looking for ____ style. A. studded high heels and curve-hugging dresses.. an edgier B. high necklines and modest hemlines .. a more reserved C. pleats, frills, and pearls .. a softer 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. C 2. A