Connotations
So this is a fun one...choose a couple of words that you think have strong connotative value. Give us the words, the denotation, and explain the connotations, including associations you yourself have with the words. Also, please comment on other people's choices of words...what associations do you have with the words they selected?
I'll go first...you all know ennui now, so I'll do crepuscular, denotation twilight. However, this word, partially because of its French origin, has a sense of faded grandeur or decline about it...if I was using it to actually describe a time of day, it would have to be the end of a golden, perfect day that is drawing to a quiet grey close. If we were in a crepuscular phase in our relationship, it would be something great that now has faded....When I first heard it, I thought it had something to do with blood, so I always think of it as a deep, internal fading..
posted by Ms. Clapp @ 10:35 AM
36 comments
36 Comments:
SCRIBBLING: denotation - to write hastily or carelessly. I love this word because it reflexs my life in a way because I always have so much to do. I think there is two connotations to this word. First it means as is someone was to scribble down a number or a word/phrase extremely fast. I also believe in the same sense that it means when someone like a child scribbles outside of the lines in a coloring book.
VULGAR: denotation - rude. This word is used to described words that are said like ***t or **s and it could also be to describe the tone that any one is said in. Another meaning is describing activities such as dancing or intercourse.
BLUE: - depressed or a color. This word is meant to describe either a color, which is one of my favorite colors along with purple which is a mix of red and blue. it can also talk about one's emotions like when someone says are you feeling blue they mean are you sad. It also describes a genre of music that is associated with the depressed and gloomy moods of people.
Can't wait to comment since I am the first one to do this like a dork :] -- L. Katz
JADED: denotation: [n] worn down, broken down, worthless. This is one of my favorite words because although the definition is sad, to me it means tragic but in a beautiful way. Because I associate it with the beautiful material: jade.
STRIFE: denotation: [n] bitter conflict, struggle, clash, a competition. To me it just makes me feel like the difficulties it takes to survive life. It reminds me of the will to live. That's what I thought when I first read it in this book!
AMOROUSNESS: denotation: [adj]inclined to love. My very first impression when I saw this word was something ugly. When I looked in the dictionary, I realized it meant love. Although it does have similarities to "amour".
Lauren I actually like your choice of BLUE. It's associated with music, color, and mood. Actually in many cases, blue is thought of as a calming color! And I agree with what you said abut VULGAR. It's very true.
I wonder what everyone else is going to say....
Demeanour: denotation-outward behaviour. Well, this word means the above, but it also means the way someone 'handles themselves' say for example-The manner in which an Elizebethan lady struts down the boulevard, head erect, her slight nose groping at the flowery fragrance emitting from the boutique adjacent to her-is a type of demeanour This Elizabethan lady, we can safely say, has an outward behaviour, but the connotative form of the word demeanour transcends that sketchy description. It captures how she walks so pompously down the street and with pride in her stride-this arrogant, almost boastful nature is the type of demeanour she exudes. But the connotation does not stop there, it can also be said about written text (which we all know cannot possess an outward behaviour-except perhaps being in a certain type of handwriting or ink etc) For example, that sentence i just wrote abot the Elizabethan lady can be called formal or fancy (whichever you prefer) and that is the type of demeanour that it too exudes.
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Hot isn't one of my favorite words when it comes to the denotation. It's quite simple and we learn it at a early age, especially if you are like me and touched an iron when you were younger despite the fact your parents told you not to. Anyway, the denotation is having or giving off heat. However, there are many connotations to this word. One of which we all know thanks to Paris Hilton is, "That's hot!" describing a thing that someone likes. Other words that relate in this situation could include pretty, or cute. Also, if I was walking down the street and saw an attractive guy I may say, "He's hot"; other words to express the same thoughts about the guy are sexy, and/ or attractive. Then there are other connotations such as "the hots" (an attraction) and "hot goods" (stolen items). Personally, I much rather the connotations than the actual denotation.
Also, to continue on with the color thing... Dark, denotation having little or no light. Places can be dark such as hallways, or alleys, but also a person may have a dark expression meaning sullen. Dark, for me, always makes me think of fear, I'd rather walk somewhere during the day rather than night just because the darkness always instills some frightfulness in me. In Harry Potter the dark arts are evil. Dark's connotations stretch from the absence of light to emotions to actions.
I like Laurens connotation of blue. To go along with it there are ways of it being used such as "Blue in the face" like being exhausted or physical strain and "out of blue" which is when something is completely random.
