Make Your Point > Archived Issues > VERISIMILITUDE

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connect today's word to others: Even though I love it the word verisimilitude, I had made up my mind to skip it and not share it with you in an issue. Why? It's hard to justify picking such a rare and bizarre word over simpler and more familiar synonyms like likeness, realism, and authenticity. But Christina, a subscriber, reminded me of this word and mentioned that she's actually been seeing it a lot lately in her reading. So, thanks, Christina! Let's all enjoy the crazy word verisimilitude, which is related to very and verify, as well as veracity and veracious. Could you name the concept that unites all those words? make your point with... "VERISIMILITUDE" When you look inside the words "verisimilitude" and "verisimilar," you can almost see the words "very similar." That's because "verisimilitude" and "verisimilar" come from a Latin word meaning "likeness to truth."  Something verisimilar looks real or seems like the truth. And verisimilitude is apparent realness or apparent truth. In other words, things with verisimilitude seem real or seem true. Pronunciation: VAIR ih sim ILL ih tude Part of speech: Most often, an uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations." Likewise, talk about "the verisimilitude," "this verisimilitude," "its verisimilitude," "such verisimilitude," "no verisimilitude," and so on, but don’t say "a verisimilitude," "one verisimilitude," or " verisimilitudes.") Other forms: verisimilar How to use it: We most often use "verisimilitude" to talk about art, film, and literature that seems real or true. But we can use it to talk about anything else that seems real or true, too, such as explanations, statements, and alibis; photographs, videos, and other pieces of evidence; artifacts and collectors' items, etc. So, talk about the verisimilitude of a painting, a show, a costume, an accent, a poem, a bit of dialogue, and so on. Or, say that a painting (or whatever) has verisimilitude. Artists and art can aim for verisimilitude, commit to verisimilitude, achieve verisimilitude, lack verisimilitude, be praised for their verisimilitude, etc. The same goes for filmmakers and films, actors and actresses and acting, writers and writing, etc.  And you might say that an artist, dancer, filmmaker, actor, actress, or writer does something or includes something for verisimilitude: "For verisimilitude in the teens' dialogue, he added some references to Katy Perry songs."  You might add an adjective: "sheer verisimilitude," "praiseworthy verisimilitude," "verbal verisimilitude," "cinematic verisimilitude." Personally, I don't like this. It's like putting a tiara on a peacock: if you're picking a huge, fancy word, can't you at least let it stand alone, without a modifier? But do it if you want. To use the adjective "verisimilar," talk about verisimilar works of art and film and literature, verisimilar images and sounds and effects, verisimilar copies and replicas and scams, etc. examples: If you watched Friends, you probably wondered how Monica, a cook, and Rachel, a waitress, could afford their spacious and beautiful apartment in New York City. Arguably, the show aimed for visual appeal and not verisimilitude. Giving the peasants in the film some discolored teeth would go a long way toward verisimilitude. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "verisimilitude" means when you can explain it without saying "realism" or "close approximation of reality." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "When (something specific happens in a book or movie), the scene is so verisimilar that I (feel, see, smell, taste, or hear some specific thing)." Example: "When the boy arrives at the fair near closing time and realizes he can't afford anything there, the scene is so verisimilar that I feel his lump of disappointment in my own throat." 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 this month is 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, draw on your knowledge of both vocabulary and fiction to pick out the right name for the character described. Enjoy! From our previous issue: Would the most felicitous name for a character who is air-headed and insubstantial be Emma Bovary, Effie Trinket, or Judy Green? Why?  Answer: A trinket is a useless little decorative object. Effie Trinket, obsessed with formalities and fashion even when surrounded by human suffering, was created by Suzanne Collins for her Hunger Games trilogy.  Try this today: We want a felicitous name for a mysterious, secretive character. Is it Mr. Penumbra, Mr. Skulduggery, or Mr. Goodman Brown? Why? review today's word: 1. One opposite of VERISIMILITUDE is A. FIDELITY B. GRANDEUR C. IMPLAUSIBILITY 2. _____ were included for verisimilitude. A. Background songs, appropriate for the antebellum south,  B. Free salty snacks that encouraged more drink purchases C. Somewhat out of place in the poor town, hundreds of colorful bouquets  Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, 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. A