The Herald, Sharon,
PA Published Sunday, May 4, 1997



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Sherman
Jubelier

My Word!







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  • Some graduate-level work, plus pompous circumstances

    SINCE IT'S Andrence it's the season for graduation, let's see how to use correctly the word ``graduate.''

    ``Graduate'' is a noun, an adjective, an intransitive verb, and a pesky transitive verb.

    As a noun: ``Brad is a graduate (graj-oo-it) of the University of Rochester.''

    As an adjective: ``Brad might become a graduate (graj-oo-it) student.''

    As an intransitive verb: 1. ``Brad graduated (graj-oo-ate-ed) from the University of Rochester.'' This is the most common construction today. 2. ``Brad was graduated from the U. of R.'' This form has been in use since 1421 A.D., but is considered old-fashioned today.

    As a transitive verb, there comes a problem.

    1. ``The U. of R. graduated Brad.'' Correct.

    2. ``Brad graduated the U. of R.'' Wrong. Seventy-seven percent of the American Heritage Dictionary's Usage Panel found this to be unacceptable. On the other hand, Random House Webster's College Dictionary, 1996, declares this construction ``is increasing in both speech and writing.''

    ``Graduate'' is from Medieval Latin: graduari, to take a degree; from Latin: gradus, step, degree.

    The University of Rochester is Brad's ALMA MATER. Alma Mater is the school, college, or university that one has attended, and, usually, from which one has graduated. Latin: alma, nourishing (dear, kind, fostering) + mater, mother. NOURISHING MOTHER.

    Four years ago Brad MATRICULATED the U. of R. Matriculate, a transitive and intransitive verb, means to admit or be admitted into a group, especially a college or university. Latin: matrix, female animal kept for breeding. Matrix is derived from mater, mother. Yes it's the same mater as in Alma Mater. It's also the same mater that gives us maternal (motherly), matrimony (marriage), and matron (a mother / woman of dignity, mature age, and established social position).

    High schools have VALEDICTORIANS and SALUTATORIANS. A VALEDICTORIAN is the student with the highest academic rank who delivers the Valedictory _ the farewell address _ at graduation. Latin: vale, farewell + dicere, to say. The Valedictorian is saying farewell to the Alma Mater for his class. There is a similar word, vale (pronounced vay-lee or wa-lay) that comes from Latin: valere, to be strong and well. It means farewell. When you say farewell to someone, you are wishing that he is strong and well. Incidentally, good-bye (also spelled good-by) is derived from ``God be with you.''

    A SALUTATORIAN is the student with the second highest academic rank who delivers the Salutatory _ the welcoming address _ at graduation. Latin: salus, health. Kindred words are salute, salutation (greeting), salutary and salubrious (these last two mean healthful).

    The graduation ceremony is the COMMENCEMENT, during which academic degrees or diplomas are conferred. Latin: com, together or with + initiare, to begin. Poor Brad has worked his butt off for four long years to get his diploma only to find he's just beginning!


    Last month's ``My Word!'' promised more pompous proverbs and circumlocutory cliches. Translate these high-sounding phrases and unnecessarily wordy cliches back into their original bromides (commonplace remarks) and saws (familiar sayings).

      1. Pulchritude possesses exclusively cutaneous profundity.

      2. A revolving lithic conglomerate accrues no lichen.

      3. Similar sire, similar scion.

      4. A plethora of individuals with expertise in culinary techniques vitiates the potable concoction.

      5. Rectitude does not attach itself to binary transgressions.

      6. Missiles of ligneous or lithic consistency have the potential of fracturing my osseous structure, but vocalized appelations eternally remain innocuous.

      7. Individuals who make their abode in vitreous edifices of patent frangibility are advised to refrain from catapulting petrous projectiles.

    In plain language:

      1. Beauty is only skin deep. Cutaneous: pertaining to the skin. PROFUNDITY: great depth.

      2. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Lithic: consisting of stone or rock. Lichen: a fungus forming crusty patches on rocks and trees.

      3. Like father, like son. Scion (si-en): a descendent or heir.

      4. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Plethora: An excess. Vitiate: To reduce the value.

      5 Two wrongs don't make a right. Rectitude: righteousness. Binary: twofold.

      6. Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me. Ligneous:

      texture of wood. Osseous: bony. Innocuous: harmless.

      7. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Vitreous: made from glass. Frangible: breakable. Petrous: Stony, hard as a rock.


    Next Sunday on Mothers' Day, say a few kind and loving words to your dear MATER.

    That's all for today. My Word!




    Sherman S. Jubelirer is a self-described verbivore, a devourer of words. The retired owner of the Whitmer-Smith store in Sharon shares his love of words with The Herald's readers in this column, which appears on the first Sunday of each month.




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