Words That Capture The Beauty And Charm Of English What makes a word beautiful? Often, it’s a combination of factors. It might be that the word is especially fun to say, or maybe it evokes a feeling or image that is particularly pleasing. The meaning of the word itself might also be beautiful, or it could refer to a beautiful idea. And, of course, sometimes you just really like a word for reasons that can’t be entirely explained. The author Henry James once said that summer afternoon was the most beautiful phrase in the English language. Ray Bradbury liked the word cinnamon. Tessa Hadley has expressed admiration for cochineal. Which words strike your fancy? Keep reading to learn more about 15 of the most beautiful words in English. Who knows? You might even find a new favorite. ephemeral Ephemeral means “lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory.” It’s both a lovely sounding word and one that’s frequently used to describe things that are beautiful or wonderful, but short lived. The painter tried to capture the ephemeral beauty of the autumn leaves. The word comes from the Greek word ephḗmeros, meaning “short-lived, lasting but a day.” Lucky for us, the word itself has lasted much longer than that. It’s been in use in English since the late 1500s. idyllic If you need a word for something beautiful and quaint, idyllic is here for you. Idyllic means “suitable for or suggestive of an idyll; charmingly simple or rustic.” An idyll is a poem or prose describing pastoral or appealingly simple scenes. She returned home to the idyllic small town where she grew up. The word was first recorded in English in the late 1800s, though the noun form, idyll, has been in use since the 1590s. They derive from Greek eidýllion, or “a short pastoral poem.” serendipity How fortunate that serendipity just happens to be on this list. Serendipity is “an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.” The pirate knew that finding the treasure would require hard work and a bit of serendipity. This word was coined by author Horace Walpole. Serendipity is the ability possessed by the heroes of The Three Princes of Serendip, a fairytale he published in 1754. Fun fact: one of Walpole’s other stories, The Castle of Otranto, is believed to be the first Gothic novel. Seems Walpole was working with a bit of serendipity himself. gossamer Gossamer has a lovely sound and is used to describe lovely things. It means “something extremely light, flimsy, or delicate.” The butterfly fluttered on gossamer wings. Gossamer was first recorded in English in the late 1200s from the Middle English gos(s)esomer or gossummer, which means “a filmy substance made of cobwebs; fine filament; something trivial.” It’s still frequently used to describe delicate spider webs, like those seen covered in dew on a crisp fall morning. incandescent Incandescent means “intensely bright; brilliant,” and it’s been lighting up the English language since at least 1785. The night sky glittered with incandescent stars. Incandescent comes from the Latin incandēscere, or “to glow.” Of course, incandescent doesn’t have to something literally glows or is intensely bright. It can also be used to describe someone or something that has a brilliant, electrifying presence. diaphanous With its bright long i- sound and its soft ph-, diaphanous is one of those words that just feels nice to say. Diaphanous means “very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.” The morning sunrise glowed through the diaphanous curtains. The word has been in use since the 17th century, and it works especially well for describing fabric or textures that are so thin and sheer they almost seem to glow with the light passing through them. sibilance Sibilance is one of the more pleasant-sounding words to say, and it’s used to describe sound. It means “a hissing quality of sound, or the hissing sound itself.” I dozed in the hammock to the ocean’s gentle sibilance. You could use this word to describe unpleasant hissing sounds, like malfunctioning electronics, or for something more beautiful, like in the example above. Plus, the word itself has a gentle hissing quality. Say it with us three times: sibilance, sibilance, sibilance. Ah, so soft and soothing. gloaming Gloaming is another word for “twilight; dusk,” and not only does it describe one of the most beautiful times of the day, but the word itself is also nice to say. It sounds very similar to glowing, and it has a magical quality. We walked through the forest and watched fireflies twinkle in the gloaming. The magical quality might have something to do with its age and origin. The word has been in use since before the year 1000, and it’s believed to be related to Old Norse glāmr, meaning “moon.” halcyon If you’re gazing out over a tranquil lake, halcyon might be the word that comes to mind. It means “calm; peaceful; tranquil,” and this word has a fascinating origin story. The halcyon weather made for a perfect day at the beach. Halcyon can be traced back to the Greek halkyṓn, a variant of alkyṓn, or “kingfisher.” In Greek mythology, Alkyone, or Alcyone, is the daughter of the God of the winds, Aeolus, and she was transformed into a kingfisher after throwing herself into the sea. ebullient Some things are just too wonderful to be contained. Ebullient is an adjective that means “overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited,” and it’s a word that practically sounds as joyful as its meaning. The ebullient young scientist couldn’t wait to share their latest discovery. Ebullient was first recorded in English in the late 1590s. It is associated with happiness and optimism. What’s not to love about a happy word like that? quixotic Quixotic is a charming word that means “extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.” It comes from Miguel de Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote about a noble from La Mancha, Spain, who reads so many heroic romances that he becomes obsessed with the idea of being a knight. Her actions may seem quixotic, but they also