How to Talk About Actions

1. playing it down

Ready to go back thirty or more years? Harry Truman couldn't win the 1948 election. The pollsters said so, the Republicans heartily agreed, even the Democrats believed it. But came the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November — those who stayed up listening to the returns recall the unique Truman triumph.

What were the apologists for Dewey's failure doing? They were disparaging Truman's achievement.

2. playing it safe

Dewey campaigned for the presidency. As the Republican aspirant, he had to take a stand on the controversial Taft-Hartley Act. Was he for it? He was for that part of it which was good. Naturally, he was against any provisions which were bad. Take whichever answer you wanted most to hear.

What was Dewey doing? He was equivocating.

3. enjoying the little things

Have you ever gone through a book so good you kept hugging yourself mentally as you read? Or had a portion of pumpkin-chiffon pie, light and airy with a flaky, delicious crust? Not the things that grip you emotionally, but the mental or physical stimuli that excite enjoyably but not too sharply — a delightful novel, a charming play, a delicious dessert.

How do such things affect you? They titillate you.

4. playing it way up

You know how the teen-agers of an earlier generation adored, idolized, and overwhelmed Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Beatles? And of course you know how certain people fall all over visiting celebrities — best-selling authors, much publicized artists, famous entertainers. They show them ingratiating, almost servile attention, worship and flatter them fulsomely.

How do we say it in a single word? They adulate such celebrities.

5. accentuating the negative

What does the doctor say to you if you have low blood sugar? "No candy, no pastries, no chocolate marshmallow cookies, no ice cream!" — your morale dropping lower as each favorite goody is placed on the forbidden list.

What, in one word, is the doctor doing? The doctor is proscribing harmful items in your diet.

6. accentuating the affirmative

You are warm, friendly, enthusiastic, outgoing, easy to please; you are quick to show appreciation, yet accept, without judgment or criticism, the human weaknesses of others. You are a fascinating talker, an even better listener. You believe in, and practice, honest self-disclosure; you feel comfortable with yourself and therefore with everyone else.

Need you have any fears about making friends? Obviously not. Your characteristics and temperament obviate such fears.

7. playing it wrong

Theodor Reik, in his penetrating book on psychoanalysis Listening with the Third Ear, talks about neurotic people who unconsciously wish to fail. In business interviews they say exactly the wrong words, they do exactly the wrong things, they seem intent on insuring failure in every possible way, though consciously they are doing their best to court success.

What effect does such a neurotic tendency have? It militates against success.

8. playing it dirty

"Harry? He's a closet alcoholic. Maud? She's sleeping around. Bill? He's embezzling from his own company. Paul? He's a child molester. Sally? You don't know that she's a notorious husband-beater?"

What is this character doing? He's maligning everyone.

9. giving the benefit of any doubt

Do you think it's all right to cheat on your income taxes? At least just a little? It's wrong, of course, but doesn't everybody do it? How do you feel about marital infidelity? Are you inclined to overlook the occasional philandering of the male partner?

If your answers are in the affirmative, how are you reacting to such legal or ethical transgressions? You condone them.

10. changing hostility

Unwittingly you have done something that has aroused anger and resentment in your best friend. You had no desire to hurt him, yet he makes it obvious that he feels pretty bitter about the whole situation. His friendship is valuable to you and you wish to restore yourself in his good graces.

What do you do? You try to placate him.

1. equality — the par family

If you play golf, you know that each course or hole has a certain par, the number of strokes allowed according to the results achieved by expert players. Par is from a Latin word meaning equal.

When we speak of parity payments to farmers, we refer to payments that show an equality to earnings for some agreed-upon year. So when you disparage, you lower someone's par, or feeling of equality (dis- as you know, may be a negative prefix). The noun is disparagement (dis-PAIR′-əj-mənt), the adjective disparaging.

Parity (PAIR′-ə-tee) as a noun means equality; disparity (dis-PAIR′-ə-tee) means a lack of equality, or a difference. The adjective disparate (DIS′-pə-rət) indicates essential or complete difference or inequality.

The word compare and all its forms (comparable, comparative) derive from par, equal. Two things are compared when they have certain equal or similar qualities (con-, com-, together, with). Pair and peer are also from par. Things in pairs are equal or similar; your peers are those equal to you in age, position, rank, or ability — hence the expression "to be judged by a jury of one's peers."

2. how to say yes and no — the equ- family

Equivocate is built on another Latin word meaning equal — aequus (spelled equ- in English words) — plus vox, vocis, voice. When you equivocate, you seem to be saying both yes and no with equal voice. An equivocal (ə-KWIV′-ə-kəl) answer is by design vague, indefinite, and susceptible of contradictory interpretations, quite the opposite of an unequivocal (un′-ə-KWIV′-ə-kəl) response, which says Yes! or No!, and no kidding. Professional politicians are masters of equivocation (ə-kwiv′-ə-KAY′-shən).

