Perhaps you were all a little distrait over the double meaning of tergiversation? Maybe you're just too loyal to even consider it?
At any rate, the contest ends today. So here, for those of you waiting impatiently to learn the answer (without looking it up on your own), is the secondary meaning of the former Word of the Week, tergiversation—preceded by the hint that threw you all for a loop:
"It's not uncommon for politicians to talk around a topic, making an art of tergiversation in answer to a question, especially on controversial subjects." Also (here comes the tricky part): "Senator Arlen Specter has been accused of selling out to the highest-voting bidder after his tergiversation of the Republican Party."
*drumroll ...*
Tergiversation: a desertion of a cause, position, party, faith. *cymbals crash!*
And this week's (contest-free) word, distrait, means "divided in attention, especially because of anxiety; inattentive." Visit MyDictionary.com (or, Twitter users, follow MyWOTDcom) for a free new word every day this week!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Showing posts with label tergiversation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tergiversation. Show all posts
Jul 6, 2009
Jul 1, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: Kealah the Tergiversator
It's true: Even I have been guilty of tergiversation in my lifetime. Although I consider myself loyal—almost to a fault—I've had my share of apostasy and abandonment. Here's an alphabetical list of a dozen examples:
- babysitting
- baton twirling
- choir
- drinking
- Girl Scouts
- gymnastics
- Ouija boards
- softball
- smoking
- swimming
- tap dancing
- youth group
Perhaps some of these don't really count as groups or beliefs I've tergiversated. After all, I still believe in the altruistic and shaping abilities of the Girl Scouts. And I didn't so much as turn my back on my church youth group as a teen as I did ... well, graduate. Furthermore, I may well have decided that tap dancing, swimming, baton twirling, and softball are not for me. But I would certainly never begrudge YOUR passion for any of them, nor try to change your mind about pursuing these.
So, my remaining contestant friends, do any of these hints help?
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
- babysitting
- baton twirling
- choir
- drinking
- Girl Scouts
- gymnastics
- Ouija boards
- softball
- smoking
- swimming
- tap dancing
- youth group
Perhaps some of these don't really count as groups or beliefs I've tergiversated. After all, I still believe in the altruistic and shaping abilities of the Girl Scouts. And I didn't so much as turn my back on my church youth group as a teen as I did ... well, graduate. Furthermore, I may well have decided that tap dancing, swimming, baton twirling, and softball are not for me. But I would certainly never begrudge YOUR passion for any of them, nor try to change your mind about pursuing these.
So, my remaining contestant friends, do any of these hints help?
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Jun 29, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Contest Follow-Up
A few weeks ago, I asked you to tell me the meaning of the Word of the Week, tergiversation—a word with two related meanings. Here was your hint:
"It's not uncommon for politicians to talk around a topic, making an art of tergiversation in answer to a question, especially on controversial subjects." Also: "Senator Arlen Specter has been accused of selling out to the highest-voting bidder after his tergiversation of the Republican Party."
Fellini69 took a stab at the meaning and got one half of the answer correct, winning a free hour of speech coaching. Here was her response:
"With the first example I thought, being intentionally vague, talking around something. The second example threw me and I thought perhaps it meant saying what one assumes others prefer to hear. So I looked it up on Merriam. I was partially correct :) As far etymology goes, the depth of my answer ends with assuming the roots are related to conversation."
Being "intentionally vague" is indeed one example of tergiversation. Its etymology comes from the French tergiverser, a verb meaning "to delay or hesitate" (according to Merriam-Webster.com).
Who can guess the secondary meaning of tergiversation? There is still one more week before the contest runs out on Monday, July 6, and one more open winner's spot. Remember, there's no such thing as cheating: It's perfectly legitimate to look the info. up, provided you share your source with us. So, don't tergiversate! Play the game and win today!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
"It's not uncommon for politicians to talk around a topic, making an art of tergiversation in answer to a question, especially on controversial subjects." Also: "Senator Arlen Specter has been accused of selling out to the highest-voting bidder after his tergiversation of the Republican Party."
Fellini69 took a stab at the meaning and got one half of the answer correct, winning a free hour of speech coaching. Here was her response:
"With the first example I thought, being intentionally vague, talking around something. The second example threw me and I thought perhaps it meant saying what one assumes others prefer to hear. So I looked it up on Merriam. I was partially correct :) As far etymology goes, the depth of my answer ends with assuming the roots are related to conversation."
