Make Your Point > Archived Issues > RAPPROCHEMENT

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

"RAPPROCHEMENT" Meaning: A rapprochement is the creation of a harmonious relationship. In other words, a rapprochement is the establishment of a good, peaceful relationship. A rapprochement can also be a re-establishment of a harmonious relationship. That is, something happened that messed up the relationship, and then the rapprochement is the restoration of the good relationship it was before. This meaning is more common. Pronunciation: RAP rowsh MA Part of speech: Countable noun. (Countable nouns, like “bottle,” “piece,” and “decision,” are words for things that can be broken into exact units. You talk about “a bottle,” “three pieces,” and “many decisions.” Likewise, talk about one rapprochement or a rapprochement, but we don't usually make it plural.) Other forms: none How to use it: You might consider first if "reconciliation" or "getting back together" would express your idea better. But if you're speaking or writing in a formal setting, especially about the relationships between nations, then "rapprochement" works well. So, talk about forming, establishing, aiming for, hoping for, working toward, fostering, or being in favor of a rapprochement. (Or if you're less optimistic: rejecting, destroying, undermining, counteracting, reneging on, or being against a rapprochement.) You often use "between" after this word. The rapprochement you're talking about is probably between two nations (or two cultures or two governments,) but it could be between any two people or groups. Or you might speak figuratively about a rapprochement between two different ideas or philosophies, two different spheres of activity, two different aspects or facets of something, and so on, as in "we may never get a rapprochement between scientific skepticism and journalistic sensationalism." Lastly, you might talk about someone's rapprochement with someone else, as in "the company's rapprochement with its chief competitor." Reading the news can be so depressing--for every rapprochement mentioned, even hypothetically, there are ten or twenty mentions of bitter conflicts that keep raging on. The rapprochement between my finicky scanner and aging desktop was blissful but short-lived. They did manage to work together long enough to get a single document scanned. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "rapprochement" means when you can explain it without saying "reconciliation" or "reunion." Think of two people or groups who will probably never agree or never stop fighting, and fill in the blanks: "Because _____, there is no possibility of a rapprochement between _____ and _____." Example: "Because people fundamentally disagree about whether it's the government's responsibility to help feed the poor, there is no possibility of a rapprochement between that program's open supporters and open critics." 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: This month, we're sampling questions from Orijinz, an awesome series of games about the origins of words, phrases, and quotes. Click here if you want to check them out. They're compact--perfect for stockings. Just saying. :) Try a question here each day this month, and see the right answer the next day. Have fun! Yesterday's question: "Guess the word! Origin: This town in Hungary was the birthplace of the horse-drawn carriage. In the 19th century, this word also became college slang for 'teacher,' because teachers carry their students through exams. Definition: A carriage; a low-priced class of transportation; to train or teach; someone who trains or teaches." Answer: "The word is: Coach. Tidbit: The Hungarian town is Kocs.” Today's question: "Guess the phrase! Origin: In the late 18th century, the key word in this phrase referred to a line used as a boundary or starting point in sporting events such as boxing or cricket. By the mid-19th century, it also meant a competitor who received no advantage in a handicapped match. Its broader usage came from this latter meaning. Definition: From the very beginning; from nothing." A Point Well Made: Eleanor Roosevelt: “One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. … All you need to do is to be curious, receptive, eager for experience. And there's one strange thing: when you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.” 1. The opposite of RAPPROCHEMENT is A. ESTRANGEMENT B. REPROACH C. KINDLING 2. Once _____, they are now further from a rapprochement than ever. A. star players on the team B. prized for their rarity C. intimate friends 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. A 2. C Exploring the archives: Dictionaries tend to list multiple pronunciations for words like today's, with different options--British vs. American English, and true-to-French vs. naturalized English. I like to pick a common pronunciation and just go with it. But that prompts some readers to write back to me to let me know that I'm wrong, which has happened in response to the issues about joie de vivre and raison d'etre, for example. So I want to assure you that when I write these emails, I rely on information from good dictionaries and not on my own guesses or assumptions. Whether the pronunciation I suggest is "right" or "wrong" may actually be a matter of taste.