speak to her courage and passion. By 1644, Quixote was used to describe “a person inspired by lofty and chivalrous but impractical ideals.” By the 18th century, the derivative adjective quixotic, which applies to both persons and actions, appeared. vivacity It’s infectious when someone has great enthusiasm and a zest for life. The word vivacity is similarly attractive. It means “liveliness; animation; sprightliness.” The legendary Julie Andrews may be best known for her inexhaustible vivacity. Vivacity is also a word English speakers have enjoyed for a very long time. It was first recorded in English in the 1400s. scintilla Scintilla doesn’t have the most beautiful meaning, but it’s certainly a satisfying and pretty word to say. The beginning syllable makes a hissing sound that is both soft and soothing, and the rest of the word seems to roll off the tongue. We don’t have a scintilla of doubt that words are powerful. Scintilla means “a minute particle, spark, trace.” It is a loan word from Latin, in which it means “spark.” It was first recorded in English in the late 1600s. lilt A lilt is a “rhythmic swing or cadence,” and the word has a soft, musical quality that matches its meaning. The origins of this word are unclear. It’s thought to come from the Middle English lulte, perhaps akin to the Dutch lul, meaning “pipe,” or lullen, “to lull.” She spoke with a soft Southern lilt that put me at ease. Lilt first appeared in English as early as 1300, and we’ve been swaying along ever since. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

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What Are The Different Names For Our Moon? Over the moons The English word moon is very old and dates back to before the year 900. It originally comes from the Old English word mona and is related to the Latin mēnsis, meaning “month.” As you’ll soon see, this isn’t the only link between the moon and calendar months. In fact, different cultures had different nicknames for the moon to go with each month of the year, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. These nicknames were used to refer to the moon during an entire lunar phase cycle starting at either a full or new moon. For example, January’s moon might generally be called the Wolf Moon or the Full Wolf Moon, when specifically referring to the January full moon. When looking at lunar calendars, you will often find these common folk names still used to refer to the full moons throughout the year. full moon Before we get to that, though, let’s look at some terms that people have used to refer to the moon through the years. - full moon: The full moon is the phase of the moon in which the entire moon is visible thanks to sunlight. During this time, the moon looks like a bright, full circle in the night sky. - supermoon: A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is at or near its closest distance to Earth. Astronomers scientifically refer to this event as a perigean full moon. - micromoon: The term micromoon (or minimoon) is informally used as the opposite of a supermoon. Micromoon refers to a full moon that occurs when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth. In 2022, none of the full moons will be micromoons. - blood moon: The term blood moon is used to refer to the moon during a total lunar eclipse. During this time, the moon appears blood red or reddish-brown because the only light that hits the moon is reflected light from the Earth’s atmosphere. - blue moon: The term blue moon is informally used to refer to a second full moon that occurs during a single calendar month. This event is very rare—sadly, it won’t occur in 2022—and so the phrase once in a blue moon is used to refer to events that rarely happen. - harvest moon: The harvest moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. The autumnal equinox occurs around September 22 or 23, so the harvest moon will fall in either September or October. The moon has always fascinated us and has inspired a lot of different words and phrases that we use to refer to a wide variety of things. Now that we’ve covered this terminology, follow along for a list of unique names for each month’s full moon, starting with January’s Wolf Moon (or Frost Exploding Moon). January | Wolf Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: January 17 The Old Farmer’s Almanac, a reference full of weather predictions and advice, has been published continuously since 1792 and has captured the old names used to refer to the different full moons throughout the year. According to the almanac, January’s Wolf Moon was named for the howling of wolves that was often heard during the month. People once thought wolves howled because they were hungry and on the hunt for prey–such as foolish moon gazers. Now, we know that wolves howl as a general form of communication, which means those howling wolves could have been talking about anything. Other traditional names for January’s moon are related to the harsh, cold winter weather one experiences in the Northern Hemisphere during January. These include names such as the Cold Moon, Frost Exploding Moon, Hard Moon, and Severe Moon. February | Snow Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: February 16 Which leads us to February’s Snow Moon. This name was inspired by the snowfalls of February, which is statistically the snowiest month of the year on average in the United States. Besides the weather, other traditional names for the February Moon were inspired by animals or the difficulty of finding food during the winter. Some other traditional names include Bear Moon, Eagle Moon, Hungry Moon, and Raccoon Moon. March | Worm Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: March 18 Worms? Yay! Yay? Worm Moon, the traditional name for the March moon was inspired by the emergence of earthworms and bugs from the soil and trees during the beginning of spring. Other traditional names for the March moon were typically inspired by the changing of the season or nature in general. Some of these names include the Crow