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"VAUNT" Pronunciation: VAWNT Part of speech: Verb. It's both transitive (you vaunt something or someone) and intransitive (you vaunt.) Meaning: To vaunt is to brag: to talk in a boastful way.  And, to vaunt people or things is to brag about them or display them in a boastful way. This is the more common way to use the word, so we'll focus on it. Other forms: Vaunted, vaunting, vauntingly. "Vaunt" is also a noun meaning a thing you do or say to boast or brag.  Someone who vaunts is a vaunter, but that word is pretty much only used in literature. How to use it: Vaunting is usually impolite. With that in mind, talk about vaunting your own accomplishments, your teacher vaunting the best student in your class, your sports-loving friend vaunting his team's victory, and so on. You can use "vaunted" as an adjective and talk about a vaunted program (meaning a program that's been bragged about a lot), a vaunted style of management, a vaunted company, a vaunted celebrity, etc. Something can be "much-vaunted," "often-vaunted," "once-vaunted," etc. Sometimes, you vaunt things or people to a higher level, or vaunt them into something, or vaunt them beyond something, and so on, as if the bragging, boastful words are launching your object of praise upwards: "Having a lot of YouTube viewers won't automatically vaunt you into stardom." (Seeing the word used in this way, you might guess that the closest relative of "vaunt" is "vault," as in "pole vault," but actually "vaunt" is related to "vain/vanity.") Okay, show me these much-vaunted Dance Dance Revolution skills of yours. Go! Roald Dahl's book Matilda opens with a hilarious discussion of how parents tend to vaunt their very average children into the realm of geniuses. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "vaunt" means when you can explain it without saying “bluster" or "preen." Think of a person, place, or thing that seems to get a lot of praise and attention in the media, and fill in the blank: "It seems the vaunted _____ is everywhere these days." Example: "It seems the vaunted Spider-Man franchise is everywhere these days." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: Our game for July is called A Verbal Tour of the US. I’ll ask you a trivia question each day this month about the names of US cities, states, geographic features, etc. Try it out each day, and see the right answer the next day. Happy verbal trails to you! From yesterday:  According to some sources, the name of this national park means “They are killers” because it was what the natives outside the valley called those who lived inside it. What national park is it? Answer: Yosemite National Park. Try this one today: If you heard the name of this place and went there expecting to see lots of boutiques and department stores, you might be disappointed to find that it’s actually a large grassy lawn full of memorials and a monument. What is this place called?  A Point Well Made: Jonathan Gottschall: “We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.” 1. The opposite of VAUNT is A. FEATURE or LAUNCH B. HOARD or STACK C. HIDE or DISPARAGE 2. The once-vaunted business mogul is now _____. A. basically a laughingstock B. cloaked in mystery C. utterly beloved Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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. A