Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Obscure Vocabulary Quiz

I admit that I am terrible at math...this sums up my feelings on the third "R" that we had to learn in school.

Source: snorgtees.com via Megan on Pinterest


However, I've always prided myself on my grasp of the English language.

I can diagram a sentence.

I know the difference between "effect" and "affect."

I know when to use "imply" versus "infer."

But this morning I was taken aback as I read an online article.

You see, the article was about the definitions of two types of media, the differences between the two and about how people often try to combine the two into one broad definition.

Instead of using a simple verb in the lead paragraph, the writer had to "flex" his literary muscles and use, what I consider to be, an obscure verb.

I even had to look it up...Microsoft Word didn't recognize it when I tried to find it in the thesaurus.

(As someone who spent six years as a journalist and is currently in the communications field, it annoys me when journalists - not other types of writers - use "big" words JUST to use them. But that's just me.)

Back to the blog post...

Are you ready for Gal in the Middle's first Obscure Vocabulary Quiz?

The word is...CONFLATE.

I'll be back tomorrow with the definition.

If you know the definition, please leave it in the comment section below AND use it in a sentence (just kidding on the sentence part).

No cheating please.

I already asked a couple of co-workers and one used her knowledge of Latin/Greek to break it down and she got close to the correct definition. My mom, the retired Latin teacher, would be so impressed!

Good luck!

4 comments:

  1. You know, I've heard that word before, but I can't remember what it means. I do know that the latin "con" would mean with. "Flate".... How about, "Let's conflate this balloon and see if it will float?" ha ha

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  2. Haha!! I love the pin. I just might have to use that one!!

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  3. I believe that conflate has to do with the mixing together of different elments.
    i think I just used conflate in a sentence. lol

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  4. Does it mean trying to talk your tire into not being flat while you are on the road in the middle of a downpour? Just a guess.

    My math find was

    M.A.T.H = Mental Abuse To Humans!

    See you today I hope!

    ReplyDelete

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