3. equivocal vs. ambiguous

Do not confuse equivocal with ambiguous (am′-BIG′-yōö-əs). An equivocal statement is purposely, deliberately couched in language that will be deceptive; an ambiguous statement is accidentally couched in such language. Equivocal is, in short, purposely ambiguous.

Ambi-, which we last met in ambivert and ambidextrous, is a root meaning both; anything ambiguous may have both one meaning and another meaning. Ambiguity (am′-bə-GYōö′-ə-tee) is the quality of being susceptible of two interpretations.

Another type of statement contains the possibility of two interpretations — one of them suggestive, risqué, or sexy. Such a statement is a double entendre (DōöB′-lən-TAHN′-drə).

1. more on equality — the equ- family

The root aequus, spelled equ- in English words, is a building block of:

1. equity (EK′-wə-tee) — justice, fairness; equal treatment. (Stocks in the financial markets are equities, and the value of your home over and above the mortgage you owe is your equity.) Adjective: equitable (EK′-wə-tə-bəl).
2. inequity (in-EK′-wə-tee) — injustice, unfairness (equity plus the negative prefix in-). Adjective: inequitable (in-EK′-wə-tə-bəl).
3. iniquity (in-IK′-wə-tee) — by one of those delightful surprises of language, the change of a single letter (e to i) extends the meaning far beyond its derivation. Injustice and unfairness are sinful and wicked. So a "den of iniquity" is a place where vice flourishes; an iniquity is a sin or vice. Adjective: iniquitous (in-IK′-wə-təs).
4. equinox (EE′-kwə-noks′) — etymologically, "equal night," a combination of aequus and nox, noctis, night. The equinox, when day and night are of equal length, occurs twice a year: about March 21, and again about September 21 or 22. Adjective: equinoctial (ee′-kwə-NOK′-shəl). Nocturnal (nok-TURN′-əl), from nox, noctis, describes people, animals, or plants active at night. A nocturne (NOK′-turn) is a musical composition of dreamy, night character.
5. equanimity (ee′-kwə-NIM′-ə-tee or ek′-wə-NIM′-ə-tee) — etymologically aequus plus animus, mind, hence "equal mind." Maintain your equanimity — your evenness of temper, your composure, your coolness — when everyone around you is getting excited or hysterical.
6. equability (ee′-kwə-BIL′-ə-tee) — a close synonym of equanimity. A person of equable (EE′-kwə-bəl) temperament is characteristically calm, serene, unflappable, even-tempered.
7. equilibrium (ee′-kwə-LIB′-ree-əm) — by derivation aequus plus libra, balance, weight, pound, hence "equal balance." Libra is the seventh sign of the zodiac, represented by a pair of scales. An equilibrist (ə-KWIL′-ə-brist) is a professional tightrope walker. Words like equilateral (from Latin latus, lateris, side) are self-explanatory.

2. not to be confused with horses — equus

Equestrian (ə-KWES′-tree-ən) is someone on a horse (as pedestrian is someone on foot); an equestrienne (ə-kwes′-tree-EN′) is a woman on a horse. Equine (EE′-kwīn) is like a horse, or descriptive of horses — and also a noun for a horse.

The equ- in these words, from Latin equus, horse, is not to be confused with the equ- meaning equal from aequus. (Remember also not to confuse the ped- in pedestrian, from Latin pedis, foot, with the ped- in pediatrician, from Greek paidos, child.)

3. hear voices? — the voc- family

Equivocal combines aequus with vox, vocis, voice; and vox, vocis combines with fero, to bear or carry, to form vociferous (vō-SIF′-ər-əs), etymologically "carrying (much) voice," hence loud, noisy, clamorous, as vociferous demands.

If you are vocal (VŌ′-kəl), you express yourself readily and freely by voice. To vocalize (VŌ′-kə-līz′) is to give voice to, or to sing the vocals of music. The noun form is vocalization (vō′-kə-lə-ZAY′-shən). A vocalist (VŌ′-kə-list) is a singer.

1. how to tickle — titillate

Titillate comes from a Latin verb meaning to tickle, and may be used both literally and figuratively. You can titillate by gentle touches in strategic places (literally), or you can (figuratively) titillate people's minds, fancies, and palates by charm, brilliance, wit, or promises.

Titillation (tit′-ə-LAY′-shən) has the added meaning of light sexual stimulation. (Note that both noun and verb are spelled with a double l, not a double t.)

