A Word With You
June 29th, 2009
re⋅ver⋅ber⋅ate
v. rɪˈvɜr bəˌreɪt;adj. [v. ri-vur-buh-reyt; adj. ri-vur-ber-it
adjective
–verb (used without object)
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1. |
to reecho or resound: Her singing reverberated through the house. |
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2. |
Physics. to be reflected many times, as sound waves from the walls of a confined space. |
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3. |
to rebound or recoil. |
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4. |
to be deflected, as flame in a reverberatory furnace. |
–verb (used with object)
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5. |
to echo back or reecho (sound). |
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6. |
to cast back or reflect (light, heat, etc.). |
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7. |
to subject to reflected heat, as in a reverberatory furnace. |
–adjective
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8. |
Origin:
1540–50; < L reverberātus (ptp. of reverberāre to strike back). See reverberant, -ate 1
We’ve arrived at the letter R. My, how the time flies. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s another of my favorite type of words, the “how the sound coincides with what it means” type. This one’s even better. Revvverrrberrrate. It comes with it own R’s ready to roll. But the question is, how often do you use a word like reverberate? Would you not as soon use a word like echo? Mores the pity. Use the lovely long words that convey what you really wish to say. Fight the urge to simplify, monosyllabize everything. Reverberate!
Grammar Punk Sentence: R E 4 :
With a lovely reverberating roar, the opera singer reacted volubly to the change in the night’s program: Disco Night, indeed!