Generate the answer for a given question. The question requires common knowledge of English. Make sure that the answer is in detail, long, consistent with the context, and requires general knowledge of English. To be less repetitive, please vary your language for each question. Give a proper explanation to answer, and if necessary, provide the definition of various terms. And conclude your answer if it's long. If you have used other resources (e.g., Merriam Webster's.) to answer the question, include citations in your answer. You don't need to paraphrase the context of your resources, but make sure that your answer is consistent and complete.
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Question: A few years ago I was told not to use that word because, in addition to its negative meaning, it comes from Latin denigratus, past participle of denigrare, which means to blacken. Therefore, 'to denigrate someone' would be 'to blacken that person'. Considering its current definition (see below) and the wish to be politically correct, I wonder whether the word has come to acquire any racist overtone. The reason why I'm asking is because I was reading 'Language Myths' a book by Laurie Bauer recently, and came across this passage which contained that word '...certain educational institutions denigrate the way certain ethnic minorities and lower-working-class children talk.' Then I remembered I was once told not to use 'denigrate' as it might be misinterpreted by some people. denigrate - from Merriam-Webster 1. to say very critical and often unfair things about (someone) 2. to attack the reputation of, to deny the importance or validity of, belittle EDIT (on Dec 17th, 2017) - This article, Dark Words Of Disapproval which Mari-Lou A mentions in one of the comments, shows very clearly the writer's feelings about this word, with very good arguments to bear him out. Then again, there are those who think otherwise. For one, Melvin B. Tolson, the character played by Denzel Washington in the 2007 feature film 'The Great Debaters', says the word has racist undertones. - Edit (on May 6th, 2020).

Answer: I don't see why this question has received such negative responses. I think it's a good question. 'Blacken' indeed has a trans-historical meaning associated with vilification or corruption, but this has nothing to do with the inherent qualities of black people, animals, or the vast majority of black things. Would you consider the term 'blacklist' racist? If not, then you shouldn't see 'denigrate' as racist. Anyone who does is being a little silly. If you're worried, you could always replace it with 'disparage.' EDIT: Another example is use of the term 'sinister' to mean 'wicked.' This word comes from Latin 'sinister,' meaning 'left' or 'on the left side.' Over time, the mythologized connection of the left hand to the false or unfavorable came to give 'sinister' an association with the unsavory. This does not mean that we cannot use 'sinister' to mean 'wicked,' or that doing so would impugn left-handed people.


Question: ... Fiction writers (eye roll) To be burned at the stake If we can't come up with a verb, perhaps a corresponding noun or adjective would suffice. 15th century historical fiction, so modern terms such as marshmallowed wouldn't really help. Here is my sample: You, the accused, have been found guilty of practicing Judaism as a Christian. This heresy against our Lord Savior carries the penalty of ____(noun). Or [C]onvicted of heresy, you are to be ____(verb).

Answer: There is immolate: to kill or destroy (someone or something) by fire You also have the noun immolation and the adjective immolated. Now the thing is it doesn't have to be at a stake. It could be, say, in a cage. The word has been around since the 15th century.


Question: I understand all the individual words in the following remark, but there doesn't seem to be any connection between the first half and the second. I am left wondering whether there is an English idiom that gives a double-meaning to part of it (perhaps 'picking my belly button'?), but if so it does not appear to be in any dictionary. I'm not Catholic, but I gave up picking my belly button for lint. Reference: The best God joke ever - and it's mine!.

Answer:
In Catholicism (and indeed many other branches of Christianity), the six weeks leading up to Easter are a time of contemplation and purification before the major festival. This period is known as Lent, and it is common to deny oneself something (say, sweets, chocolate, or playing computer games) as part of one's preparations (or at least it used to be these days there is a strong trend towards doing something positive such as doing something for charity). Thus in Catholic households, at a certain time of year, it's not uncommon to hear declarations such as 'I'm giving up [chocolates] for Lent'. The joke puns on the similarity in sound between Lent and lint, a word that can be used among other things to describe the fuzzy accumulation of clothes fibres that sometimes builds up in one's navel: he's saying he's giving up picking the lint out of his bellybutton, but in such a way that it sounds like he's giving up picking his bellybutton for Lent. For this he deserves an almighty thwack.


