As an author, I have an obsession with words. It's bad...
Not just any words though, but the ones that make you stop and think about them for a second. The ones that paint an entire scene or emotion in a single beat. Some describe feelings we all know but have never been able to name properly and others capture sounds or moments so perfectly that they almost feel magical.
Here are some of my favourite words and what they mean:
Apricity—(noun) The warmth of the sun on a cold winter's day.
Petrichor—(noun) The pleasant earthy smell that follows rain after a long dry period.
Psithurism—(noun) The whispering sound of wind moving through leaves.
Zephyr—(noun) A gentle, mild breeze.
Crepuscular—(adjective) Relating to twilight or dusk.
Noctilucent—(adjective) Shining or glowing during the night.
Lambent—(adjective) Softly glowing, flickering or radiant.
Nebulous—(adjective) Hazy, cloudy or difficult to define.
Caliginous—(adjective) Dark, misty, obscure or filled with gloom.
Somnolent—(adjective) Sleepy, drowsy, or having a quiet and sleepy atmosphere.
Phantasm—(noun) A ghostly illusion or apparition.
Tenebrous—(adjective) Dark, shadowy or obscure.
Macabre—(adjective) Disturbing because of death or violence.
Miasma—(noun) A poisonous atmosphere or oppressive influence.
Saudade—(noun) A deep emotional longing for someone or something absent.
Dolor—(noun) Sorrow or profound grief
Taciturn—(adjective) Reserved and speaking very little.
Stoic—(adjective) Enduring hardship without complaint.
Morose—(adjective) Gloomy, withdrawn and often bad-tempered.
Mercurial—(adjective) Quickly changing moods or behaviour.
Mellifluous—(adjective) Pleasingly smooth and musical, especially in speech.
Perspicacious—(adjective) Having remarkable insight or understanding.
Phlegmatic—(adjective) Calm, composed, and not easily excited.
Words are more than definitions. They create atmosphere and evoke emotions that ordinary vocabulary sometimes cannot. Whether you're a reader, a writer or simply someone who loves language, I hope you've discovered a few new favourites.
Now I'd love to know—which of these words do you like the most?