Add some whimsy to your life
Word Nerd is an on-going feature that shares and highlights unique, whimsical and sometimes forgotten or overlooked words. It’s dedicated to the logophile in us all.
A Valentine is a card or message, usually amatory or sentimental but sometimes satirical or comical, or a token or gift sent by one person to another on Valentine's Day. The word Valentine (and holiday) originate from Saint Valentine and it originated as defined above sometime in the 15th century. Now I know that using… Continue reading Word Nerd: Valentine
Heliophilia is the love of sunlight. Heliophilia originates from the Greek hēlios (sun) and philia (fondness). Heliophilia and it's kin heliophile (one attracted to sunlight) are rather lovely and desired words for this time of the year. I don;t know about you but during the later part of Winter I begin to long for the… Continue reading Word Nerd: Heliophilia
Linguaphile means one who loves languages and words. Linguaphile originates from the Latin lingua (tongue, language) and the Greek philos (loving). Linguaphile is a fairly straightforward word and one that few fellow Word Nerds really need defined. I mean, those of us who actively enjoy discovering and using new words are linguaphiles and we know… Continue reading Word Nerd: Linguaphile
Lunette (pronounced loo-nette) is a crescent-shaped figure or object. In architecture a lunette is an area in the plane of a wall enframed by an arch or vault with a painting, sculpture, or window usually filling said area. In nature a lunette is a low crescentic mound (such as of sand) formed by the wind.… Continue reading Word Nerd: Lunette
Fika (pronounced fee-ka) is both a Swedish verb and noun that roughly means to drink coffee or tea, usually accompanied by something sweet to eat. the Swedish concept of a coffee break. Fika is much more than that, however, since in Swedish culture Fika is truly a state of mind that involves slowing down, connecting… Continue reading Word Nerd: Fika
Diablerie is the quality of being reckless or wild in a charismatic way. Diablerie also means magic or witchcraft connected with devils. Diablerie derives from the French diablerie (mischief), which is from Old French deablerie (sorcery), which comes from the Latin diabolus (the devil), which in turn is from the Greek diabolos (enemy, Satan). Quite… Continue reading Word Nerd: Diablerie
