Word of the Week

receive (verb)

Meaning –to be given, presented with or paid

Example of using it in a sentence: "Have you received your homework package, yet?”

Synonyms: to be awarded, to have conferrer on one

It can also mean: suffer, experience, or to be subject to

Synonyms: to sustain, undergo, encounter, go thought, be subjected to

It can also mean: greet or welcome a visitor formally

Synonyms: usher in, admit, entertain

Spelling Tip – those of you have been with us for a while will have spotted that this is a Latin word with the prefix ‘re’ meaning ‘again’ and the root meaning ‘take’. In the past, castles, forts and houses had a main gate - then a door in to the main building, so you would “take the visitor through the door again” – you received them. The spelling problem comes from that random letter ‘i’. Lots of older people will tell you that that it is ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’. That rule is ok - apart from over 900 exceptions leaving lots of us struggling with the ‘ie’ or ‘ei’ combinations. I think of it as ‘e’ has come to visit, ‘i’ meets him and takes him through the door ‘v’ to the other side.

re + c + e + i + v + e

Use the word as many times throughout the week as you can. This can be verbally, in your written work or listen out for other people using it.