Being "intentionally vague" is indeed one example of tergiversation. Its etymology comes from the French tergiverser, a verb meaning "to delay or hesitate" (according to Merriam-Webster.com).
Who can guess the secondary meaning of tergiversation? There is still one more week before the contest runs out on Monday, July 6, and one more open winner's spot. Remember, there's no such thing as cheating: It's perfectly legitimate to look the info. up, provided you share your source with us. So, don't tergiversate! Play the game and win today!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Jun 17, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: Last Week's Contest Still Running
If you thought I'd tergiversated on last week's contest, think again! There's still one winner's spot open—and one more word usage left to be guessed. It's okay to cheat in this contest and use an aide (like an online dictionary), especially if you tell on yourself and share that resource with the rest of us!
Congratulations again to Fellini69. To claim your prize—one free hour of speech coaching to work on any communication issue you choose—simply contact me directly at Kealah@KiKiProductionsInc.com.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you, Fellini69. ... And I'm looking forward to hearing from the rest of you on ANY of the Words of the Week or any other communications points you want to discuss on Beyond Talk. You are never alone when it comes to questions about how to improve your speaking, writing or conflict resolution skills. So don't tergiversate about it. Get to the point today!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Congratulations again to Fellini69. To claim your prize—one free hour of speech coaching to work on any communication issue you choose—simply contact me directly at Kealah@KiKiProductionsInc.com.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you, Fellini69. ... And I'm looking forward to hearing from the rest of you on ANY of the Words of the Week or any other communications points you want to discuss on Beyond Talk. You are never alone when it comes to questions about how to improve your speaking, writing or conflict resolution skills. So don't tergiversate about it. Get to the point today!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Jun 12, 2009
WEEKLY UPDATE: Congratulations, winner Fellini69!
This week's contest earned its first of two winners yesterday: Fellini69 did the heavy lifting to figure out that tergiversation means "speaking intentionally vaguely or misleadingly." That's one of the two meanings of this week's word; do YOU know the other meaning?
Fellini69 also guessed at the word's etymology, and got a good guess in by connecting the word to conversation. (They are related!)
The grand prize for this great guesswork is ONE FREE HOUR OF SPEECH COACHING. I'll connect directly with Fellini69 next week to redeem the prize. And I'll be more accessible to all of you wonderful blog readers then, after the launch of my newly revamped website. Look for the link and further info. in Monday's post.
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Fellini69 also guessed at the word's etymology, and got a good guess in by connecting the word to conversation. (They are related!)
The grand prize for this great guesswork is ONE FREE HOUR OF SPEECH COACHING. I'll connect directly with Fellini69 next week to redeem the prize. And I'll be more accessible to all of you wonderful blog readers then, after the launch of my newly revamped website. Look for the link and further info. in Monday's post.
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Jun 8, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Guess the Meaning!
Today's word of the day comes from Dictionary.com—and it comes with a twist: This week, rather than tell you the meaning and etymology of the word, I'm going to use it in a sentence and ask you to tell me where it came from or what it means. Think you can handle it? Get ready to play!
"It's not uncommon for politicians to talk around a topic, making an art of tergiversation in answer to a question, especially on controversial subjects." Also: "Senator Arlen Specter has been accused of selling out to the highest-voting bidder after his tergiversation of the Republican Party."
Those are your clues. The first 2 people to comment with the right definition (and/or etymology) will win 1 hour of consultation with me, Kealah Parkinson, for FREE.
Need help overcoming speaking shyness? Having troubles with hemming and hawing when you really want to be making your point? Bring your woes to the session, and see how an hour with a speech coach can cure your tergiversation today!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
"It's not uncommon for politicians to talk around a topic, making an art of tergiversation in answer to a question, especially on controversial subjects." Also: "Senator Arlen Specter has been accused of selling out to the highest-voting bidder after his tergiversation of the Republican Party."
Those are your clues. The first 2 people to comment with the right definition (and/or etymology) will win 1 hour of consultation with me, Kealah Parkinson, for FREE.
Need help overcoming speaking shyness? Having troubles with hemming and hawing when you really want to be making your point? Bring your woes to the session, and see how an hour with a speech coach can cure your tergiversation today!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
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