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.
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
Ataraxia (pronounced at-uh-rak-see-uh) is a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety. Ataraxia derives from the Greek ataraktos (undisturbed) and in Greek ἀταραξία is generally translated as imperturbability or tranquillity. Ataraxia is a Greek philosophical term that describes a sort of steady, clear-minded serenity that is characterized by an ongoing freedom from stress and… Continue reading Word Nerd: Ataraxia
Novaturient is desiring changes or alterations, usually in regards to one's life, behavior, or situation. The origin of novaturient comes from the Latin novāre (make new) and ent (present participial ending, i.e. word-forming element making a noun or verb an adjective). Novaturient could almost be a buzz word in the world of self-help (albeit a… Continue reading Word Nerd: Novaturient
Moulder is to break down through rot or decay. Moulder is the chiefly British spelling variant of molder. Moulder is a word I use with an almost alarming frequency in the Autumnal months, though in my defense, mouldering is a truly beautiful descriptive that captures one of the defining essences of Autumn. The mouldering scents… Continue reading Word Nerd: Moulder
