Cool
Words
As
a writer, words are my tools. I really enjoy words and
actively seek out additions to my vocabulary. I've got
a lot of books on choosing the right word, obscure words,
descriptive words, and that kind of thing. (I love reference
books of all kinds, in fact. I hate the feeling of knowing
there's a word for a particular thing, but not knowing
what it is. I also hate using the same words over and
over.) At any given time, I have a file on my desktop
simply called "Cool Words."
Now,
for some of the words I like and use I get teased a
little at times. "Eldritch," obviously, comes
to mind. That's a word I picked up from early D&D
as well as Dr. Strange comics. I've been chided
for "fane" as well, which I got originally
from Vault of the Drow.
The
following, however, is my current list of cool words.
You're probably familiar with some, but maybe not all.
Some words I put on my list not because they're new
to me, but just as a reminder that they are available
for use. It's easy to forget really interesting words
like "baleful" or "vapid," even
if they're not new to you.
I
suspect that you'll note a few words on the list that
you have seen in my writing. There's no rhyme or reason
to the list. Some have been on there for years, and
some I replace with others now and again. (This is by
no means a complete list, nor is it my list of favorite
words.)
baleful
— sinister
chasuble — priestly vestment
Cimmerian — very dark
circean — referring to beauty of a dangerous kind
contumacious — rebellious
contumelius — insolently abusive and humiliating
cynosure — the center of attraction
eschar — scab or burned layer of skin
flagellum — long, thin appendages
flagitious — villainous
funereal — dark, gloomy
internecine — referring to a conflict within a
group
lares — household gods (also penates)
lorn — forsaken
maladroit — inept
malefactor — evil doer
maleficent — working evil
malefic — malicious
malison — curse
mammon — material wealth having a debasing influence
necrology — list of the recently dead
necrosis — decay of body tissue
propitiation — offering to a god
rive — to break apart
saccate — shaped like a pouch or sac
sacristy — place in a church where sacred vessels
are kept
salience — pronounced feature
sallet — light helmet with a brim flaring in the
back
sphenic — shaped like a wedge
surplice — loose-fitting priestly garment with
wide sleeves
syrinx — vocal organ of a bird
tabard — short, heavy cape or tunic (worn over
armor)
tenebrific-causing gloom or darkness
tenebrous — shut out from the light, obscure
teredines — tiny worms that ruin ships and wharfs
tutelary — guardian spirit or god
umbra — darkest part of a shadow
vapid — lacking spirit
venal — capable of being bribed, mercenary
welter — to wallow; turmoil
wizened — shriveled
wormwood — anything bitter or grievous
xiphoid — shaped like a sword
yamen — office or home of an official (Chinese)
ylem — universal matter to have existed before
the big bang
zygodactyl — having two toes pointing backward,
two forward
