Word that should be used less: empower
- To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority.
- To equip or supply with an ability; enable: “Computers … empower students to become intellectual explorers”
Under appreciated word: encourage
- To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence; hearten.
- To give support to; foster: policies designed to encourage private investment.
- To stimulate; spur: burning the field to encourage new plant growth.
[Middle English encouragen, from Old French encoragier : en-, causative pref.;+ courage from Latin cor, heart.]
What words would you like to see less of and what words do you think are under appreciated?
1 Comment
January 12, 2008 at 9:54 pm
[...] out on this tightrope is due in large measure to an invisible net of incredible people who have enCOURAGEd me over the years, who lent me their courage until I found my own: my friend BJ, who was the first [...]