Oh, and I also agree with Rey about jaded and how it its somewhat related to a beatiful tragedy, somewhat like a big let down over something that someone has given a good amount of effort to and are now jaded.
Demeanour always made me think of an evil behavior. I think it may have to do with the fact it sounds like demon.
=)Nicole
Thanks guys for liking my choice of connotations. I also really liked nicoles demeanor because it also reminds me of evil or the devil be the word mean is in it.
I think colors have many connotations and I'm going to add one:
Red - It literally describes a color, however it also depicts one's emotions as with the color blue. I'm sure red always reminds people of love and anger. Also, red is the color of blood and it could mean death or danger.
Slick - Denotation: smooth and glossy or slippery. Whenever someone is being described as slick, I always think of calm, cool and collected. It reminds me of a person who's laid back and has grease in their hair like the characters in The Outsiders.
Sly - Denotation: cunning or wily. This often reminds me of someone or something that's uncatchable and unstoppable. It also reminds me of a spy who is able to sneak in and out of places without being noticed.
I agree with Nicole's connoatation of dark and how it invokes fear. For me, I would associate it with emptiness because a dark void lacks matter. And demeanor really does sound like demon and it reminds me of an evil aura that may surround, say, a villain.
Hi everyone. Just to let you know adrian said demeanor, not nicole. And anyways I think that demeanor means something like "aura" and it's that outward impression of WHO you are. I don't really associate it with something bad.
And I really like nicole's connotation of "dark". It has so many meanings to it and I do think it represents evil and a sense of fear.
GOLDEN:denotation-bright,metallic, or lustrous. The immediate defintion of something that is golden refers to its color or resemblance to the material gold. But the word golden has more meaning than that. When something is consider golden it gives that sense that this thing is very valuable. It gives a sense of something being memorable, something that will last for someone's life, it will never be forgotten. When the word golden is attacted to a noun or as a desscription it makes that object seem very important. Also it can be used to describe someone's mood. Althought the word golden has many connotations it still in all cases holds that meaning of descrbing a good thing.
GANGSTER:denotation-a member of a gang of criminals. Gangster has normally been known for its negative denotation. A gangster wasnt consider to be a good person. But these days when someone gets called a gangster they may smile. This is because the word "gangster" now connotates something positive. It has a similar meaning to cool in the sense of hip. Which both can also be considered connotative words. Gangster has become a slang word that is used to describe anything. Its a compliment if someone calls you a gangster or says something that you have is gangster. It has become more of an adjective these days.
DOG:denotation-a domesticated canid. When most people hear the word dog they think of their pet. But the word dog has many connotations. Although a dog, as a pet, maybe considered cute, furry, and lovable, in the world of connotation it is anything but those adjectives. The word dog has become a negative word. It describes someone that doesnt have a good reputation. Alot a girls call boys dogs because of their uncaring nature. Another connotation of dog is if someone uses alot of something in a little amount of time: "DANG! She dogged that!" The connotations of dog are the opposite of the connotations of the word beast. As dog has travelled from a positve meaning to a negative one the connotations of beast have travelled from a negative meaning to a positive meaning. Everyone these days(except old people) use the word beast, not as an untamed, destructive animal, but as a cool person.Like MAN SHES A BEAST! because she is talented at something.
This exercise was FUN! I thought that it was going to be hard but alot of the words that we use today have obtained so many connotative meanings that we forget their denotation. The words that other people came up with were interesting and some of the words that i didnt know it was a good way to enhance my vocabulary in denotation as well as connotation.
Uh-oh...somebody's turning into a word geek...;)
ILLUSION: denotation- deception of reality. This is a word I fell in love with the first time I heard it. There is just this magical and mysterious feeling I connect with it every time I say it; it has this luring power like the Greek sirens, tempting and beautiful, but has a an ugly and dangerous side to it if the truth is uncovered. It also reminds me of psychology dealing with the optical illusion, how one person may perceive the puzzle in a different way than another. It also sounds like allusion, which connects with the whole identity of illusion.
OBLIVION: the state of being completely forgotten. This word to me sounds so beautiful and picturesque, even though the meaning is so sad, yet there's something about sadness that can be portrayed so lovely that happiness cannot; like a fallen angel. For me,it connotates a feeling of love that's no longer there and also a naive person with amnesia who lives in bliss because they don't need to remember a painful past or the cruelty of life. Also it reminds me of Professor Lockhart in Harry Potter when he casts these memory charms on people.
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Oh, yeah sorry guys I should've have mentioned Adrian when I commented on demeanour, but I just figured that you would have read Adrian's post because it was posted before mine. I was just commenting on his comment.
