Word that have good meaning

Are you a logophile (a lover of words)? Do you hoard words? Are you a word nerd? Do you believe in epeolatry (the worship of words)? Then you’re in the right place. This list of unusual and beautiful words with deep meanings will not only enrich your vocabulary but also allow you to perceive the world differently.

Words are powerful. They have a way of transforming people and their lives. Words inspire, stir, challenge, move, touch, and intrigue us.

Did you know there’s a word that has no one meaning? It’s Eglaf. It can be used in place of any other word and describes many things.

I’ve compiled a list of unusual words with beautiful meanings that stir my mind and soul. Apart from my favorite beautiful English words, the list has foreign words with beautiful meanings that I learned during my years of travels to different countries. Most of them are simply untranslatable into English but perfectly translate hard-to-be-expressed-in-words emotions.

Read More: 100 Unique and Creative Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

Want to add mellifluous, invigorating, heartfelt, and the most beautiful words in the world to your vocabulary? Arm yourself with these unique words in different languages and thank me later 🙂 Let’s get going with these prettiest words!

#1 Mellifluous (adj.)

Pronunciation: muh-li-floo-uhs

Origin: Latin

Definition: A sound that’s pleasing and sweet to hear

#2 Apricity (n.)

Pronunciation: a-PRIS-i-tee

Origin: Latin

Definition: The warmth of the sun in winter

#3 Rakuyou (n.)

Pronunciation: ra-ku-yo

Origin: Japanese (落葉 )

Definition: Golden fallen or shedded leaves

Now that we are talking about our favorite season (Autumn), how can we not talk about the beautiful East Coast Fall Destinations? Nothing is more autumnal than going for a stroll with crisp golden fallen or shredded leaves beneath your feet!

#4 Retrouvailles (n.)

Pronunciation: ruh-troov-eye

Origin: French

Definition: The happiness of meeting again after a long time

#5 Hitoritabi (n.)

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Traveling alone, solitary journey

#6 Luftmensch (n.)

Pronunciation: LOOFT-mensh

Origin: Yiddish

Definition: An impractical dreamer, literally an air person, someone with her head in the clouds

#7 Raconteur (n.)

Pronunciation: ra-kawn-tuh

Origin: French

Definition: A talented storyteller who’s able to spin amusing tales from everyday tales; A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way

#8 Sirimiri (n.)

Pronunciation: si-ri-mi-ri

Origin: Spanish

Definition: A light rain; A fine drizzle; Stronger than mist but less than a shower

#9 Rimjhim (n.)

Pronunciation: rim-jhim

Origin: Sanskrit

Definition: The pitter-patter of a light drizzle

#10 Petrichor (n.)

Pronunciation: PET-ri-kuhr

Origin: Greek

Definition: The mild and pleasant smell or scent of earth associated with the first rain after a dry spell

Suggested Read: 14 Beautiful Norwegian Words We Need in English Now!

#11 Morii (n.)

Pronunciation:

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Definition: The desire to capture a fleeting moment

#12 Fernweh (n.)

Pronunciation: FEIRN-veyh

Origin: German

Definition: An ache for distant places; A strong desire to travel to far off places; Being homesick for a place you’ve never been; A longing for unseen places even stronger than wanderlust

Read More: Travel Quotes to Inspire Wanderlust

#13 Resfeber (n.)

Pronunciation: RACE-fay-ber

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The restless race of the traveler’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together; A travel fever that can manifest as an illness

Related Read: Beautiful Swedish Words

#14 Nefelibata (n.)

Pronunciation: ne-fe-lE-‘ba-ta

Origin: Portuguese

Definition: Literally translates to “cloud-walker”; Colloquially “daydreamer”; One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams; One who does not obey the conventions of society, literature, or art.

#15 Smultronställe (n.)

Pronunciation: “smUl-tron-‘stel-e

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Literally “place of wild strawberries” a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; A personal idyll free from stress or sadness.

#16 Dustsceawung (n.)

Pronunciation: ‘dUst-shA-a-wung (DOOST-shay-ah-wung)

Origin: Old English

Definition: Literally “contemplation of the dust”; Reflection on former civilizations and people, and on the knowledge that all things will turn to dust

#17 Heliophilia (n.)

Pronunciation: hE-lE-O-‘fil-E-a

Origin: Greek

Definition: Desire to stay in the sun; Love of sunlight

#18 Nakakapagpabagabag (adj.)

Pronunciation: na-ka-ka-PAG-pa-ba-ga-bag

Origin: Tagalog (Filipino)

Definition: Worrisome

PS: It’s hard to pronounce for the native speakers too so don’t worry if you can’t 🙂 Such a variety of pretty words in other languages.

#19 Brontide (n.)

Pronunciation: bron-tahyd

Origin: Greek

Definition: The low rumble of distant thunder

#20 Aesthete (n.)

Pronunciation: “es-THEt (ess-THEET)

Origin: Greek

Definition: Someone who cultivates an unusually high sensitivity to beauty, as in art or nature

#21 Sophrosyne (n.)

