admin
Friday Lessons with Uncle Jay
There are a lot of words in the English language that we use every day that don’t really mean what we think.
Sometimes we get lucky and dictionaries add our definitions, at least as informal uses, but if you don’t want to end up in a lengthy conversation with that guy in your class who knows everything, commit these to memory.
Ignorant
You may think it means: Ignoring someone. It really means: Lacking in knowledge or in training.
Inflammable
You may think it means: Unable to catch fire. It really means: Capable of being set on fire, usually burning quickly.
Bemused
You may think it means: Amused.
It really means: Confused, bewildered (often to the point of amusement). Nicolas Cage often seems bemused in his movies.
Compel
You may think it means: Action taken because it’s the right thing to do.
It really means: An action taken without choice; coercion.
Anxious
You may think it means: Eager, as in being anxious to get started on a project.
It really means: While anxious does mean that you’re anticipating something, you’re doing so with a sense of foreboding or unease.
Ajar
You may think it means: Open.
It really means: Slightly open (“slightly ajar” is redundant).
Ironic
You may think it means: An annoying or funny coincidence.
It really means: Words or situations that are the opposite of what you think or are expected (not necessarily amusing).
Rain on your wedding day isn’t ironic.
A bride faking her death only to awaken to find her fiancé has killed himself thinking she was dead, then later killing herself (for real) is ironic. (If that example seems morbid, blame Shakespeare.)
Peruse
You may think it means: Skim.
It really means: Read or examine carefully and thoroughly.
Travesty
You may think it means: A tragedy.
It really means: A false, absurd or distorted version of something.
Notorious
You may think it means: Well-known or famous.
It really means: Famous for a bad quality or deed. Columbus was a famous explorer.
He was also arrested and taken back to Spain for tyranny; he was a notorious tyrant.
Nauseated
You may think it means: To feel sick.
It really means: To make someone feel sick; to fill with disgust.
If something has made you feel sick, you’re nauseous.
Masterful
You may think it means: Highly skilled.
It really means: Powerful and able to control others, not necessarily in a negative way.
Masterly is more appropriate for someone who’s highly skilled.
Nonplussed
You may think it means: Unconcerned or unperturbed.
It really means: The opposite: Surprised and confused to the point of not knowing how to react.
Tortuous
You may think it means: Feels as though you’re being tortured.
It really means: Full of twists and turns, complex. If you feel you’re being tortured, it’s torturous.
Unique
You may think it means: Special. Her purple hair is so unique.
It really means: The only one (or one of few) of its kind.
It may be special, but since lots of people dye their hair purple, it’s not unique.
Hysterical
You may think it means: Hilarious.
It really means: Hysterically funny — the word draws a comparison to someone in a fit of hysteria, a disorder that causes uncontrollable attacks of emotion, often laughter.
It can also refer to someone currently in a state of hysteria.
Decimate
You may think it means: To destroy or ruin completely.
It really means: Removal of a tenth. Roman commanders would execute one of every 10 soldiers to maintain discipline and loyalty.
Disinterested
You may think it means: Uninterested or unconcerned.
Apathetic
It really means: Though uninterested and disinterested have exchanged their meanings over the centuries, disinterested best refers to someone not influenced by personal feelings or concerns, rather than just not caring.
Entitled
You may think it (can) mean: The title of a book. “The book is entitled Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started.”
It really means: Believing you have a special privilege or right. Justin Bieber acts entitled, and you’re entitled to dislike him for it.
A book is just titled.
Online Reporter