Comes Back Moon, Sugar Moon, Strong Winds Moon, and Sore Eyes Moon. April | Pink Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: April 16 Sadly, the moon doesn’t turn pink in April. No, this traditional name was inspired by the plant Phlox subulata, also known as moss pink, which is native to the central and eastern United States. The plant’s pink flowers usually bloom during April, which explains the nickname. Like the names of the March moon, the traditional names of April’s moon were often inspired by the transition from winter to spring. Some other traditional names of the April moon include the Breaking Ice Moon, Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs, and Moon When the Ducks Come Back. May | Flower Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: May 16 April showers bring May flowers and a flowery moon to go along with them! This traditional name for May’s moon was inspired by the many flowers that bud during the month. Even today, the month of May is still associated with flowers. Other traditional names for the May moon often reference flowers or the warm weather that allows them to grow. These names include Budding Moon, Leaf Budding Moon, Planting Moon, and Egg Laying Moon. In 2022, the first of two lunar eclipses will occur in May. Depending on where you live, it may be possible to see a blood moon when the lunar eclipse is visible during the night of May 15/May 16. June | Strawberry Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: June 14 The tasty traditional name of June’s moon recognizes the fact that June was the time to harvest strawberries for many of the Indigenous Peoples of North America. This is still true even today as strawberries typically ripen during the transition from spring to summer, so June is the peak time to harvest strawberries in North America. Some traditional names for the June moon were based on the natural events associated with the spring-summer transition, such as Blooming Moon, Birth Moon, and Hatching Moon. Other traditional names were inspired by things people would eat and drink during the June marriage season, such as Mead Moon and Honey Moon. According to most metrics, June’s full moon will be the first of two supermoons that occur in 2022. July | Buck Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: July 13 The traditional name of Buck Moon for the July moon was inspired by the word buck (“male deer”), because it had been observed that bucks’ antlers grow largest during this month. Modern research of the deer antler growth cycle supports this observation. Other traditional names of July’s moon were inspired by animals and plants commonly found in North America during the summer. These names include Salmon Moon, Berry Moon, and Raspberry Moon. According to most metrics, July’s full moon will be the second and last supermoon of 2022. August | Sturgeon Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: August 12 The fishy name of August’s moon is named after the sturgeon, a general name for different types of large fish that can be found in North American lakes and rivers. August’s moon was named after sturgeon because these fish were most easily caught in August following their typical mating season. Today, many types of sturgeon are considered endangered, and sturgeon fishing is often prohibited or strictly regulated. Other traditional names for the August moon, such as Corn Moon, Ricing Moon, and Black Cherries Moon, are based on the harvesting of summer crops. September | Harvest Moon or Corn Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: September 10 The traditional name of Harvest Moon is given to either the September or October moon, depending on which full moon occurs closer to the autumnal equinox. Because the September full moon is usually the closer one, it is more often referred to as the Harvest Moon. If it isn’t, then the name Corn Moon is used to refer to September’s moon. Either way, Harvest Moon and Corn Moon both refer to the fact that the late summer/early fall was the time when North American peoples would harvest important crops, like corn, that would get them through the winter. Other traditional names for the September moon such as Autumn Moon, Moon of Brown Leaves, and Falling Leaves Moon, reference the fact that September is the time when summer gives way to fall. In 2022, the September full moon is this year’s Harvest Moon, as it is the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox, which will occur on September 22. October | Hunter’s Moon or Harvest Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: October 9 Traditionally, the full moon that follows the Harvest Moon is called the Hunter’s Moon. Because the harvest moon usually happens in September, the October moon is typically called the Hunter’s Moon. The name of this moon is thought to come from the practice of North American peoples engaging in hunting after the fields had been harvested and before the winter came. You can never be too prepared for winter, so hunters would gather meat before the winter weather would force animals (and the hunters) to seek shelter. Other traditional names for the October moon include Migrating Moon, Freezing Moon, and Ice Moon. These names reference the fact that October soon leads to winter and temperatures start to drop. November | Beaver Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: November 8 The traditional name of the November moon comes from the beaver, a large rodent famous for building natural dams. November’s moon was named after this busy animal because November was a good time for North America peoples to hunt and trap beavers as they normally retreat to their lodges during this time. Other traditional names for the November moon, such as Digging Moon, Deer Rutting Moon, and Whitefish Moon, were inspired by other animals who are busy during November as they prepare for winter. The traditional names Frost Moon and Freezing Moon were also used to indicate that this moon often signaled that winter was fast approaching. In 2022, the second lunar eclipse will happen in November. Depending on where you live, the eclipse may appear as a blood moon when it occurs on the night of November 7/November 8. December | Cold Moon Full Moon Date in 2022: December 7 Winter is in full swing—in the Northern Hemisphere, at least—by the time that December’s Cold Moon graces the sky. The explanation behind the traditional name for December’s moon shouldn’t be hard to figure out if you live in Canada or the northern United States and have had the “pleasure” of experiencing a frigid winter. Many other traditional names for the December moon reference the freezing winter weather, such as Hoar Frost Moon, Snow Moon, Moon of the Popping Trees, and Winter Maker Moon. