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What is a word?
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I look words up in English dictionary when I found unfamiliar ones in books I read, in movies I watch.
I wouldn't prefer to use dictionary that translate English into Japanese.
Using English dictionary gives me a lot of opportunity to find out other new words not only for the word meaning I'm looking for.
But often it makes me more confusing.
I'm copying how dictionary tells me the meaning of a word.
It was written like this: to try to get people to support or oppose something
Can you guess what the word is?
I don't get it at all by this explanation.
I think the words "support" and "oppose" are antonyms, aren't they?
I wouldn't prefer to use dictionary that translate English into Japanese.
Using English dictionary gives me a lot of opportunity to find out other new words not only for the word meaning I'm looking for.
But often it makes me more confusing.
I'm copying how dictionary tells me the meaning of a word.
It was written like this: to try to get people to support or oppose something
Can you guess what the word is?
I don't get it at all by this explanation.
I think the words "support" and "oppose" are antonyms, aren't they?
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But often it makes me more confused.
As for "support" and "oppose," yes, they are antonyms. "Support" means that the person thinks the idea is a good one. "Oppose" means that the person thinks that the idea is a bad one.
The word still making me confused is "agitate."
Do you use this word often?
By the definition it gives you, it means to stir up or excite. Emotions could go either way--for something or against something, as long as people are up and active about their opinion.
I look words up in an English dictionary when I found unfamiliar ones in books I read or in movies I watch.
I wouldn't prefer to use a dictionary that translates English into Japanese.
Using an English dictionary gives me a lot of opportunities to find out other new words not only for the word meaning I'm looking for.
But often it makes me more confused.
I teach students how to avoid these common mistakes.
http://jakuten.wordpress.com/ (Learn to speak English naturally online)
I will check your site. It looks interesting :)
I look up words in an English (to English) dictionary when I find unfamiliar ones in books I read, and in movies I watch.
I prefer that over (using) an English to Japanese dictionary. [Alternative: I (would) prefer not to use a dictionary that translates English into Japanese.]
The word "not" needs to modify the verb "to use", not the verb "prefer". The verb "would" is unnecessary.
Using an English to English dictionary gives me a lot of opportunities to learn other new words in addition to the word I'm looking for the meaning of. [Alternative: When I look up the meaning of a word using an English only dictionary, I learn other words at the same time.]
I'm copying the definition a dictionary gave/told me for a word.
It was this: "to try to get people to support or oppose something."
Can you guess what the word is?
I can guess several words which it could be; one is "lobby". One can lobby for or against something. Lobbying for something means to try to get people to support it. Lobbying against it means to try to get people to oppose it.
I think the words "support" and "oppose" are antonyms, aren't they?
Yes. Did my example of using "lobby" with the prepositions "for" and "against" explain how the same word could have both meanings?
The word is "agitate."
I thought "lobby" is a part of building near the entrance :)
In general, to agitate means to stir things up, to cause conflict, to provoke someone else to take action about something.
In the political context, one can agitate for or against something. This means trying to get a lot of other people to feel strongly about something in the same direction that one feels about it. One can agitate against nuclear energy, for example, or agitate for equal rights for women.
You are right about the meaning of "lobby" when it is used as a noun. When it is used as a verb, it means to apply political pressure (usually to get a law passed or withdrawn). As a result, it can also be used as a noun for a group of people engaged in the act of lobbying for or against something.
This is why I'm confused. I'm studying with a text book which supposed to help building up vocabulary for TOEFL exam. "Agitate" was in that book.
It was this:
"agitate v. to shake or move; to cause worry syn. disturb"
I can't get it why "agitate" and "disturb" are synonyms.
When we say that a person is agitated or disturbed, that suggests both 乱れた and 困っている. There can be a suggestion of イライラしている or 動転している. The two are very close in meaning.
I'm very agitated why my dictionaries don't have good definition of "agitate."
What is a word? [Probably this title should be "What is the word?", since I think you mean the specific word for which you gave a dictionary definition.]
Your explain make sense to me!
I need to keep working with "the" and "a" more!