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Showing posts from September, 2009

ODIOUS: "highly offensive; inspiring and deserving hatred"

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ODIOUS MEANING: adjective: Highly offensive; inspiring and deserving hatred. ETYMOLOGY: From Latin odium (hatred), from odisse (to hate). Ultimately from the Indo-European root od- (to hate) that is also the source of the words annoy, noisome, and ennui. USAGE: "Yes, you are under surveillance. Yes, it is odious. Yes, it should bother you. And yes, it's hard to know how to avoid it."  Nick Harkaway "All over the US there are people whose lives are being destroyed for lack of proper health care provision, and there is no sight more odious than the rich, powerful, and arrogant trying to keep it that way." Simon Hoggart; Why the American Right Make Me Sick; The Guardian (London, UK); Aug 15, 2009.  It was Stalin, the most  odious  tyrant of the century.

CIRCUMLOCUTION - "The use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few; indirect or roundabout language"

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"Circumlocution" is a noun that refers to the use of unnecessarily long or indirect words or expressions to express an idea, often in an attempt to be evasive or to avoid being clear and direct. Etymology: The word "circumlocution" has Latin origins. It is derived from the combination of "circum" (meaning "around") and "loqui" (meaning "to speak"). Sample Sentences: The politician's speech was filled with circumlocution , making it challenging for the audience to grasp his true stance on the issue. Instead of providing a straightforward answer, he resorted to circumlocution , leaving everyone confused about his intentions. The writer's penchant for circumlocution made the article lengthy and difficult to follow. In diplomatic circles, circumlocution is often employed to navigate sensitive topics without causing offense. The student was marked down for the excessive circumlocution in his essay, as it obscured the m...