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Contraposition Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
invidious
We were in the invidious position of having to choose whether to break the law or risk lives.
It would be invidious to single out any one person to thank.
What does 'invidious' exactly mean here?
It would be invidious to single out any one person to thank.
What does 'invidious' exactly mean here?
Top answer
"Insidious" means "arousing resentment", or "likely to arouse resentment"; but it's sometimes used just to mean "unpleasant". In your examples, both meanings make sense. It would be unpleasant to have to choose (whether to break the law or risk lives, or whom to single out to thank); but more importantly, any such choice is likely to arouse resentment from somebody.
- "Insidious" means "arousing resentment", or "likely to arouse resentment"; but it's sometimes used just to mean "unpleasant".
- In your examples, both meanings make sense.
- It would be unpleasant to have to choose (whether to break the law or risk lives, or whom to single out to thank); but more importantly, any such choice is likely to arouse resentment from somebody.
- Breaking the law might cause someone to resent you, but so might risking someone's life.
- Singling out one person to thank could definitely cause others to resent you.
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2 Answers
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"Insidious" means "arousing resentment", or "likely to arouse resentment"; but it's sometimes used just to mean "unpleasant".
In your examples, both meanings make sense. It would be unpleasant to have to choose (whether to break the law or risk lives, or whom to single out to thank); but more importantly, any such choice is likely to arouse resentment from somebody. Brea
In your examples, both meanings make sense. It would be unpleasant to have to choose (whether to break the law or risk lives, or whom to single out to thank); but more importantly, any such choice is likely to arouse resentment from somebody. Brea
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My apologies to all. The very first word of my last post should, of course, have been "invidious". The word "insidious" actually means something a little different. This was just a typo.
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