Belaboring: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word 'belabor' comes from the Latin word 'laborare,' meaning 'to work.'
• In the early 1600s, 'belabor' was used to describe the act of hitting hard, but it evolved to mean excessive discussion.
• The prefix 'be-' often intensifies the meaning of words, indicating doing something thoroughly or excessively.

Communication Styles

• In debates, belaboring a point can often lead to losing the audience’s interest.
• Effective communicators usually avoid belaboring to keep discussions engaging and concise.
• People often belabor topics when they're unsure about clarity, leading to confusion rather than understanding.

Literature

• In literature, an author may belabor a theme to emphasize a point, but overdoing it can deter readers.
• Belaboring often appears in satire, where exaggerated explanations highlight flaws in reasoning.
• Classic novels sometimes use characters who belabor ideas to showcase their personality traits, like stubbornness or lack of insight.

Psychology

• Some psychologists suggest that people who belabor points may struggle with anxiety about being misunderstood.
• Cognitive overload occurs when too much detail is provided, causing difficulty in grasping the main idea.
• The Dunning-Kruger effect may lead some individuals to belabor points they don't fully understand, believing they are clearer than they are.

Ranking #37,450, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

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