I totally agree with William's connotation of slick. When I think of slick I think about the T-birds from Grease, especially the way they handle races like its nothing.
I found another word I'd like to contribute. Labyrinth- "an intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit", in other words a really big and complicated maze. To me, a labyrinth is much more than just a maze. It's much more beatiful and is a bigger accomplishment if someone can find their way out. Also, I find as though life can be a labyrinth in itself sometimes. It's easy to get lost in this crazy world of drugs, and alochol and can lead to a downward spiral, but if someone is able to get out of those addictions it is a major accomplishment.
-Nicole
Yeah i did write about demeanour people-stop trying to steal my props! hey-props-that's a word with a good (colloquial) connotative meaning.
Prop(s): denotation, a support or an object placed beneath or against a structure to keep it from falling or shaking. This word however (connotatively) means something close to respect and praise for someone's actions, words etc.-just like how Miss Clapp talked about giving "mad props" to some kids but they did not get it. Hey-mad.
Mad; insane or demented-but also relates as angry or outraged. In the case of Miss Clapp's phrase, it also colloquially meant 'a large amount' eg. 'mad clever' means someone is very clever or has a lot of smarts etc.
I like all the color connotations too, especially Thea's golden one. Try gray.
Gray;of a color between white and black-but it can also mean something dismal and gloomy in nature-so gray skies in a story are much more than just a dull color in the sky, they are usually foreboding of some impending doom.
Two more words (dont get tired of me yet AP(p)eople)
Exhume; to dig (something buried, esp. a dead body) out of the earth. okay,pretty obvious. But did you know it also means to restore or becoming interested in something again, especially if it has been neglected for a long time eg. those summer reading books that people borrow and bury in their bedrooms-only to exhume them a week before school starts (tsk tsk tsk). And finally...
Extricate;to free or release from entanglement with difficulty-like you would do to a fish caught in a net. This word also means to remove oneself from a difficult situation, such as one doing something wrong and evading the authorities-not getting into trouble in this case was how one extricated oneself from a difficult situation. Not that i've ever had to extricate myself from one of those.
Anyway-great posts everybody and keep up the AP spirit!!!!!
Oh and if anyone's interested on reading a short story i wrote-my blog is adriansgotoblog.blogspot.com Your opinions are highly appreciated (being the AP people that you are) yay AP!!!!!!
Kill: denotation- to deprive of life in any manner; cause the death of. When people hear kill they think of murder. the connotation of it is when people say "damn you killed that joke." What they really mean is you ruined the joke. Also, you might here your teachers or parents say "your killing time" which is your losing time. When you say "damnn thats a killer ride!" your meaning that that cars hot or nice! or when you say "I killed 7 hours before I had to go to work." your saying I wasted seven hours. HEYY!!! Wastedd is anotherr worddd!! Kill could also mean more than just murdering someone. Another denotation for Kill is a channel, creek, stream, or river. I was really suprised when I seen this deffintion under kill because I never knew that kill could be refered to as a river.
Wasted: denotation- to consume,spend,or employ uselessly or without adequate return. Wasted has alot of conotations as well. It could mean when someone gets wasted or drunk. Also, poop is another word for human waste. Waste has more then one denotation. It can mean to wear away. Or in slang terms could mean someone who got killed or murdered.
Snap: denotation- to make a sudden, sharp, distinct sound; crack, as a whip; crackle. I love this word! I can use it to fill in for a swear and by saying Oh snap!! or Oh snap a doodles! you can also refer to it as something that broke in half. example: "the twig snapped when Farrah stepped on it."
I agree with Thea with how this assignment helps us build up our vocabulary and learn more than one meaning. It helped me learn new words and find out some words mean something totally different then they sound.
I also figured out another word people use as a conotation; Salt.
Salt: Salt is a seasoning you would put on ur food. But people today also use it as Oh Saltedd!! meaning oh don't you feel dumb or stupid. People also refer to it as storing away or saving something.
The same with milk. Milk is a source of calcium for our bodies that most people drink everyday. But sometimes you might here someone say "stop milking it" like stop trying to avoid the subject or stop trying to force it.
