Word: brushed

Associations

"Brushed" is the past tense of the verb "brush," which means to touch or apply a quick, light movement. It can relate to cleaning, grooming, or even indicating a light contact with something.

• Example 1: "She brushed her hair before leaving the house." (Here, it means she used a brush on her hair to tidy it up.)
• Example 2: "He brushed the crumbs off the table." (In this case, it refers to removing small particles from the surface.)
• Example 3: "I brushed against the door as I walked by." (This means he lightly touched the door while moving.)

A well-known synonym for "brushed" is "swept," but the important difference is that "swept" often implies a more forceful or thorough action, while "brushed" is usually light and delicate.

Substitution

Depending on the context, alternative words or phrases for "brushed" could include:

• "combed" when talking about hair,
• "swept" when referring to cleaning,
• "touched" when indicating contact with something.

Each substitution might change the meaning slightly, such as "swept" involving more force than "brushed."

Deconstruction

The word "brushed" has the root "brush," which comes from the Old French word "brosse," meaning a tool with bristles for cleaning or grooming. The suffix "-ed" is used to indicate the past tense of a verb, showing that the action has already been completed.

Inquiry

Think about the word "brushed":

• Can you recall a time when you brushed something? What was it, and why did you do it?
• How do you feel when someone brushes against you? Does it feel different compared to when someone pushes you?
• In what other ways can you use "brushed"? Can you think of other contexts where this word might be applicable?