by Naomi L. | October 12, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: harbinger
Pronunciation: HAR-bən-jər
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Yet another word pulled from the list of 100 most beautiful words in English, “harbinger” is a word I’ve read quite a few times in various forms of fiction. I tend to see it most commonly in fantasy fiction, where it often refers to a literal messenger warning of the approach of a powerful figure. Whether the arrival of said figure is good or bad news varies depending on the story, but either way, the presence of a harbinger is usually a sign of imminent serious business!
A “harbinger” is someone or something that signals or announces the approach of someone or something else. The word can be traced back through French from the noun herbergere to the verb herbergier, which means “to provide lodging for”. This verb stems from the noun herberge “lodging”, which comes from the Old Saxon noun heriberga, meaning “shelter for an army”.
As you can probably deduce from its etymology, there’s a history behind the word “harbinger”: it used to refer to a person who provided lodging and later to a person who ventured ahead to find lodgings for an approaching army. “Harbinger” is related to the word “harbor” in origin, and a sub-definition of the word is “a forerunner of something”. A “harbinger” doesn’t have to be concrete, but the ominous beings in fiction who seem to foretell the coming of such powerful figures as Death, Justice, and Doom have always been my favorite examples. If you like to warn your characters (and your audience) of major events about to unfold in your stories, you may have room for a “harbinger” or two in your fiction! Good luck!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | October 5, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: demure
Pronunciation: di-MYUR
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: reserved, modest, and shy
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Here’s another word pulled from the list of 100 most beautiful words in English. This one’s a little closer to home, since I could easily use it to describe myself. Anyone who knows me in person can testify to the fact that I’m extremely shy and reserved, so if you’re like me (or know a woman like me), then “demure” is a good word for you to know too!
A “demure” woman is modest and reserved in her behavior. The word arose in late Middle English in the sense “sober” or “serious”, and can be traced back to the Old French adjective meur, meaning “mature”. This adjective stems from the Latin adjective maturus, which means “mature” or “ripe”.
It’s worth noting that “demure” can also be used to describe clothing that lends a modest appearance to its wearer. Despite having the same etymological origin, it shouldn’t be confused with the verb “demur”, which means “raise doubts or objections or show reluctance”. According to Oxford Dictionaries, “demure” refers to the behavior of a woman, though I suppose it’s up to a writer’s discretion whether or not to use it as a gender-neutral adjective. If you draw inspiration from people who are modest and shy, you may have some “demure” characters in your stories!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | September 28, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: eloquence
Pronunciation: E-lə-kwəns
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: fluent or persuasive speaking or writing
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Today’s Word of the Week is featured thanks to my mother, who recently sent me a list of the 100 most beautiful words in English. There were plenty of excellent words to choose from, some of which will appear later in this segment, but I chose “eloquence” first because: (a) it’s one of my favorite writing-related words; and (b) it’s fitting of the woman who showed me the list. My mother has always had a way of charming people with her words!
“Eloquence” refers to a person’s ability to speak or write in a fluent and/or persuasive manner. The word arose in late Middle English and comes from the Latin noun eloquentia, which in turn is derived from the verb eloqui, meaning “to speak out”. This verb is composed of the preposition ex “out” and the verb loqui “to speak”.
Truth be told, I’ve always loved the word “eloquence”, so when I saw it had made the list of most beautiful English words, I had to jump at the chance to feature it in my vocabulary segment. I see it as one of those words that apply equally to fiction and to real life, for to be “eloquent” is a goal that every writer should strive to achieve. Being able to captivate your audience using only your words is key to your success as a writer. Whether it’s a description of the skill your characters have to persuade their peers or a reminder of the standard to which you should hold your stories, “eloquence” is an excellent word to keep on your vocabulary list! Good luck!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | September 21, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: hyperbole
Pronunciation: hy-PƏR-bə-lee
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that today’s Word of the Week made it into my vocabulary list because I only recently discovered that I had been pronouncing it wrong since the first time I read it. Yes, for the longest time, I assumed this word was pronounced exactly the way it’s spelled: “HY-pər-bohl”. It wasn’t until after I downloaded the Elevate – Brain Training app to my iPad and started playing the Pronunciation game that I learned it’s actually pronounced “hy-PƏR-bə-lee”, and while I did feel a tad foolish for getting that wrong, the feeling was overshadowed by my fascination with the sound of the word. So I looked it up, and sure enough, it turned out to be a rather fitting word for my stories. They do contain their fair share of wildly ridiculous statements!
“Hyperbole” refers to claims or statements that are exaggerated and thus shouldn’t be taken literally. The word arose in late Middle English and comes from the Greek noun huperbolē, meaning “excess” or “exaggeration”. This word is composed of the preposition hupér “above” and the verb bállō “to throw” (literally “I throw”).
Regardless of pronunciation, “hyperbole” is often a good word to describe grand statements made in fiction and in real life alike. We’re all guilty of exaggerating our claims from time to time, such as when we refer to a major failure as a “train wreck” or to a huge game loss as a “massacre”. I’m sure we all know at least a few people who constantly exaggerate their stories, those people whose accounts we can rarely trust but who often make great inspiration for the blowhards in our fiction. If your characters make a habit of stretching the truth for dramatic effect or as a rhetoric device, you may have plenty of “hyperbole” floating around in your stories! Have fun!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | September 16, 2015 | Blog, Creative Writing, What If? Writing Prompts |
Yes, it’s another round of “What If?” Writing Prompts! I quite enjoyed writing the first batch of mythology prompts, so today I’d like to feature a new set in the mythology theme. See what epic stories you can spin from these ideas! Enjoy!
What if… an ancient sea monster emerged from the ocean and wandered into your town/city?
What if… some people had animal body parts and senses?
What if… you found out that you were part god/goddess?
What if… you discovered an ancient tome in the library that led you on an epic quest?
What if… you stumbled upon an ancient relic that gave you a divine power?
Have fun writing your own mythological tales!
If you have any “What If?” writing prompt suggestions (for any theme), please feel free to share them in the comments below. Ideas I like may be featured in future “What If?” posts, with full credit and a link to your blog (if you have one)! Also, if you’ve written a piece based on an idea you’ve found here, be sure to link back to the respective “What If?” post. I would love to see what you’ve done with the prompt! Thank you!
by Naomi L. | September 14, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: aliquot
Pronunciation: A-li-kwət
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a portion of a larger whole, especially a sample taken for chemical analysis or other treatment
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
Now here’s a word that comes up a lot in the lab. Whenever I need to prepare an experiment, I usually have to set aside smaller portions of the reagents I’m going to use so as not to risk contaminating the stock. This practice is known as preparing “aliquots”, and it’s a habit that every laboratory researcher should pick up. Lab materials don’t usually come cheap, so compromising only small portions at a time saves us a bundle in the long run!
An “aliquot” is a part of a larger whole, usually for chemical analyses or treatments. The word arose in the late 16th century and traces back through the French noun aliquote to the Latin adjective aliquot, meaning “some”. This adjective is composed of the adjective alius “other” and the adjective quot “how many”.
Despite being a common word in laboratory vocabulary, I believe “aliquot” also has its uses outside of scientific contexts. In mathematics, the word refers to “a quantity that can be divided into another a whole number of times” (also known as an “aliquot part” or “aliquot portion”), and it can also function as a verb to mean “divide a whole into aliquots” or “take aliquots from a whole”. So if your characters ever need to divide large wholes into smaller portions (especially chemicals), you may want to consider writing an “aliquot” or two into your stories. Your readers may not all be scientists, but I’m sure they’ll appreciate learning a new academic word! Have fun!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
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