2. how to flatter — adulate

A compliment is a pleasant and courteous expression of praise; flattery is stronger and often considered insincere. Adulation (aj′-ə-LAY′-shən) is flattery and worship carried to an excessive, ridiculous degree. The adjective adulatory (aj′-ə-lə-TAWR′-ee) ends in -ory, an adjective suffix. (The derivation is from a Latin verb meaning to fawn upon.)

3. ways of writing — proscribe and the scribo family

Proscribe, to forbid, is commonly used for medical, religious, or legal prohibitions. The derivation is the prefix pro-, before, plus scribo, scriptus, to write. In ancient Roman times, a man's name was written on a public bulletin board if he had committed some crime. The noun is proscription (prō-SKRIP′-shən); the adjective proscriptive (prō-SKRIP′-tiv).

Scribo, scriptus is the building block of many common words: scribe, scribble, prescribe, describe, subscribe, script, the Scriptures, manuscript, typescript. Manuscript combines manus, hand, with scriptus — something handwritten. To subscribe is to write one's name under an order or contract (sub-, under). To inscribe is to write in or into. A postscript is something written after (post, after) the main part is finished.

4. it's obvious — obviate

You are familiar with the word via, by way of, from the Latin word for road. When something is obvious, etymologically it is right there in the middle of the road where no one can fail to see it. And if you meet an obstacle in the road and dispose of it forthwith, you are doing what obviate says.

The noun is obviation (ob′-vee-AY′-shən).

Surprisingly, via, road, is also the root in the English word trivial (TRIV′-ee-əl). Where three roads (tri-, three) intersect, you find a public place, and you will not talk of important or confidential matters — you will instead talk of trivial things, unimportant, without great significance. The plural noun trivialities (triv′-ee-AL′-ə-teez) and trivia (TRIV′-ee-ə) both mean insignificant trifles.

5. war — militate

Militate derives from militis, one of the forms of the Latin noun meaning soldier or fighting man. If something militates against you, it fights against you, i.e., works to your disadvantage. (Militate is always followed by the preposition against and never takes a personal subject.)

The adjective militant (MIL′-ə-tənt) means aggressively fighting for a cause. The noun is militancy (MIL′-ə-tən-see). Military and militia also have their origin in militis.

6. first the bad news — malign and the malus- family

Built on Latin malus, bad, evil, to malign is to speak evil about, to defame, to slander. Malign is also an adjective meaning bad, harmful, evil, hateful. Another adjective form is malignant (mə-LIG′-nənt), as in "a malignant growth," i.e., one that is cancerous (bad). The noun of malignant is malignancy (mə-LIG′-nən-see). The noun form of the adjective malign is malignity (mə-LIG′-nə-tee).

Add the root dico, dictus, to say or tell, to form malediction (mal′-ə-DIK′-shən), a curse. Adjective: maledictory (mal′-ə-DIK′-tə-ree).

Add the root volo, to wish, to construct the adjective malevolent (mə-LEV′-ə-lent), wishing evil or harm. The noun is malevolence (mə-LEV′-ə-ləns).

Add facio, factus, to do or make, to form the adjective maleficent (mə-LEF′-ə-sənt), doing harm or evil. The noun is maleficence (mə-LEF′-ə-səns). A malefactor (MAL′-ə-fak′-tər) is a wrongdoer, an evildoer; a malefaction (mal′-ə-FAK′-shən) is a crime or evil deed.

From French mal, bad: maladroit (mal′-ə-DROYT′), clumsy, bungling, awkward, etymologically "having a bad right hand." The noun is maladroitness. Also malaise (mə-LAYZ′), an indefinite feeling of bodily discomfort, etymologically "bad ease."

And what's the good news? See Session 23.

1. so now what's the good news? — the bene- family

Malus is bad; bonus is good. The adverb from the Latin adjective bonus is bene, and bene is the root found in words that contrast with the mal- terms we studied in Session 22.

So benign (bə-NĪN′) and benignant (bə-NIG′-nənt) are kindly, good-natured, not harmful, as in benign neglect, a benign tumor (not cancerous). The corresponding nouns are benignity (bə-NIG′-nə-tee) and benignancy (bə-NIG′-nən-see).

A malediction is a curse; a benediction (ben′-ə-DIK′-shən) is a blessing, a "saying good." Adjective: benedictory (ben′-ə-DIK′-tə-ree).

In contrast to maleficent is beneficent (bə-NEF′-ə-sənt), doing good. The noun is beneficence (bə-NEF′-ə-səns).

In contrast to malefactor is benefactor (BEN′-ə-fak′-tər), one who does good things for another. A woman who so operates is a benefactress (BEN′-ə-fak′-trəs). The benefaction (ben′-ə-FAK′-shən) is the gift or charitable act; the person receiving it is a beneficiary (ben′-ə-FISH′-ər-ee or ben′-ə-FISH′-ee-air-ee). Benefit and beneficial are other common words built on bene + a form of facio.

