Today's word ranks not only as one of the most overused words in the English language, but it also boasts one of the longest dictionary entries! Except in casual conversation, I make every effort to avoid it in favor of one of its more accurate synonyms.
Get - is the broadest word of application meaning to come into possession of, with or without effort or volition (to get a headache)
obtain - implies effort or desire in the getting (to obtain supplies)
procure - implies forethought, planning and active effort in the getting (to procure salvation)
secure - implies difficulty in the getting and maintaining (to secure aid for the rebels)
acquire - implies a lengthy process in the getting (to acquire a subtantial vocabulary)
gain - implies effort in the getting of something advantageous or profitable (to gain interest)
You know the drill, people!
6 comments:
Okay, I can't resist this one.
What shall it gain a man if he should obtain the whole world, acquiring wealth and procuring status, and get fail to secure his own soul.
Is that the BMA version? I don't THINK so!! Love it, as always, Rhonda! Or should I start calling you Mee Maw?
Not BMA...TCLFPOCBV (Taking Creative Liberties for the Purpose of Commenting on a Blog Version)...although I should have spent a little time proofreading. ("and get (yet) fail to secure his own soul.")
Love your sentence, Mee Maw!
Lori,
Any creativity I had has departed. Hmm ...
In hopes of again procuring her creativity, the worn out mommy took a trip to the local bookstore where she obtained several resources to help her re-gain her ability to think and create.
Ok. It's still gone.
Couldn't think of one this week. But I would like to point out that "get" is one of the hardest words to teach to non-native English speakers. On the flipside, when a foreigner has mastered the usage of "get," he is decidedly fluent.
Jennifer, It's OK, darling. Precious few of us possess the ability to be creative and clever at all times. :-)
Alicia - fascinating bit of information. It actually makes sense that grasping the word "get" would be complicated, since it's applications are so broad. Interesting that "getting" "get" demonstrates mastery!
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