hyperbole

Arising from the Greek hyper (enlarge or increase) + bole (meaning to throw) this lovely word carries the meaning of intense, over-exaggeration.

Its synonyms include magnification, amplification and enlargement.

Notice that sight, sound and sensation are increased extensively to capture the exaggeration, hype and overstatement inherent in the word.

ballast - noun and verb

Here is another example of how words take on additional resonances while drawing on the central meaning of their origin. Notice the history in ‘ballast’ which is both a noun and a verb.

As a noun, this word refers to the dense, heavy material that stabilises a ship or similar seafaring vessel which is not carrying its cargo or a full load.

It is thought to have arisen from Old German (16 Century) via Old Danish or Old Swedish from bar (bare, mere) + last (load)

The word is used in building contexts where the crushed rock is used to stabilise road or rail foundations.

More recently, it is used in electronics as the name for the device that maintains current flow in a circuit.

It can be used as a verb where to ballast means to stabilise or give weight to an object.

gratuitous

A few months ago I came across this adjective in the international news pages of my local paper. It was used in the context of needless and wanton violence perpetrated by a state on its citizens.

In work contexts it can be applied to behaviours, actions and attitudes that are unjustified and unwarranted. 

If you are going to use gratuitous in this context, be able to back up your statements and observations with evidence.

perspicacity

In professional contexts this noun refers to the qualities of a person who has insight, acumen and discernment.

effete

As an adjective, this word can be applied to a person’s character or a person’s or object’s state of being.

In the context of character, effete means cowardly, weak-willed, wimpish or ineffectual.

In the context of a state of being, it means worn-out, spent or wasted. It can also refer to a sterile, barren, unproductive state.

nepotism

A favourite of some journalists, nepotism means just that – the favouritism shown to members of their family (or their friends) by people in positions of power and influence.

Historically, the use of the word can be traced to 17 Century Italian and the former papal practice of bestowing special favours to nephews and other relatives.

It arises from the Italian nepotismo derived from nepote meaning nephew.

transform

This verb means to change or be changed radically in form or function, as an object or process.

 The same verb can apply to people whose thoughts, deeds and emotions have been radically changed by themselves or others.

Use the word wisely, as it holds within it the concept of depth and breadth in change and the changes being made.