Word: encomium (noun)

Associations

"Encomium" means a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something very much.

• Example 1: At the award ceremony, the speaker gave an encomium to the scientist for her discoveries. This means the speaker praised the scientist highly.
• Example 2: The book starts with an encomium to the author's teacher, showing respect and admiration.
• Example 3: The politician's speech was an encomium to his country's achievements. A well-known synonym is "eulogy," which usually refers to praise given at funerals, while "encomium" can be used more generally for praise in many situations.

Substitution

You can replace "encomium" with:

• praise (more common and simple)
• tribute (often formal and respectful)
• eulogy (mostly at funerals)
• panegyric (very formal and literary) Using "praise" makes the sentence simpler, but "encomium" sounds more formal and literary.

Deconstruction

The word "encomium" comes from Greek "enkōmion," meaning a song of praise.

• "en-" means "in"
• "komos" means "revel" or "merry-making" Originally, it referred to a song sung at celebrations to praise someone.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a person or event you would give an encomium to?
• How is an encomium different from simple compliments you give daily?
• Have you ever heard a speech or read a text that sounded like an encomium? What made it special?