Make Your Point > Archived Issues > MARAUDING

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explore the archives: Basically a pirate on land, someone who roams, steals, and wreaks havoc is a marauder. This word comes from the Middle French word for "rascal." Take "rascal," extend it playfully into a slightly longer word, and you get rap________, a lighthearted synonym of "marauder." make your point with... "MARAUDING" To maraud is to roam around in a threatening way, often stealing things or damaging things (or hurting people). Marauding, then, is doing that: going around fiercely while taking what you want and/or doing damage. Pronunciation: muh ROD ing Part of speech: It's both a noun ("the marauding," "this marauding") and an adjective ("marauding gangs"). Other forms: maraud, marauded, marauder(s) How to use it: Although marauding is often serious and violent, like when marauding elephants maim and kill people and when marauding gunmen terrorize a town, we'll focus more on lighthearted usage: marauding raccoons in your neighborhood, marauding preteens at the school dance, marauding house flippers looking to make a quick buck. examples: That cobwebbed house looks creepy--if it's not actually haunted, I bet it's plagued by marauding gangs of bugs. The "no soliciting" signs don't deter the salespeople endlessly marauding through our neighborhood. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "marauding" means when you can explain it without saying "roving" or "plundering." try it out: Think of a silly or annoying trend or widespread habit. Fill in the blanks: "(During a particular time), (a trend or habit) was/were marauding across (a place)." Example: "Around 1999-2000ish, these ridiculous miniature scarves worn as headbands were marauding across high schools." 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. This month, we're playing with rhyming puzzles as we review previous words.  Examples: Someone who belts out songs in church with great gusto has ____ ___. Answer: hymn vim. And the barbecue place where you always meet up with your friends from Dallas and Houston is your _____ _____. Answer: Texas nexus.The puzzles, and their answers, will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. Click or mouse-over the link to the clue if you need it, and see each answer the following day. Enjoy! From yesterday: A careless and embarrassing mistake made as you're plotting a linear function is a _____ _____. (Two words, one syllable each. Clue: use this word.) Answer: graph gaffe. Try this today: Something that would make the capital of North Korea less powerful or even harmless would ______ _________. (Two words, two syllables each. Clue: use this word.) review today's word: 1. The opposite of MARAUDING could be A. RAZING B. PILLAGING C. GUARDING 2. The small garden remained _____ marauding caterpillars. A. a home to B. defenseless against C. regretfully barren of Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@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. B