Checkered: A Life of Ups and Downs
Explore the dual meanings of the word ‘checkered’ – from its visual pattern to its metaphorical use in describing a life or career marked by both success and adversity. Learn how to use this versatile word effectively on the GRE.
Imagine a race car zooming past a waving checkered flag. Now picture a person’s life full of ups and downs.
Both of these images relate to our word of the day: checkered.
Word type: Adjective. Pronounced as CHECK-erd.
Meaning: Checkered has two primary meanings. First, it describes a pattern of alternating squares, typically of different colors, like a chessboard.
Second, and more relevant for the GRE, it means marked by alternating fortunate and unfortunate circumstances or characterized by many changes.
Word history: The term checkered comes from the Middle English word cheker, which referred to a chessboard.
This, in turn, came from the Old French eschequier, meaning chessboard. The metaphorical use of checkered to describe a life or career with many ups and downs began in the eighteenth century.
Antonyms: Some antonyms for checkered include consistent, stable, uniform, and unvarying.
Synonyms: Synonyms for checkered in its figurative sense include varied, eventful, turbulent, and unpredictable.
Examples use in sentences: The company had a checkered history, with periods of great success followed by near-bankruptcy.
Despite his checkered past, he managed to turn his life around and become a respected member of the community.
The negotiations had a checkered progress, with breakthroughs and setbacks occurring in equal measure.
Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing checkered with chequered. While both spellings are correct, checkered is more common in American English, while chequered is preferred in British English.
Another error is using checkered only in its literal sense of a pattern, overlooking its figurative meaning which is more likely to appear in GRE contexts.
To sum up, checkered is a versatile word that can describe both a visual pattern and a life or career full of ups and downs.
Its rich history and dual meanings make it a valuable addition to your GRE vocabulary. Remember, just as a checkered flag signals the end of a race, mastering words like checkered can signal the completion of your vocabulary journey.