Pronunciation: sō-fros′i-nē (suh-FROS-uh-nee)

Origin: Greek

Definition: Soundness of mind, characterized by moderation, self-control, and prudence

#22 Elysian (adj.)

Pronunciation: uh-li-zee-uhn

Origin: Greek
Definition: Beautiful or creative; Divinely inspired; Peaceful and perfect

#23 Mångata (n.)

Pronunciation: moon-gah-ta

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The glimmering roadlike reflection of the moon on the water

#24 Koi no yokan (n.)

Pronunciation: koy-noh-yo-kin

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Literally translates to “premonition of love”; The extraordinary sense one has upon first meeting someone that they will one day fall in love

#25 Abditory (n.)

Origin: Latin

Definition: A place into which you can disappear; A hiding place

#26 Flawsome (adj.)

Pronunciation: flaw-suhm

Origin: coined by the supermodel, Tyra Banks in their show ANTM (America’s Next Top Model)

Definition: an individual who embraces their quirks and flaws and knows they are awesome regardless

#27 Datsuzoku (n.)

Pronunciation: thatza-zoku

Origin: Japanese

Definition: An escape from your everyday routine

#28 Rame (adj.)

Pronunciation: raim
Origin: Balinese

Definition: Something that’s both chaotic and joyful at the same time

#29 Vacilando (v.)

Origin: Spanish

Definition: To wander or travel with the knowledge that the journey is more important than the destination

#30 Lehitkalev (v.)

Origin: Hebrew

Definition: Literally “to dog it”; To put up with a lower standard of uncomfortable conditions of living or travel

#31 Komorebi (n.)

Pronunciation: KOH-MOH-REHB-i

Origin: Japanese

Definition: The effect of sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees; The interplay of the aesthetics between the light and the leaves when sunlight shines through trees

#32 Metanoia (n.)

Pronunciation: meh-tah-NOY-ah

Origin: Greek

Definition: The journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life; Spiritual conversation

#33 Peregrinate (v.)

Pronunciation: PAIR-uh-gruh-nayt

Origin: Latin

Definition: To travel or wander from place to place

#34 Perambulate (v.)

Pronunciation: puh-ram-byoo-leit

Origin: Latin

Definition: to walk or travel through or around a place or area, especially for pleasure and in a leisurely way

#35 Peripatetic (n.)

Pronunciation: peh-ruh-puh-teh-tuhk

Origin: Greek

Definition: One who walks about; A nomad; An itinerant

#36 Shinrin-yoku (n.)

Pronunciation: shindin-yoku

Origin: Japanese

Definition: To go deep into the woods for its restorative benefits; The Japanese way of forest bathing as nature therapy for peace of mind, restful sleep, and physical health

#37 Shinrabansho (n.)

Pronunciation: shi-nra-banshoo

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Literally translates to “All nature”; everything that exists in the universe

#38 Flâneur (n.)

Pronunciation: flah-neur

Origin: French

Definition: Someone who saunters or ambles around aimlessly but enjoyably observing life and his surroundings

#39 Gadabout (n.)

Pronunciation: gad-uh-bout

Origin: Middle English

Definition: A person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure

#40 Hiraeth (n.)

Pronunciation: heer-eye-th

Origin: Welsh

Definition: A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; The nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past

#41 Toska (n.)

Pronunciation: tuh-skah

Origin: Russian

Definition: The ache of the soul; Longing with nothing to long for

#42 Dépaysement (n.)

Pronunciation: depeizmɑ̃

Origin: French

Definition: Change of scene, disorientation, culture shock; Feeling that comes from being away from your own home country, in a foreign land, surrounded by strangers; The sense of being a fish out of water

#43 Dès vu (n.)

Origin: French

Definition: Literally translates to ” seen as soon as”; The awareness that this will become a memory

#44 Rasāsvāda (n.)

Pronunciation: ra-sas-vah-da

Origin: Sanskrit

Definition: Literally translates to appreciating the taste and flavor of juice; Perception of pleasure; The taste of bliss in the absence of all thoughts

#45 Cynefin (n.)

Pronunciation: ku-nev-in

Origin: Welsh

Definition: Literally translates to “habitat”; A place or the time when we instinctively belong or feel most connected; The artist Kyffin Williams described it as a relationship: the place of your birth and of your upbringing, the environment in which you live and to which you are naturally acclimatized

#46 Safarnama (n.)

Pronunciation: su-fur-nama

Origin: Persian

Definition: Travelogue; An account of the travels

We have a safarnama. Do you?

#47 Saudade (n.)

Pronunciation: ‘sau-“da-dE

Origin: Portuguese

Definition: “the love that remains” even after someone is gone; a nostalgic or melancholic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost

#48 Yūgen (n.)

Pronunciation: yoo-gehn

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A profound and mysterious sense of the beauty and awareness of the universe that triggers a deep emotional response

#49 Wabi-Sabi (n.)

Pronunciation: wah-bee-sah-bee

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A Japanese concept and art of imperfect beauty; The discovery of beauty within the imperfections of life and art; the acceptance of the cycle of life and death

#50 Ukiyo (n.)

