Words bind the world together. Without them, we would be a rather humorous collection of grunting, sniveling idiots--maybe we already are. Anyways, it is words that inspire men, make women go weak at the knees and help children develop into adults. Words and their meanings are rooted deeply in our everyday lives and, sometimes, they are worthy of a closer look.
Petrichor
We'll start with a beauty of a word, pronounced pet-ri-kor.
The word means as the picture alludes, "The smell of earth after a rain." Whoopie, right? But there's something about the thought of the refreshing fall of a summer rain that comforts the soul. The parched earth is replenished by waves of life-giving essence, and we are gifted the soothing scent of a healing world. On an interesting side note, the etymology of petrichor is nearly as beautiful as the word itself. The word has its roots in the ancient Greek words "petra" (meaning stone) and "ichor" (the fluid that ran through the veins of the gods). When you stop and think, rain and the life that it brings are gifts from our Creator and we get to relish in it.
Rantipole
Pronounced ran-ti-pole.
No, it doesn't mean Madonna. But, suiting enough, used a noun, it does mean a wild and reckless person. Madonna comes to mind, no? The versatility of rantipole adds to it's attractiveness. It can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective and they all revolve around untamed beauty and wild abandon. I doubt that you'll walk around town hearing people spout of rantipole in everyday conversation, but maybe that's alright. It's a unique word meant for unique people.
Orphic
Pronounced or-fik
The word orphic actually comes from the noun Orphism which is a, "name given to a set of religious beliefs and practices originating in the ancient Greek and Hellenistic world" according to Merriam Webster's Dictionary. The word orphic is an adjective which means mysterious and entrancing or beyond ordinary understanding. Why not replace three words with one, short, concise and beautiful word? Our understanding of the world is finite and ever-changing and a word such as orphic helps us to describe it just a little bit more.
Brontide
Pronounced bron-tide.
I must have an affinity for words describing weather because brontide means, "the low rumble of distant thunder." Like most of the words on this list, brontide has her roots in Ancient Greek. Bront meant thunder and ide came from the Greek word id which roughly means, "child of or descendant of." Think about it. Child of thunder. I got goosebumps typing that out.
Slubberdegullion
Pronounced slubber-de-gul-e-on
Every list has to have a class clown and this is it. The words roughly means a slovenly or unkempt person, a fool if you will. I have to admit that some words give away their meanings before you even know, which I suppose it the purpose of language. Many words are ethereal, transcendent, or just downright gorgeous whilst others are goofy--like slubberdegullion. It seems like a lot of effort to through after such a simple meaning word, seriously try saying it 3 times fast, but it's worth it because it's such an interesting word.
Zephyr
Pronounced ze-feer.
Awww, Beware, whilst other words sound like what they try to communicate, seems to be the dark sister. The zing of the "z" in the word misleads one to think it could possibly mean spirited, spry or energetic. However, the world itself means a gentle, mild breeze; it brings a pleasant sensation on a warm summer day. We all know the feeling. You're walking down a shaded grove on the river-walk when a gust of warm, eastern winds suddenly flow over you. You never know what you might stumble upon when you research words, let me tell you.
Virago
Pronounced ve-rago.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155754835@N04/36174821325This word is like a double-edged sword. I found two meanings, both revolving around women with distinct connotations. The first meaning for virago that I found stated that it means a "strong, brave, or warlike woman," the second definition I found stated that it means a, "a domineering, violent, or bad-tempered woman." *Silence* I don't know about you but these meanings seem quite different in their tone, their reverence and their respect towards women. I wonder if the first meaning I found was a result of the feminist revolution of the 1980's whilst the second meaning I found was the original. Beware if someone calls you a virago, it's all about circumstance I suppose.
Brumal
Pronounced broo-muhl
Simply stated, brumal can be used in place of the word wintry. I love the simplicity of it. Weather has powerful, oftentimes intrinsic, meanings and I love the word brumal. Next time you get a heavy snow, take a quick look out your window and think to yourself, "What a beautiful, brumal day."
Metanoia
Pronounced meta-noy-a
Like it's better known cousin, paranoia, metanoia has everything to do with decisions, the mind and changing. The Ancient Greek word, meta, means after or beyond whilst noia stems from the suffix "nous" meaning mind. Metanoia altogether means to change one's mind, behavior, or way of seeing the world. There's value in change, no different than value in a word that denotes change.
