Tag: La Whimsy

Volition is an act of making a choice or decision. Volition derives from the Latin velle (to wish). Volition was borrowed by the English from the French in the 17th century. Volition was first used to mean an act of choosing. Herman Melville used volition as such in Moby-Dick “Almost simultaneously, with a mighty volition… Continue reading Word Nerd: Volition

Ensorcell means to bewitch, enchant, or charm. Ensorcell derives from the Middle French ensorceler, which is an alteration of Old French ensorcerer  from en- (in, into, on) and sorcier (sorcerer). Ensorcell was first used around 1535–45. Ensorcell is such a delightful word and it has several off-shoots including ensorcelled, ensorcelling, and ensorcellment. The ensorcellment of… Continue reading Word Nerd: Ensorcell

Sepulchre is a burial vault, tomb, or grave. Sepulchre derives from the Latin root sepelire (to bury) and came to use in Middle English through Anglo-French means. Sepulchre was first used around the beginning of the 13th century. Sepulchre is a rather rare word since the terms burial, grave, and tomb are far more often… Continue reading Word Nerd: Sepulchre