Word: nettle (noun, verb)

Associations

• As a noun, "nettle" is a type of plant with tiny hairs that can sting your skin if you touch it.
• As a verb, "to nettle" means to annoy or irritate someone.
• Examples as a noun:
  • "Be careful when walking in the garden; there are nettles near the fence." (The plant is there and can sting.)
  • "Nettles can be used to make tea." (Talking about the plant’s use.)
• Examples as a verb:
  • "His rude comments nettled her during the meeting." (He annoyed her.)
  • "She was nettled by the unfair decision." (She felt irritated.)
  • "The constant noise nettled the students." (The noise caused irritation.)
• Synonym for the verb "nettle" is "annoy." The difference is that "nettle" often suggests a sharp, sudden irritation, like a sting, while "annoy" is more general and can be mild or ongoing.

Substitution

• Instead of "nettle" (verb), you can use: annoy, irritate, vex, bother.
  • "His behavior annoyed her." (Less sharp than nettle.)
  • "The delay irritated the passengers." (Similar feeling.)
• As a noun, "nettle" is specific (the plant), so no exact substitution, but you can say "stinging plant" for explanation.

Deconstruction

• The word "nettle" comes from Old English "netele," related to German "Nessel."
• The noun refers to the plant known for its stinging hairs.
• The verb form comes from the idea of being stung or pricked, so it means to cause a sharp irritation, like the plant does.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone or something nettled you? How did you react?
• How is being "nettled" different from just being "a little annoyed"?
• Have you ever touched a nettle plant? What happened? How does that physical feeling relate to the meaning of the verb "to nettle"?