Word: placid (adjective)

Associations

The word "placid" describes something or someone calm, peaceful, and not easily upset or excited.

• A placid lake. This means the lake is very calm, with smooth water and no waves.
• A placid person. This means the person is calm and doesn't get angry or nervous easily.
• A placid day. This means the day is quiet and peaceful, without problems or noise.

Synonym: "calm"

• "Placid" often describes natural scenes or people in a gentle, peaceful way.
• "Calm" is more general and can describe emotions, weather, or situations.
• Important difference: "placid" usually suggests a deep, steady peace, while "calm" can be temporary or less deep.

Substitution

You can replace "placid" with:

• calm (less poetic, more common)
• peaceful (focuses on the absence of disturbance)
• serene (more formal, suggests beauty and calm)
• tranquil (similar to placid, often used for nature)

Example changes:

• "A placid lake" → "A calm lake" or "A tranquil lake"
• "A placid person" → "A calm person" or "A serene person"

Deconstruction

"Placid" comes from Latin "placidus," meaning "gentle" or "quiet."

• Root: "plac-" means calm or please.
• Suffix: "-id" is used to form adjectives. So, "placid" literally means "full of calm" or "peaceful."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a place you have visited that was placid? How did it feel?
• How is being placid different from being bored or uninterested?
• Can a situation be placid even if people are busy? Why or why not?