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Otherworldly Words: Umbrage
To take umbrage is to feel shadowed. Think of the words umbra and penumbra—all from the Latin root for shade or shadow. It’s not uncommon to say that we feel “overshadowed” by someone. Umbra is the...
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Otherworldly Words: Vanquish
Vanquish is one of those words that many people find interchangeable with words like decimate or annihilate. These words are a really good example of how visiting the thesaurus and hitting replace...
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Otherworldly Words: Vex
The word vex comes from a word that means to shake or jolt. When someone truly vexes us, it does sometimes feel as we have been physically shaken due to the emotional or mental stress caused by his...
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Otherworldly Words: Will-o’-the-wisp
Perfect for Halloween Night, will-o’-the-wisp is the ghostly light in the woods that is always just in front of you. So much of nature has inspired our tales of horror as we grapple with...
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Otherworldly Words: Bewitch
Ah, amore! It’s February and our minds turn to St. Valentine’s Day and longing gazes and tokens of love. But what about when love crosses the line? #OtherworldlyWords returns with a look at four words...
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Otherworldly Words: Obsess
Ah, amore! It’s February and our minds turn to St. Valentine’s Day and longing gazes and tokens of love. But what about when love crosses the line? #OtherworldlyWords returns with a look at four words...
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Otherworldly Words: Brocken spectre
April is a month for fools! From words that refer to natural phenomenon that have misled us to words to describe the things we do to make fools of others, this month I’ll explore words to do with some...
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Otherworldly Words: Anancy
April is a month for fools! From words that refer to natural phenomenon that have misled us to words to describe the things we do to make fools of others, this month I’ll explore words to do with some...
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Otherworldly Words: ideomotor effect
April Fools’ Day is long gone, but I’m still exploring words about trickery throughout the month. The ideomotor effect fits the bill. This term offers a scientific explanation, a Scully if you will,...
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Otherworldly Words: Illusory
April Fools’ Day is long gone, but I still have one last word about trickery up my sleeve. Illusory is from a Latin derivative meaning to mock or ridicule. It’s a fitting end to this look at words of...
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Otherworldly Words: Craven
#OtherworldlyWords returns with craven. Craven is the first in a group of words this month expressing fear or cowardice. In my opinion, the most interesting element in these words is how closely words...
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Otherworldly Words: Poltroon
#Otherworldly Words explores words that deal with the frightening or supernatural. This month I’m exploring words that express cowardice. Poltroon derives from Old Italian meaning foal and Latin...
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Otherworldly Words: Cower
This month in #Otherworldly Words, I am exploring words to do with fear. The first two words described cowardice. Cower is an action that demonstrates fear. Interesting is the link between being...
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Otherworldly Words: Timorous
This month in #Otherworldly Words, I am exploring words to do with fear. Timorous continues the path of words that cast contempt on those who show fear. Exploring the nature of fear is important....
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Otherworldly Words: Pierrot
Paul Legrand as Pierrot circa 1855. Clowns creep many people out. Why is that? Do you think it’s because they express a twisted duality within human nature, as a character who wears a sad face but...
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Otherworldly Words: January
January is a time for new beginnings, and apparently, for looking back. This month, I’m exploring words named for people, or, as in the case of January, named for a God. January is the month...
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Otherworldly Words: Amaranthine
Finishing up February is amaranthine. This adjective lends a beautiful, ethereal feel to the concept of endless time. Amaranthine is derived from the myth of the amaranth, the legendary undying...
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Otherworldly Words: Harpy
Harpies in the infernal wood, from Inferno XIII, by Gustave Doré, 1861 I’m continuing to look at words that cast women in a less than flattering light. The next word on my list is harpy. In Greek...
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Otherworldly Words: Echo
May is named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was believed to influence growth and was known as a nurturer. In the theme of the month, I’ll look at four other words, with an otherworldly connotation,...
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Otherworldly Words: Fury
May is named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was believed to influence growth and was known as a nurturer. In the theme of the month, I’ll look at four other words, with an otherworldly connotation,...
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