To go back to the color thing, green means more than just the color of growing foliage, between yellow and blue in the spectrum. It also means someone who is not fully developed yet or not properly aged. Like children for example they are not properly aged. It also means someone full of lifee or being in a flourishing condition. I started to think about this when i started to read our Connotations in Literature handout Mrs. Clapp handed us for homework. So, as I was annotating it and seeing the word green pop up more than once in the poem I went to look up the word green and found out it means more than just a color. which I think is cool and has me start to think that maybe all colors have more than just one meaning.
also another word that has conotation is the word pop. the denotation is to make a quick explosive sound. Its also used as pop music. When you start to think about pop music the artist tend to sing fast and give you something to dance to. We also here pop being use in movies when the bad actors say "I'll pop a built in ur head." or the common one "I'm going to pop one in your a**." meaning that their pretty much going to shoot you.
Haha, Adrian I wasnt trying to steal your props on demeanour!! And, I completely agree with your connotation of props!!
And, to add on to the color green which someone said, I think it was Farrah. Someone can be said to be green with envy. Or if you have a green thumb it means you're a good gardener.
Nicole =)
Okay, so here are my words.
Flow-to move along in a stream
(and)to proceed continuously and smoothly.
The denotation i was thinking in this one is with music, or sound. When we use the word flow, we genrally mean it is smooth and connected. However there are some connotations, when someone "Isn't witht he flow" that person either doesn't understand what is going on around him or is not following it. Also when soemone has flow, y9u could be talking about how well they daynce, if they dance with a good flow, then they can easily follow the rythm and look very nce doing it. And finaaly if someone has a good flow, it can be concerning thier personality- saying that they are consitent in how they act, usually lin a good way, that they have a good flow wiht the crowd and can easly make friends.
My other word is:
Tight
drawn or stretched so as to be tense; taut.
To be literally tight, is to be taut, unable to move easliy. However often a contaion is to be stuck up, they can't just hang out or do nothing, they think highly of themselves and are really high strung. Also it is slang, tight today can mean that two people are really closeand that nothing can come between them.
finally:
Shady
abounding in shade; shaded
giving shade
I love the word shady. Just for what it implies. Which is really differnt from its denotation. When someone is shady its like thier mysterious but not in a good way. They have secrets taht would make you frown upon them or somehting. To be sahdy is really to be a big creep. No one knows anything about you and you're just always around. If you are a shady character(to go along iwth our color theme) you are a drak figure, usually boding mystery or confusion.
Wow! You all have some really great connotative words. I think Farrah’s and Nicole’s comments about green are right on point. It’s a word with rich connotation because one can associate it with many things (like foliage, a mix of blue and yellow, and envy as they said). However, when this word comes to my mind, I immediately think of money, because it’s green and because today, green is used in place of money (at least in slang terms anyway).
At the same time, money is a connotative word in itself (at least for me). Its denotation is any circulating medium of exchange. I associate it with a business trade (money for goods/services). It’s also suggestive of class and wealth. In this day and age, I associate money with food because money has a number of slang terms like green, paper, cheddar, cheese, cake, dough, and the list goes on. So now whenever I think of money, I’m inclined to think of food as well.
Some connotative words that resonate with me are:
Fierce: denotation – 1. menacingly wild, savage, or hostile 2. furiously eager or intense. I love this word because it evokes feelings of great strength, drive, and passion. It’s also a versatile word in the sense that it has both positive and negative connotations. Describing someone as a fierce competitor means they are tough to beat—similarly a fierce test is one that is very difficult. Describing love as fierce connotes that the passion and love the people share is unwaveringly strong. Being “fierce” in the modeling industry (as “America’s Next Top Model points out) means you have “it” and can succeed at being a model because of your dominant appearance/personality. This word also has animal-like implications since there are animals can be wild and violent, which is perhaps a negative connotation of fierce because when I think of a fierce animal, I think of death because a fierce animal could most likely kill you.
Perhaps because of this connotation, I often associate fierce with anger and rage and consequently with red and fire. In my opinion, Okonkwo (“Things Fall Apart) is a fierce character not only because he defeated the renowned Cat but also because he is a driven character full of rage and up for any challenge. He is also known as “The Roaring Flame,” reflecting his fierce angry nature.
Spring: denotation – The season of the year occurring between winter and summer. Aside from fresh flowers and rain, whenever I think of this word, I think of leaping into something new…starting out fresh. It makes me think of growth, revival, and new beginnings. In many instances, using this season in literature signifies that the character’s experience a change, growth…generally something positive and new.
