Word: modicum (noun)

Associations

The word "modicum" means a small amount of something, usually something good or desirable like respect, patience, or truth.

• She showed a modicum of kindness to the stranger. Here, "modicum" means a little kindness.
• If you had a modicum of common sense, you wouldn’t do that. This means a small amount of common sense.
• The recipe only needs a modicum of salt. This means a small quantity. "Modicum" often emphasizes that even a little bit is important or enough.

Synonym: "bit" or "smidgeon" can be similar, but "modicum" sounds more formal and is often used with abstract things like respect or patience, not physical objects.

Substitution

In place of "modicum," you could say:

• a little
• a small amount
• a touch
• a bit
• a trace Changing the word can make the sentence less formal or more casual. For example, "a little kindness" sounds less formal than "a modicum of kindness."

Deconstruction

"Modicum" comes from Latin "modicus," meaning "moderate" or "limited." The root "mod-" relates to measure or moderation. There is no prefix or suffix here, just the root turned into a noun in English. Knowing this, "modicum" relates to something measured or limited in size.

Inquiry

• Can you think of something good or important in your life where even a small amount (a modicum) makes a big difference?
• How would the meaning change if you replaced "modicum" with "lot" or "none"?
• Why do you think people use "modicum" instead of just saying "a little"? What feeling or tone does it add?