March One Word Link-Up

This month Lisa, of “LisaNotes” has given us a word study to do for our One Word. My word is “stretch” and as I read this month, I have found it often in the books I’ve read. It just jumps out when I read .

Here are some examples:

” That grin stretched … ” and “the silence between them stretched” (from Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan

“stretch your legs for a bit” from Keeping a Christmas Promise by J Thomas

“braced her hands on her back and stretched” from A Thousand Voices by Lisa Wingate

These lead into the first of the 3 topics:

Twins and Opposites

Let’s take a closer look at your One Word for any hidden jewels. Here are three suggestions to try.

1. DEFINE IT

Look up your word in the dictionary. Does it have more than one meaning? How many of its meanings are you using for your practice this year? Which meaning is most applicable to you?

As you can see from the examples I gave above, there are several meanings for stretch. From Merriam-Webster:

(I have highlighted the definitions I am focusing on)

transitive verb

1 : to extend (one’s limbs, one’s body, etc.) in a reclining position

2 : to reach out : EXTEND stretched out her arms

3 : to extend in length stretched his neck to see what was going on

4 : to fell with or as if with a blow

5 : to cause the limbs of (a person) to be pulled especially in torture

6 : to draw up (one’s body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position

7 : to pull taut canvas stretched on a frame

8 a : to enlarge or distend especially by force

b : to extend or expand as if by physical force stretch one’s mind with a good book

c : STRAIN stretched his already thin patience

9 : to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space) stretch a wire between two posts

10 a : to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper limits the rules can be stretched this once

b : to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function stretching a dollar

11 : to extend (a hit) to an extra base usually by fast or daring running stretch a single into a double

noun

1 a : an exercise of something (such as the understanding or the imagination) beyond ordinary or normal limits

their conclusion seemed like a bit of a stretch

b : an extension of the scope or application of something a stretch of language

2 the extent to which something may be stretched

3 a : the act of stretching : the state of being stretched a good stretch for legs

b : the position of a pitcher standing sideways to home plate so as to keep a runner close to a base

pitching from the stretch

4 a : an extent in length or area an open stretch of road

b : a continuous period of time can write for eight hours at a stretch

5 : a walk to relieve fatigue

6 : a term of imprisonment served a 10-year stretch

7 a : either of the straight sides of a racecourse especially : HOMESTRETCH

b : a final stage (as of a contest or season) won some crucial games down the stretch

8 : the capacity for being stretched : ELASTICITY a waistband with lots of stretch

9 : a stretch limousine

2. SAME AS

List some of your word’s synonyms. If you had to choose one of these as a backup word for this year, which would you choose? Why?

From the same dictionary, here are some synonyms:

Verb: colour elaborate embellish embroider exaggerate magnify pad

Noun: breadth distance expanse expansion extent field

Adjective: elastic bouncy flexible resilient rubberlike rubbery

I prefer the adjective meanings – resilient, elastic, flexible. My back-up word would have to be flexible though – to go with the flow, to bounce back, to become more flexible physically.

3. OPPOSITE OF

List some of your word’s antonyms. Seeing what your word does NOT mean might help you understand what it does mean. Any insights from its opposite?

Here are some antonyms from Thesaurus at the same site: :

Antonyms & Near Antonyms: minimize understate belittle play-down

cut shorten reduce curtail decrease diminish lessen loosen relax ease slacken

rigid stiff hard solid inelastic inflexible firm

I hate the idea of being inflexible or stiff. Although, at times my knees feel that way. I’d like them to be relaxed.

This has been an interesting exercise. When I chose “Stretch”, I didn’t realize just how many definitions there were. But, I still feel it is the best word for this year – gaining flexibility by stretching physically and improving my mind by stretching my reading and improving my writing and art skills. Still have a ways to go for both aspects of my word.