Snake: denotation – limbless scaly elongate reptile. Although this word has several definitions, this is the one most readily think of when snake is mentioned. However, connotatively, it means a great deal more because of the (negative) characteristics associated with a snake. If a character is referred to as snake-like or having snake-like features, I immediately think this person is very clever, witty, and deceptive, able to “snake” their way out of any situation. Given this usage of the word, I always picture something very slippery slithering right threw one’s fingertips. Being a Harry Potter fan, I also associate this word with the Slytherin House and evil Lord Voldemort, confirming my thoughts of snakes’ deceptive and sly ways.
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Hello everyone! Looks like I have been missing out on a lot of connotation/denotation fun this weekend because I just logged into the site. :(
I like everyone's analysis of how certain colors and seasons have specific and significant connotations that are commonly used. I often use some of those words, such as "blue" and "spring" to portray a certain effect in the poems I write for fun so it was interesting to see the actual analysis of how the words are used.
I'll start off with one of my favorites…
WICKED: denotation-evil or morally bad in principle or practice; mischievous.
connotation- How many of us can admit to not having used this word at least once before in our vocabulary? Sometimes I use this word without even knowing I just included it in a sentence! In our daily speech, we often say "wicked" to emphasize the subject we are talking about. It most closely resembles "extremely" or "very" but is said to be a stronger word meaning "distressfully severe"; Regardless, I think the connotative definition and its weight is beginning to change because we use the word wicked often making its connotative meaning not as powerful as it was intended to be or how it was originally.
EMO: Some people are probably smirking as they read the fact that I'm using this "word" for this assignment. People joke about me being "emo" so I decided to analyze what it really meant. I found it interesting how this abbreviation is not in the dictionary especially because people use it as an actual word so I decided to see the contrasts between the denotation and connotation.
denotation-emotional. connotation- aha, I must say, I enjoyed finding out what people thought this word meant; it was quite humorous! Besides the witty comments I received, people used this abbreviation like a word. People often use it to define "overly emotional", "pessimistic", and "depressed" people. I sure hope I'm not these things. Interestingly enough, as I continued listening to how people use it, this word turned into a stereotype for people who listen to a particular type of rock, "wear lots of black and lots and lots of chains" as someone stated. It's remarkable how the denotation and connotation of this abbreviation do not really have anything to do with each other and the word was actually created by its usage by society.
OWNED: denotation: pertaining to having belonged to one's self; having possessed; admitted or acknowledged something. connotation: to completely defeat. It's quite hard to explain the connotation of this word. I thought it meant the equivalent to when people say, "Oh, I just pawned you!" It pretty much means to severely beat or crush someone at a particular game or event. This word is often used in the daily speech of some MHS students when referring to sports or grades.
CHICKEN: denotation: The bird with the biological name of Gallus domesticus, who breeds eggs. connotation: This word is often used when referring a cowardly person that does not want to do a particular thing. It is often used by younger people, usually middle schoolers, when someone wants another to do something but is reluctant.
Home, denotation: a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household.
Home is a simple, standard word, but I think its connotation adds more to its basic definition. It's more than just your house or where you live. Home brings up an idea of a place (whether a house, boat, or wherever) that is safe and comfortable, where you shouldn't feel pressure.
The same goes for the word, family (parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not). The denotation makes it sound like they're just people you're stuck with, which is true, to some extent, but it also connotes love and companionship. Family doesn't have to be who you're genetically connected to, but also who you're attached to emotionally, like friends.
Sterile, denotation clean. The passage from An Imagined World in the packet we had to read for homework got me thinking about this word, because it is used so much. Sterile is a word that is usually associated with hospitals and medicine. When something's sterile, it's not just clean. It is free of all dirt and bacteria. It has been boiled and disinfected to the inch of its life, so you don't want to touch it, or you'll get it dirty again.
The use of the word sterile adds some discomfort to the object it is being used to describe. The sterility of the offices of doctors and dentists unnerve people, which is kind of ironic, because you would think that if something's clean, you'd feel reassured.
I find it very interesting how we've come to associate so many different feelings/concepts with certain colors. In addition to what others have mentioned already, the colors of gold and red are symbols of good luck and wealth in the Chinese culture. Purple has come to signify royalty, since that's what European royal families would wear. And light blue has come to represent baby boys and light pink, baby girls. Colors can say a lot about what the author might think about a person or object in their text, and it says a lot in real life too. Not only is Malden symbolized by a tornado, but also a golden tornado. In translation, that makes us a pretty valuable force of nature.
