by Naomi L. | January 13, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: opulent
Pronunciation: AH-pyə-lənt
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
I like the word “opulent”, not just because of the way it sounds, but because it’s another example of a word that fits into a spectrum. Although there are several synonyms for “rich”, they all have slightly different definitions, and therefore fit better in different contexts. And of all these synonyms, “opulent” is one that I find most interesting.
“Opulent” refers to a lifestyle of luxury and lavish spending. The word is also a root in Latin meaning “wealthy” or “splendid”. This adjective possibly stems from the noun ops, which in plural form means “wealth”.
On the “wealthy” spectrum, “opulent” suggests a more pretentious display of riches. Therefore, if you choose to describe your characters or their actions as such, you’re likely giving them a negative connotation. That being said, I still think it sounds lovely and it’s a good word to know. Just remember that people can be wealthy without being too showy about it. Be sure to understand the difference before you accidentally cast your characters in a bad light!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | January 6, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: benediction
Pronunciation: be-ni-DIK-shən
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: the utterance or bestowing of a blessing
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
The last Word of the Week post of 2013 ended the year with a word meaning farewell. So to open my 2014 vocabulary posts, I’ve decided to write about a similar word with a positive definition. Here’s to starting off the year with blessings in our hearts!
A “benediction” is the bestowing of a blessing, especially (though not exclusively) in a religious context. Similar to the origin of last week’s word, this one comes from the Latin verb benedicere, meaning “to wish well”. The roots of this word have both been mentioned in this segment before: the adverb bene “well” (as in “benevolent“) and the verb dicere “to say” (as in “valediction“).
Notably, “benediction” can also refer to the state of being blessed, or a formal invocation of blessedness. Because of its religious connotation, this word would probably fit best in a formal context, though I’m sure it could also be used as a simple reference to well-wishing. In the spirit of new beginnings, here’s a heartfelt “benediction” for you, dear readers! May 2014 be a blessed year for you all!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | December 30, 2013 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: valediction
Pronunciation: va-lə-DIK-shən
Part of Speech: noun
Definition:
- the action of saying farewell
- a statement or address made at or as a farewell
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
This is an example of a word I learned by using a thesaurus, and I remember that I liked it as soon as I read it. I thought it had a nice ring to it, and I could certainly find a way to work it into my stories once in a while. Maybe the reason I like it is because I enjoy getting to think, “Oh, there’s a word for that!” I have fun learning words that sum up an act I would normally refer to using a whole phrase, for sometimes the fewer words we need to convey an idea, the better.
“Valediction” is the act of saying goodbye, or in more formal cases, an address of farewell. The word is comprised of two Latin roots: the verb vale “goodbye”, and the verb dicere “to say”. For an additional reference, the latter is also a root of the noun “benediction” (“the utterance of a blessing”), as the adverb bene means “well”.
I suppose I should have known about this word sooner, since I’ve long been familiar with the noun “valedictorian”. After all, it stands to reason that what they give at a graduation ceremony is a “valediction”, right? Still, I like to use this word in its more casual sense, referring to goodbyes exchanged between my characters. Of course, I think it works well in either context, so it’s really up to you to decide how you want to indicate the farewells in your stories. Now, in the spirit of the New Year, let’s all bid a hearty “valediction” to 2013!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | December 23, 2013 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: omniscient
Pronunciation: ahm-NI-shənt
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: knowing everything
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Last Monday’s Word of the Week post was about a word used to define things that are present everywhere. Continuing on the same line, today’s vocabulary word also refers to what encompasses everything. The difference is that this time, the “everything” in question is knowledge.
An “omniscient” person is someone who knows everything. The word itself is Latin and means “all-knowing” (probably stemming from omnisciens). Originating in the early 17th century, the adjective is made up of two roots: the adjective omnis “all” and the verb scire “to know”.
There are a couple of reasons I like the word “omniscient”. For one, I’m fascinated with knowledge, so any being with an infinite supply of it is one I’d be interested to read about. At the same time, “omniscient” is a significant word in the non-fiction aspect of writing, as it refers to a type of narrative voice where the narrator is fully aware of every detail in the story, and thus can relate the perspective of any character. It can refer to an all-seeing character or just a writing technique, but either way, “omniscient” is an important word for any writer to know!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | December 16, 2013 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: ubiquitous
Pronunciation: yoo-BI-kwə-təs
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: present, appearing, or found everywhere
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
“Ubiquitous” is one of those words that I would hear and see fairly often, but that I never really bothered to look up. Maybe I was forgetful, maybe I was just plain lazy. After recently reading it again, though, I decided I might as well learn more about it. Interestingly, I actually regretted not looking it up sooner, because it seemed like a good word that could have been… “ubiquitous” in my stories all along.
Anything that’s “ubiquitous” is omnipresent, that is, it appears everywhere. The word comes from the modern Latin adjective ubiquitas, which in turn originates from the Latin adverb ubique, meaning “everywhere” or “anywhere”. The root of this word is the adverb/conjunction ubi “where”.
Honestly, even if I didn’t bother to look up this word, I’ve always liked the sound of it. It has kind of an exotic feel to it, and I wouldn’t mind including it in some of my descriptions to indicate feelings, objects or even people that are present everywhere. So if you enjoy learning new words, I’m sure you’ll be able to use this one well. Curiosity over new vocabulary is “ubiquitous” among writers, is it not?
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
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