by Naomi L. | August 11, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: paean
Pronunciation: PEE-ən
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a song of praise or triumph
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
I recently discovered this word on YouTube when I happened upon a video of a VOCALOID song titled “Eternal Paean” (translated from its Japanese title 悠久賛歌 “Yūkyū Sanka”). Curious to know what exactly a “paean” was, I did a quick search for its dictionary entry, and when I learned what the word meant, I realized how fitting it was for a song in which Kaito and Meiko sing about the beauty and splendors of nature. After all, is there anything on this Earth that deserves more praise?
A “paean” is a song that demonstrates triumph or praise. This Latin derivative originated from the Greek noun paian, meaning “hymn of thanksgiving to Apollo” (the Greek god of the sun, knowledge and various arts). This noun evidently comes from the name Paion (or one of its alternative spellings), who, according to Greek mythology, was the physician of the gods.
Note that a “paean” doesn’t necessarily have to be a song. Another use for the word is to indicate a creative work that expresses enthusiastic praise, such as books that can be considered “paeans” to knowledge. Since I myself only recently learned about this word, I have yet to find a good place for it in my own stories, but if you feel it fits the tone of your writing, feel free to get as creative with it as you like. Your stories may just come across as “paeans” to artistic language!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | August 4, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: verbatim
Pronunciation: vər-BAY-təm
Part of Speech: adjective; adverb
Definition: in exactly the same words as were used originally
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
I must give credit to Beth Teliho of Writer B is Me for reminding me to add this word to my list (even if she didn’t realize it). This is a word with which everyone who writes frequently should be familiar. Some writers often quote the sayings of others word for word, and when they do, they sometimes need to make it clear that said quote is not their own. Fortunately, there’s a word that fits that very need.
To cite a quote “verbatim” is to use exactly the same words as in the original. Likewise, a “verbatim” citation is a word-for-word passage. The word arose in the late 15th century and is rooted in the Latin noun verbum, meaning “word”.
While I rarely read the word in fiction, I have seen “verbatim” come up quite a few times in technical writing. Its Latin origin seems to make it a great word for academic composition, so you may want to consider that if you choose to work it into your stories. Whether you use it as a technical term for citation or a dialogue indicator of a particular character’s intelligence, “verbatim” is indispensable to any prolific writer’s vocabulary!
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by Naomi L. | July 28, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: acerbic
Pronunciation: ə-SƏR-bik
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Today’s vocabulary word is another one pulled from the flashcard pile, but that’s the most common place I’ve ever seen it. Truth be told, I can’t actually recall reading the word “acerbic” in a story before (not that I don’t believe I have, but if I ever did, it’s been a long time since). However, I did see it come up several times while studying vocabulary, and since I found it interesting, I decided it was worth adding it to the list.
“Acerbic” speech is that which is straightforward, presumably to the point of being bitter and harsh. In its archaic or technical sense, “acerbic” indicates a sour or bitter taste. The word supposedly arose in the mid 19th century and comes from the Latin adjective acerbus, meaning “sour-tasting”.
Though I’m still unfamiliar with the word in fiction, I have seen various dictionary examples of “acerbic” being used to describe a particularly sharp manner such as wit or attitude. I’ve also seen it used once as an adjective to directly describe a person, though I can’t yet be sure this is correct. Given that its definition regarding sour taste is considered archaic, you’re most likely to encounter it in its more abstract sense. Keep the word “acerbic” in mind if you like to write characters with brutally sharp wits!
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by Naomi L. | July 21, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: lackadaisical
Pronunciation: la-kə-DAY-zi-kəl
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Today’s Word of the Week was suggested by my best friend, who used to work with someone who said it all the time. Apparently he’s a big fan of amusing words, and “lackadaisical” certainly fits into that group. I mean, come on, it has the word “daisy” in it! “Lacka-daisy-cal”! Try and tell me that’s not just a little funny. But what’s even funnier is how well it seems to match its definition.
Describing someone or something as “lackadaisical” indicates a lack of determination and enthusiasm. The word is derived from the archaic interjection “lackaday” or “lackadaisy”, alternative forms of the exclamation “alack-a-day” (“an expression of regret or dismay”). This expression contains the root noun/verb “lack” (“the state of being without or not having enough of something”), which possibly stems from the Dutch and German noun lak “deficiency”.
Speaking as someone who has never used the word “lackadaisical” before, I would probably try to work it into a context where I wanted laziness to come across as something funny. It seems like a word that would fit perfectly in humorous writing, so it’s definitely one I’d keep in mind for comedy. If you enjoy writing silly stories about lazy characters, “lackadaisical” is the perfect word for you!
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by Naomi L. | July 14, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: extrapolate
Pronunciation: ik-STRA-pə-layt
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
I’m going with a more scientific word this week. Though I rarely see it in fiction, the word “extrapolate” does come up in a lot of the academic papers I read. It’s a verb that defines a practice many scientists adopt: to draw conclusions about unknown situations based on data previously collected from similar scenarios. Think of it as a fancy word for “guesstimate”. It may not sound very scientific when you put it like that, but it’s immensely helpful when constructing theories, and you’d be surprised how often we rely on this method to make sense of the world around us.
To “extrapolate” information is to extend it to theoretical scenarios in order to estimate potential results, based on the assumption that the same methods will continue to be applicable in similar situations. The word is a combination of the Latin preposition extra “outside” and a shortened form of the verb “interpolate” (“insert between fixed points”). The latter word contains the root verb polire, which means “to polish”.
You’d probably get the most use out of “extrapolate” if you write a lot of scientific language; in mathematics, for instance, it indicates the extension of data by inferring unknown values from existing trends. In fiction, it may work as a partial synonym for “estimate”, though this would likely still depend heavily on context. I don’t recall reading the latter use very often, but it’s your call whether “extrapolate” can work as a suitable verb in your stories. You may never use it for your own writing, but at least now you’ll know what it means if you ever happen to read a scientific article!
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