Hey guys! Hope your weekend is going well even though it's almost over =[
Mess-
Denotation- 1)a portion or quantity of food. 2)Porridge. 3)Disorderly mass of things
Connotation- I've heard this word in a lot of different ways. In romance (not bodice-rippers, guys...like kings and knights lol) books that I've read, it usually means supper. Also, cafeteria is a synonym for mess hall and what do you suppose people do in mess halls? They eat their mess =]. I've also heard this word used to describe desks, lockers, and, of course-BEDROOMS! We've probably all been told by a mother or aunt that we had a messy room at some point in our lives, I heard it yesterday and had to clean all morning. (Have to love Saturdays!) Lately though, especially in music, mess can be used to describe a person. I've heard songs about people that are overemotional; they can't handle their emotions and especially when it comes to tears, crying seems messy.
Dusk-
Denotation 1) Dark in color. 2) Beginning of darkness in the evening; dim part of twilight.
Connotation First, the one I think Danielle will appreciate the most. Dusks, if memory serves me correctly, are a type of Nobody in Kingdom Hearts 2 (My favorite video game series =P). What's more, the best place to fight these Dusks to gain EXP is to go to TWILIGHT town in the game.
Second, you can describe a dark or shadowy color as being dusky. Take, for instance, the color of a leaf in the shade. The green is turned dusky by the lack of light and the shadows themselves can be described with the same word.
To pull out one of my own experiences, when I hear the word dusk, I think of summer when I was little. I always used to play outside, away from my house, with my two best friends until the streetlights came on at dusk. That was our signal to head back home. Therefore, dusk reminds me of friends, fun, adventure, and home.
Rock-
Denotation A large stone detached from the mass. Mineral matter variously composed, formed in masses or large quantities in the earth's crust by the action of heat, water, etc.
Connotation- 1) Music now has a large genre called Rock that can be broken down into things like alternative, emo, punk, hard, and soft rock.
2) You can "rock out" to music, dancing along and really getting into the beat. "Rocking out" to heavy or hard rock music most times involves head banging
3) Something can be explained as having "rocked." That usually means something was really cool or really good. I.E. Her dance performance rocked last night; she didn't make any mistakes.
4) You can "rock" a place to. I.e. That band rocked the house last night, everyone was singing along to the music and dancing wildly.
5) You can also rock a cradle to lull a small child to sleep. Remember the lullabye "rock-a-bye baby?"
6) With Halloween coming soon, too, everyone that likes it will probably be looking forward to Rock Candy. Personally, rock candy reminds me of apple picking because I always have a stick with me when my family and I go in the Fall.
So I really enjoyed reading everyones comments, I think you guys had really creative ideas. I never really noticed how colors could be so entrenched in our lives with connotative and denotative meanings but the way everyone explored the colors was really fascinating for me. I particularly liked the way adrian described gray and I couldnt agree with more on his ideas.
So back to connotation and denotation, it was really difficult for me to think of some up since the more obvious ones were already up (serves me right for procrastinating)...so the first word I thought of was excuse, denotation wise it means an explaination, which is accepted, but conotatively, its seen more negatively, by presenting it as a weak reason which seems to be used to just get by things.
the other word i thought up was adequate, denotation wise means good enough, but connotatively it means not very good. It sounds confusing so maybe an example would be of some aide. For example, if I were to ask a teacher about a university I was interested in such as Brown University, and I receive the comment " it's adequate", the first thought in my mind (if I did not know the background of the school) would have been, wow it doesn't seem to be good enough. It just presents a sense of unsureness, and inexperience.
Serenity also came to my mind, and denotation wise it means calm and tranquil, but connotatively (for me), I instantly think of nature, in todays world, it seems difficult in the hustle bustle of the city life to find a sense of peace, so when serentiy is used, I think of someone going away to the mountains to fulfill that desire.
Filthy – It means to be of the nature of or containing filth. To be Obscene or morally foul. And though most of the times it is used in that context, people occasionally use it to describe an abundance of wealth… to be filthy rich. They are actually opposites of each other, you’re hardly filthy or dirty when you are rich… I’m not actually sure how we came to use those two words together.
Gimmick – something new or ingenious, as a gadget, scheme or stunt. Gimmick, today, is more connotative of a cheap trick used in an advertisement to get more people to buy it. Such as adding a mirror to a bottle of suntan lotion to make it a little more special. Like a cheap trick.
Wicked (I know Dina already did it, but it’s one of my favorite conversational phrases…so I couldn’t help myself) – Evil; depraved. Especially around the Boston area, it means extremely, very… just another one of those words or it can also substitute in for cool, awesome, etc. It can be used as “that was wicked cool” or “that was wicked”.
