Conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza recently used the word “jejune” on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” Host Laura Ingraham laughingly commented, “This is the first time, Dinesh, someone has used the word jejune on the show and I just want to say good on you for using the word.”
D’Souza used the adjective in relation to the type of censorship of democratic debate that goes on through social media. D’Souza mentioned that the actor James Woods tweeted a quote by Emerson that basically said “if you strike at the king, you’d better kill the king.”
The idea is metaphorical, that is, if you attempt a palace coup against the leader of the free world you should expect some incrimination. D’Souza said he could imagine some censors thinking that this was advocating violence. “This is the level of jejune censors.”
1. jejune (juh-JUNE)
A. powerful
B. humiliating
C. insignificant, dull
D. pragmatic
2. contradistinction (con-truh-di-STINC-shun)
A. a parody
B. a theatrical onstage movement
C. when something is distinguished by contrast
D. None of the above
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3. promulgate PROM-ul-gate)
A. to conceal
B. to make known by openly declaring
C. to close, as a gate
D. to soften
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4. rodomontade (ROD-uh-mon-TADE)
A. boastful speech
B. decorative
C. specious
D. practical
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No. 1, jejune, is C. If you’re bored and looking for something really exciting, then jejune things aren’t what you need.
No. 2, contradistinction, is C. My good friend, Russell Hood of The Webster Progress-Times suggested this word for Vaughan’s Vocabulary. Cambridge Dictionary says that the noun contradistinction means the difference between two or more things that is made clear by comparing them.
No. 3, promulgate, is B. By the way, promulgate can also be pronounced “pruh-MULL-gate.”
No. 4, rodomontade, is A. John told his friends that he’s agrown tired of Fred’s rodomontade about being the best class president the school has ever had.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Don Rodney Vaughan is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church near Eupora and is on the faculty of East Mississippi Community College, Golden Triangle Campus. Contact him at dvaughan@eastms.edu.