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Contronyms You’ve Been Using Without Realizing It Are these words two-faced? There are four people at a dinner party. By midnight, two people had left. How many people are left at the party? Left is just one of many words or expressions known as a contronym—or contranym—a word that has two meanings that are opposite or nearly opposite. In this example, left means both “leave” (two people had left) and “remain” (How many people are left?), which are antonyms. An antonym is a word that is opposite in meaning to another. Contronyms are also known as Janus words. Janus was an ancient Roman god with two faces that looked in opposite directions, so you can see how he came to be associated with contronyms. And that makes January, which is ultimately derived from the word Janus, a perfect month for learning about contronyms. Another term for these words is auto-antonym, or a word that means the opposite of itself. Technical terms for this phenomenon are enantiosemy, enantionymy, or antilogy. You’re likely familiar with many of these contronyms, even if you don’t realize it. So check out some of the most common ones, before you check out. cleave A classic example of a contronym is cleave. Cleave actually comes from two different Old English words, clēofan and cleofian, which is how it got these two opposite meanings. cleave: to split, to separate Owen swung the axe down hard in order to cleave the log into two even pieces. cleave: to adhere closely, to stick Young beaver pups cleave to their mother in the water until they are strong enough to swim on their own. dust Dust, when used as a verb, is a contronym. dust: to wipe the dust from Every Saturday, he would dust the nicknacks on the bookshelves to keep them clean. dust: to sprinkle with a powder or dust The baker liked to dust their pumpkin bread with just a sprinkle of cinnamon. overlook We recommend you don’t overlook this next contronym. overlook: to fail to notice, perceive, or consider I hadn’t finished the last two homework questions, but I hoped my teacher would overlook it and give me full marks anyway. overlook: to look after, oversee, or supervise The manager was required to personally overlook the transfer of valuable materials every evening. sanction Will the government sanction sanctions? That’s right, sanction is another common contronym. sanction: to authorize, approve, or allow My parents wouldn’t sanction video games in our home because they thought they were too violent. sanction: to penalize The school said they were going to sanction the students for arriving late to class. weather The word weather is a contronym, but only when used as a verb. We aren’t talking about the noun meaning of this term, “the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, etc.” weather: to expose to the weather, to disintegrate The paint on the house was chipped and weathered from the decades of rain and snow. weather: to endure We weren’t sure that we would be able to weather the storm if we didn’t find shelter. back up The expression back up has two meanings that are close, if not exact, antonyms. back up: to support Ultimately, the scientists were unable to back up their claims with hard evidence. back up: to retreat The zebras backed up when they spotted the alligators in the water. fine The adjective fine has the potential to lead to some real misunderstandings about just how excellent (or not) something is. fine: of superior or best quality To prepare for the Queen’s visit, the household staff cleaned the fine linens and polished the best silver. fine (informal): satisfactorily, acceptably Sandra thought her performance was fine, but nothing special, so she was surprised when she won second place. original The adjective original, like the expression back up, is an example of a contronym with two definitions that are near-antonyms. original: belonging to the beginning of something Despite being hundreds of years old, the painting was still in its original frame. original: new, fresh, inventive While sitting in the bathtub, the inventor was struck with an original idea. pitted The contronym pitted often causes confusion at the grocery store. pitted: having pits (in the sense of “mark or indent”) The sailor’s face was pitted and craggy from the wind and salt water. pitted: having the pit removed (in the sense of “stone of a fruit”) My mom reminded me to buy the pitted cherries, because she didn’t want to take out the stones herself. bound Bound is an example of a contronym like cleave that has two different meanings because it actually has two different etymologies. The first meaning comes from the Old English bindan. The second meaning comes from the Old Norse būinn, “to get ready.” bound: tied, fastened or secured with a band or bond The Mountie rushed to save the woman who was bound to the railroad tracks. bound: going or intending to go, destined (for) With all of their talents, the band was bound to be a success. rent The verb rent is one of the clearest examples of a contronym. rent: to lease property I was relieved to find an apartment in the city to rent that I could afford. rent: to be leased or let for rent Every landlord is hoping to quickly rent their properties to reliable tenants. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.