Ok.. I was reading through the blogs and I agree/like all the color references. It reminded me of all the color references used by Fitzgerald in the Great Gatsby.
-Winnie
Winnie, I loved your choice of the word filthy because I too never understood how dirt and being rich related to each other (perhaps because it’s so disgusting how rich a person is...?)
In my last comment, I forgot to mention how much I liked Rei’s choice of the word jaded. I consider this a deceiving word because I generally think of it as a beautiful thing, since jades are beautiful jewelry. Hopefully now I’ll be able to remember the word as being sad through Rei’s definition of “tragic but in a beautiful way.”
I also liked Thea’s ideas about the word gangster. I didn’t realize it was such a connotative word until now. It has transitioned from a negative word to a more positive word—but only in the sense of the hip-hop generation. It’s true now that if someone calls you gangster it is meant to be a compliment, but I don’t think everybody would receive it as a compliment, outside of this generation.
Lauren’s choice of the word blue was also a good one because of its many connotations. It made me think of one of my favorite words:
Melancholy: denotation – (adj) causing sadness, mournful, depressed. Clearly, this is a sad word and for this reason, I always associate this word with blue because this color is used to express sad emotions throughout literature and it’s suggestive of gloominess. I also associate this word with rain and tears, because it’s suggestive of dreariness and pain. A perhaps uncommon association this word has for me is cholera, most likely because of “chol” in both words. This terrible disease killed many and in the process brought great sadness. This picture helps with remembering this word.
WOW!
Everyone's already posted so many...And personally my favorite is that Alisha referenced ANTM with "fierce."
But anyway...
The word "retarded" has come to be connotated as something very different and alot more negative than it's meaning. the word means "relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development," but is often used in other contexts. For example, people use it to describe a situation that doesn't benefit themselves, such as getting detention, or being grounded. It's also used to describe other people who may be acting differently than normally accepted.
Another word that has adopted a negative connotation is the word "fag." Tho word is listed as mostly a younger student attending a british school, who is forced to do menial chores for older students, a term used for frayed cloth, or as british slang for cigarettes. In our society today, it is often used as an offensive term for gay people. It's definition is harmless, and yet the way we see it, it is an insult.
I didn't realize how often we associate colors with emotions until I read it here. I think it's really interesting that things that are so simple can be used to describe things that are so complex, and it's something that everyone can identify to it.
I agree, colors are popular word choices here. I liked reading about the blue, which I also feel can have a joyous connotation since one could relate it to the pleasing blue sky and possibly hope.
Ravenous:
I love this word for its beastly connotative ness.
Denotation: Extremely hungry. There are, of course, various other ways in which to say that a person is extremely hungry, like 'starving', for instance. What I enjoy about this word is the fact that it connotatively implied a beastly, dark, and barbaric nature of hunger. Animalistic, if you will, conveying that the individual is possibly less human, as well.
Vagabond:
Denotation: A wanderer with no home or settlement. Centuries ago, and still presently I would assume, this word choice has a negative connotation. An individual of higher status in ancient times may have used this word as an insult to convey worthlessness to another. Considering there are so many other more positive ways to say 'homeless', like 'homeless', for instance. From Latin roots, this word may simply imply a 'strolling', carefree nature, however, as opposed to the other negative meaning. I have personally used this word in a sarcastic nature.
Steel:
Denotation: A hard, durable metal. What I love about the word 'steel' is that it often reminds me of silver, my favorite color. Steel conveys typically the impression of a metal, but in literary terms it is connotative of strength and courageous attributes. In an opposite context, however, it can be used to convey cold and distant feelings. Since steel is often associated with gray, it also has the connotative power to portray sadness.
Take, for example, an example of mine.
'A heart of steel'
It can either be interpreted as a powerful undying heart or a cold and fierce heart.
I have decided to find words that share the same denotation, but connote completely different meanings that sometimes even border on being opposite.
Smart: denotation- having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability
Clever: denotation-mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able
Connotations: Although these two words have the same literal definitions, they suggest completely different things. "Smart" has a very positive connotation. If someone is said to be smart, what is meant is that he or she is very intelligent, usually academically. However, if someone is said to be "clever", the academic aspect disappears and the word takes on a negative connotation. As the saying goes, "clever as a fox," clever usually suggests deceptive, manipulative, and sly.
ignorant: denotation-lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned
uninformed: denotation-lacking in knowledge
Connotations: Again, a large discrepency exists between the connotations of these two words that share a literal definition. The word "uninformed" suggests just what it means, a nuetral word that means lacking information. However, "ignorant" is a very negative word that suggests a deliberatly disregard of known information instead of merely not knowing.