So let others be malevolent toward you — confuse them by being benevolent (bə-NEV′-ə-lent), wishing them well. The noun is benevolence (bə-NEV′-ə-ləns).

The adjective bonus, good, is found in English bonus, extra payment; in bonbon, a candy ("good-good," using the French version); and in bona fide (BŌ′-nə-FĪD′ or BŌ′-nə-FĪ′-dee), etymologically "in good faith," hence valid, without pretense or fraudulent intent. Fides is Latin for faith or trust, as in fidelity (fə-DEL′-ə-tee), faithfulness; infidel (IN′-fə-dəl), one who does not have the right faith; and infidelity (in′-fə-DEL′-ə-tee), unfaithfulness.

2. say, do, and wish — dico, facio, volo

Benediction and malediction derive from dico, dictus, to say, tell. Dictate, dictator, dictation, dictatorial (dik′-tə-TAWR′-ee-əl) — telling others what to do. Predict is to tell beforehand. Contradict is to say against. Addiction, etymologically "a saying to or toward," is the compulsion to say "yes" to a habit.

Facio, factus, to do or make, appears as fec-, fic-, or as a verb ending -fy. Thus factory is a place where things are made; a fact is something done; fiction is something made up; manufacture is to make by hand; clarify, simplify, liquefy, magnify are among hundreds of -fy verbs.

Volo, to wish, to will, to be willing, occurs in voluntary, involuntary, volunteer. Less common is volition (vō-LISH′-ən), the act or power of willing or wishing, as in "of her own volition."

3. if you please! — the plac- family

Placate is built on the root plac- which derives from two related Latin verbs meaning 1) to please, and 2) to appease, soothe, or pacify. The noun is placation (play-KAY′-shən), the adjective either placative (PLAK′-ə-tiv or PLAY′-kə-tiv) or placatory (PLAK′-ə-tawr-ee or PLAY′-kə-tawr-ee).

One who can be soothed, whose hostility can be changed to friendliness, is placable (PLAK′-ə-bəl or PLAY′-kə-bəl). But the other one may at that point be implacable (im-PLAK′-ə-bəl or im-PLAY′-kə-bəl) — im- is a respelling of in-, not, before the letter p. Implacable has taken on the added meaning of unyielding to entreaty or pity; hence, harsh, relentless. The noun is implacability (im-plak′-ə-BIL′-ə-tee).

If you are placid (PLAS′-id), you are calm, easygoing, serene, undisturbed. The noun is placidity (plə-SID′-ə-tee).

If you are complacent (kəm-PLAY′-sənt), you are pleased with yourself (com-, from con-, with, together); you may, in fact, be smug, too pleased with your position or narrow accomplishments. The noun is complacence (kəm-PLAY′-səns) or complacency (kəm-PLAY′-sən-see).

4. how to give — and forgive — condone

To condone is to forgive, overlook, pardon, or be uncritical of an offense or antisocial act. The noun is condonation (kon′-dō-NAY′-shən). Condone is built on Latin dono, to give, the root found in donor, donate, and donation.

1. Keeping in mind the roots animus in equanimity and magnus in magnify, can you combine these two roots to form a noun meaning, etymologically, "largeness of mind"? (magnanimity) Can you figure out the adjective form, ending in -ous? (magnanimous)
2. If equilateral means "equal-sided," can you construct an adjective meaning "two-sided"? (bilateral)
3. Trans- is a prefix meaning across. Build a verb meaning "to write across" (from one form or language to another): (transcribe). What is the noun derived from this verb? (transcription)
4. What disease was so named on the erroneous assumption that it was caused by "bad air"? (malaria)
5. Facio may appear in English words as fec-. Using the prefix con-, together, can you form a noun sometimes used as a synonym for candy, cake, or ice cream (etymologically, "something made together")? (confection)

(Answers in Chapter 18)

You have been adding, over the past twenty-three sessions, hundreds of words to your vocabulary; you have been learning hundreds of prefixes, roots, and suffixes that make it possible for you to figure out the meaning of many unfamiliar words you may come across in your reading.

As time goes on and you notice more and more of the words you have studied whenever you read, or whenever you listen to lectures, the radio, or TV, the thrill of recognition plus the immediate comprehension of complex ideas will provide a dividend of incalculable value.

You will hear these words in conversation, and you will begin to use them yourself, unself-consciously, whenever something you want to say is best expressed by one of the words that exactly verbalizes your thinking. Another priceless dividend!

So keep on! You are involved in a dividend-paying activity that will eventually make you intellectually rich.

Note on fulsome: Fulsome (FŌ′ōL-səm) does not mean, despite its appearance, fully or completely, but rather offensive because of excessiveness or insincerity, often in reference to compliments, praise, admiration, or flattery.