Word of the Week: Aesthetic

by Naomi L. | October 20, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week | 0 comments

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Here’s a fairly common word that most avid readers have come across before, but that’s still worth mentioning in this vocabulary segment. Something about the word “aesthetic” intrigues me. I’m not entirely sure what it is; maybe it’s the sound of it, maybe it’s the Greek spelling. But most likely, it’s the definition. After all, I do appreciate words that have to do with beauty.

“Aesthetic” refers to beauty or the appreciation of it. The word is derived from the Greek adjective aisthētikós, meaning “relating to perception by the senses”. This adjective stems from the noun aísthēsis “perception”, which comes from the verb aisthánomai “to perceive”. The current definition arose in German in the mid 18th century and was adopted into English in the early 19th century.

Unsurprisingly, “aesthetic” is usually attached to nouns related to visual perception, such as in “aesthetic appeal”. A slightly alternative definition for the word would be “giving or designed to give pleasure through beauty”, and it can be used as a noun to mean “a set of principles underlying the work of a particular artist or artistic movement”. As the plural noun “aesthetics”, it refers to “a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty”, though it can also refer to a branch of philosophy that deals with said principles. As you can see, there are many ways to use the word “aesthetic”, but when applied well, they can all help bring to light the beauty in the details of your stories!

What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?

Word of the Week: Clairvoyant

by Naomi L. | October 13, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week | 0 comments

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Here’s a fun word for you fantasy/paranormal fiction writers. This one was suggested by my best friend, though it was more of a reminder about a word I already knew that happened to be the first to come to mind when I asked him for a potential vocabulary entry. Given how much I enjoy stories with fantasy elements to them, this is definitely a word I’d keep on a shortlist for describing psychic characters.

A “clairvoyant” person is someone who has (or claims to have) extrasensory perception, that is, the ability to perceive beyond the natural scope of sensory contact. The word is originally French and consists of two root adjectives: clair “clear” and voyant “seeing”. This adjective arose in the late 17th century to mean “clear-sighted” or “perceptive”, while its current definition dates back to the mid 19th century.

Note that the word “clairvoyant” isn’t exclusively an adjective; it can also be used as a noun to indicate “a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact”. Whether or not you believe in such extrasensory perception, you have to admit that the idea of a person being able to foresee the future is intriguing. If you enjoy writing paranormal or fantasy stories, you can certainly get some good use out of this word, provided you’re up for the challenge. “Clairvoyant” characters can be a lot of fun to write! Good luck!

What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?

Word of the Week: Serendipity

by Naomi L. | October 6, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week | 0 comments

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

“Serendipity” is an intriguing word, isn’t it? Whenever I hear it, I think it could be the name of a celebrity or a word used to describe a situation of peace and calm. Interestingly enough, though, “serendipity” isn’t related to the word “serenity” yet does have a similar definition, as both words mean something positive.

“Serendipity” refers to the development of fortunate events that happen by chance. The word was coined in 1754 by Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford, who drew it from an English translation of the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip. Walpole evidently created the word to define the fortune of the story’s heroes, who, in his words, were “always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of”.

Life has a way of surprising us with a lucky streak at least once in a while. Hence, fictional characters are bound to have the occasional run of good fortune too. If you enjoy writing about lucky characters and favorable twists of fate, you can probably make plenty of references to “serendipity” in your stories! Good luck (pun totally intended)!

What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?

Word of the Week: Vernacular

by Naomi L. | September 29, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week | 2 comments

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Richard: You guys see me as a dad?

Joey: Oh yeah!

Chandler: No!

Joey: (seeing the look on Chandler’s face) Nooooo.

Chandler: You’re just clearly not familiar with our young person’s vernacular. See, when we say “dad”, we mean “buddy”. We mean “pal”. […] No no, seriously! Joey’s my dad. Monica’s my dad. I’ve even got some dads down at work.

– Friends (Season 2, Episode 20 – The One Where Old Yeller Dies)

The first (if not the only) instance in which I can remember hearing the word “vernacular” was in an old episode of Friends. After Joey lets slip that Monica’s boyfriend Richard is like a father to him and Chandler, the latter tries to cover up the mistake by insisting it’s a slang word for “friend”. Naturally Richard doesn’t buy this lie, but that doesn’t make him telling the guys he’s leaving to have a romantic evening with their other “dad” any less funny.

The “vernacular” of a particular region is the dialect normally spoken by its people. With a modifier, “vernacular” refers to the terminology used by a specific group of people or those who engage in a particular activity. The word comes from the Latin adjective vernaculus, meaning “domestic” or “native”. This adjective has historical roots in the noun verna, which means “house slave”.

Interestingly, the word “vernacular” isn’t exclusive to language; it can also refer to architecture that is “concerned with domestic and functional rather than monumental building”. Note that in both these contexts, the word can function as either a noun or an adjective. An example of the latter would be “vernacular literature”, in which case the word means “spoken or written using one’s mother tongue”. Whether you choose to use it formally (as in the above definitions) or informally (as in the dialogue example), this can be a great word to include in your stories. At the very least, your readers may find it easiest to relate to your writing through your “vernacular”!

What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?

Word of the Week: Lethargic

by Naomi L. | September 22, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week | 0 comments

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

I can’t pinpoint an exact moment when I may have heard the word “lethargic” for the first time. It’s one of those words that I happen to come across from time to time, as much in test prep lists as in literature. After recently stumbling upon it yet again, I actually wondered how I had neglected to add it to my vocabulary segment sooner. It is, after all, a word that I could so often use to describe myself…

To feel “lethargic” is to lack energy and enthusiasm. The word can be traced back to the Greek adjective lēthargos, meaning “forgetful”. This adjective is comprised of two roots: the noun lḗthē “forgetfulness” and the adjective argós “not working”.

“Lethargic” is one of those words I would keep on a reference list for describing human nature. Everyone has those days when they feel slow and uninterested in anything, so it stands to reason that fictional characters would have those days too. If you choose to write characters who fit this type, you’re bound to draw readers who can relate. Just try to avoid feeling too “lethargic” yourself to write the stories! Good luck!

What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?

Word of the Week: Gratuitous

by Naomi L. | September 15, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week | 0 comments

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Like other words I find interesting, “gratuitous” has two almost completely different meanings. I tend to see one definition more often than the other, though, probably due to the substantial amount of time I spend surfing through TV Tropes. You may be familiar with such “gratuitous” devices as foreign languages and violence, and if you encounter them all the time, you understand exactly what earned them this infamous label.

Things or actions deemed “gratuitous” are those which are provided freely and/or without good reason. The word comes from the Latin adjective gratuitus, meaning “given freely” or “spontaneous”. This adjective in turn stems from the noun gratia, which means “favor” or “thanks”.

For fiction writers, it’s practically mandatory to know what “gratuitous” means. We need to have a clear understanding of whether certain details in our work really are essential to the plot or if we simply threw them in for the sake of coloring the story (usually in an attempt to please the audience). In the latter case, it’s probably best to discard such unnecessary details. Set those “gratuitous” tropes aside and you’ll be able to tell a good clean story! Good luck!

What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?