I am very glad that Dina brought up the word "emo." This is one of those words that really baffles me sometimes. It has only connotations(very negative ones) and no real denotation, but has become so powerful in society. I find it very intriguing that this word, which was manufactured by taking 4 letters off the end of another word, can have such an impact on people when it is used to describe them. I am very interested to find out how this "word" was coined and how it's connotations developed.
On a final note, I have to mention the word "cherub." Although there is no discrepency between its denotation and connotation today, a large difference exists between what this word means today and what it did centuries ago. When one thinks of a "cherub" today, one thinks of a fat baby with wings. Pure innocence right? However, long ago, the same word did still mean angel, but it suggested something much more dark.
I also have to conclude another color to Jessicas explanation on how colors are symbolized with so many things. By the way I loved your explaination on all of them.
White: denotation: lacking color; transparent. Conotation: White also means something pure or innocent. In slang people use the word meaning someone who is decent or honorable. People also use it to refer to caucasions as white people. Caucasions aren't really white but people tend to place them in that one color catagory. for example: how people place African-Americans as Blacks or Asians as yellow. I tend to think of white as something fresh, blank, and clear.
I also want to include what casey said about the word "retarded". Some rappers use the word retarded to mean to get hyphy or crazy. The word hyphy is a style of music and dance primarily associated with the bay area hip hop culture.
I have to addmite I did stereotype the word "emo" because I only knew the meaning with what people told me it meant instead of trying to see its deeper meaning. I also have to conclude Michelle, I also loved the game Kingdom Hearts and I never really looked at the dusk that way before.
well the dayss going to be overrr in 10 minutess and then schooll :(
First, I'd like to comment on people's words otherwise I'll forget...*yeah I'm getting old...*
I liked Alisha's association of the word fierce with America's Next Top Model. That's how I think of fierce nowadays since I spend way too much time listening to what Tyra has to say. The word Blue, not the color, the actual word, in Portuguese means peaceful. Whenever Brazilians refer to feeling blue, they either feel great or they feel peaceful because they associate it with love and romance (weird? you bet!).
Now, on to my words.
"Lover" The dictionary refers to it as a person who is in love, or a sexual partner or paramour. When I think of the word lover, I think of it more in terms of a fan. Someone who has strong feelings towards either somebody or something. (Weird word choice, but I've been listening to a lot of Jeff Buckley and that word is in my favorite song by him.)
"Sucker" Dictionary version: 1. a person or thing that sucks. 2. a pipe or tube through which something is drawn or sucked. My version: Someone who lets others walk on them, they get easily cheated or deceived by others. It could also mean a person as in: He's one of those handsome, rich suckers girls go on about.
Another word is cold. There's the temperature aspect of it. However, one can also think of it as someone who is callous, apathetic, unloving and rude. It can also be used in that famous expression, "That was cold."
At last, one of my favorite words to use: Dude. Dictionary:
1. a man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming, and manners.
2. a person reared in a large city.
3. Western U.S. an urban Easterner who vacations on a ranch.
Whenever I think of the word "dude", I think of surfers, guys or I use it to call someone's attention. It is a great little word to use whenever you don't remember someone's name. It is also one of those words you would use whenever you need to use profenity but you can't...
That's all from me.
*Gabs
Well since everyone is doing color, I want to put in one too! Gray! A blend of black and white. It's an in between color. To me, when I think gray I think of lifeless. I think about when the skies are so gray after all the rain or even the rain clouds that start to form that symbolize it's staring soon. It's a color that is associated with things that are sad.
PRIDE: denotation -
1. a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.
2. the state or feeling of being proud.
3. a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.
4. pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride.
5. something that causes a person or persons to be proud: His art collection was the pride of the family.
6. the best of a group, class, society, etc.: This bull is the pride of the herd.
7. the most flourishing state or period: in the pride of adulthood.
8. mettle in a horse.
9. Literary. splendor, magnificence, or pomp.
10. a group of lions.
11. sexual desire, esp. in a female animal.
12. ornament or adornment.
I love this word. It's so abstract and complex. As you can see, it has many different meanings. For example, when I think of pride, I think of when people tell me that I "have too much pride" when I don't ask for help or when I'm too stubborn to admit when I'm wrong. I also remember in the Greek tragedy, Antigone when someone stated that "The only crime is pride". Pride can be a good thing and a bad thing and I'm interested to see how different people of different age groups interpret this word.
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