Make Your Point > Archived Issues > VERDANT

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"VERDANT" Meaning: Literally, something verdant is green like grass, or full of green plants. Figuratively, verdant things are fresh, flourishing, and abundant in a way that reminds you of a field or forest. Verdant people are "green," meaning they're easily tricked or don't have much experience. Pronunciation: VUR dunt 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 verdant imagination.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "His imagination was verdant.”) Other forms: verdantly, verdancy How to use it: Talk about a verdant scene or landscape or hill, a verdant imagination or mind or vocabulary, verdant beauty, verdant nature, and so on. As you can see, this is a beautiful word with a very positive tone. The best thing about that movie (and if I'm honest, the only good thing) is its verdant setting in the endlessly lush jungle. He constantly underestimates the huge groups of people that he keeps offending-- to his mind, the people of this country are verdant, complacent, and disorganized. He's wrong. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "verdant" means when you can explain it without saying "green" or "lush." Think of a certain kind of flower, plant, or tree that you particularly like, and fill in the blanks: "(Type of vegetation) grow(s) in verdant (tufts/clumps/stalks/bunches, etc.) (somewhere.)"  Example: "Bluebonnets grow in verdant bunches along the Texan highways." 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 playing with some fascinating thematic word lists assembled by Stephen Chrisomalis, an English language expert over at The Phrontistery who kindly gave permission for me to use his work. (Check out his site; you will definitely enjoy it!) Try a question each day, and see the right answers here the following day--or if you can't wait, follow the link to Stephen's list to dig out the answers yourself. Have fun! Yesterday's question: As Stephen explains, Christianity has engendered its own vocabulary: hundreds of terms related to church and prayer and all kinds of things. Using your knowledge of word roots, could you answer the following questions about these Christian terms? - Where is the antechapel in relation to the chapel? - Does discalced mean without a hat, without a robe, or without shoes? - A hagioscope is a hole in a wall of a chapel. Is it put there so people can sneak in, listen in, or see in? Answers: - The antechapel is the little room you walk through to get to the chapel. “Ante” means “before.” - Discalced means without shoes. “Calc” or “calx” means “heel.” - A hagioscope is there so people can see in. “Scope” means “to look at” or “examine.” Try this one today: For these last few questions this month, we'll get all meta and talk about words about words and names for names! The Greek onoma, meaning a name, gives us a bunch of names for names. Can you come up with these? Hint: They're in alphabetical order. - A word formed from initial letters of another word is an ___onym. - A secret name is a cr___onym. - A word with the same sound as another but a different meaning is a ___onym. - A fictitious name used by an author is a ____onym. - A name consisting of three words is a ___onym. Can't wait until tomorrow for the right answers? Check out Stephen's full list and discussion at the Phrontistery. A Point Well Made: Sir Edward Coke: “The house of every one is to him as his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence as for his repose.” 1. The opposite of VERDANT is A. MOIST B. CLINGING C. BARREN 2. Yes, _____, but that doesn't make Dahl's imagination any less verdant. A. there are some dark themes in his children's books B. we see characters with the same personality types again and again C. some of the expository chapters are bursting with detailed whimsy 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. B Exploring the archives: Today's word, "verdant," describes lush abundance and natural beauty. We've looked at a fairly close opposite: a word that often describes farms and land, meaning "requiring a difficult, constant, desperate struggle." It starts with "h."