Pronunciation: u-key-yo

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Literally translates to “the floating world”; Living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life

#51 Ikigai (n.)

Pronunciation: ee-kee-guy

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A Japanese concept literally translates to “a reason for being”; ‘a reason to get up in the morning’, to enjoy the meaning of life – passion, purpose, something one lives for

#52 Apprivoise (adj.)

Pronunciation: ap-privoise

Origin: French

Definition: Literally translates to “to tame”; To form a bond with one another; to become known to each other through small moments

We are half-way through these best words. Are you also loving these beautiful foreign words?

#53 Wu wei (n.)

Pronunciation: woo-wey

Origin: Chinese

Definition: A Chinese concept and art of conscious non-action; literally translates to “inexertion”, “inaction”, or “effortless action”, or “action without action”; To embrace the flow instead of an effort to achieve a result; A deliberate and principled decision to do nothing for a reason

#54 Còsagach (n.)

Pronunciation: coze-a-goch

Origin: Scottish Gaelic

Definition: Scottish hygge; A feeling of being snug, sheltered, and warm, inspired by fluffy rugs, cozy fires, outdoor hot tubs, and wood-burning stoves; Finding comfort in life’s simple pleasures

#55 Lagom (adv.)

Pronunciation: la-gum

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Translates to “in moderation”, “in balance”, “perfectly-simple”, “just enough”, and “suitable”; The Swedish concept of having just the right amount; not too much, not too little, just right

#56 Gigil (n.)

Pronunciation: GHEE-gheel

Origin: Filipino

Definition: The overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch something that’s irresistibly cute and adorable

#57 Ataraxia (n.)

Pronunciation: at-uh-rak-see-uh

Origin: Greek

Definition: A state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; Tranquility or untroubled mind

#58 Musafir (n.)

Pronunciation: musa-fir

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Traveler

Here’s a list of amazing places to visit around the world for a traveler (Musafir) in you!

#59 Wayfarer (n.)

Pronunciation: wey-fair-er

Origin: English

Definition: Someone who travels, especially on foot

#60 Absquatulate (v.)

Pronunciation: ab-skwoch-uh-leyt

Origin: North American English

Definition: To leave without saying goodbye; Leave abruptly

#61 Wanderlust (n.)

Pronunciation: won-der-luhst

Origin: German

Definition: A strong, innate desire to travel and explore the world

Suggested Read: 40 Inspiring Quotes about Family Travel

#62 Utepils (n.)

Pronunciation: OOH-ta-pilz

Origin: Norwegian

Definition: Literally translates to “outdoors lager”; To sit outside enjoying a beer on a sunny day

Fancy a beer outside? What’s better than enjoying one under the Midnight Sun in the Finnish Lapland?

#63 Ballagàrraidh (n.)

Pronunciation: bal-la-ga-rye

Origin: coined by The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows inspired by the Scottish Gaelic word – balla gàrraidh

Definition: Literally translates to the “garden wall”; The awareness that you are not at home in the wilderness

#64 Acatalepsy (n.)

Pronunciation: ey-kat-l-ep-see

Origin: Greek

Definition: The impossibility of comprehending the universe; The incomprehensibility of things; The belief that human knowledge can never have true certainty

#65 Waldeinsamkeit (n.)

Pronunciation: VALD-eye-n-zam-kite

Origin: German

Definition: Forest solitude; The feeling of being alone in the woods

#66 Cockaigne (n.)

Pronunciation: kaw-KAYN

Origin: French

Definition: Literally translates to “the land of plenty”; An imaginary or a fabled land of luxury and idleness

#67 Sonder (v.)

Pronunciation: sohn-dehrr

Origin: coined by John Koeing of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows inspired by German and French word – sonder

Definition: The realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own

#68 Boketto (v.)

Pronunciation: bo-ke-tto

Origin: Japanese

Definition: The act of gazing vacantly into the distance without a thought

#69 Sprachgefühl (n.)

Pronunciation: SHPRAHKH-guh-fuel

Origin: German

Definition: The character and spirit of a language; An intuitive sense of the rule and rhythm of language

#70 Solivagant (n.)

Pronunciation: “sO-li-‘vA-gant

Origin: Latin

Definition: A solitary wanderer; Someone who wanders alone

#71 Sehnsucht (n.)

Pronunciation: zEn-‘zUkt

Origin: German

Definition: A wistful longing or indescribable yearning in the heart for we know not what

#72 Serendipity (n.)

Pronunciation: seh-ruhn-DI-puh-tee

Origin: English

Definition: To find something good without looking for it; To discover something beautiful by chance or accidentally

#73 Mudita (n.)

Pronunciation: Muw-DIY-Taa

Origin: Sanskrit

Definition: Literally translates to “pure joy”; Sympathetic, vicarious joy; Taking delight in the happiness, success, and well-being of others

#74 Tsundoku (n.)

Pronunciation: tsoon-DOH-koo

Origin: Japanese

Definition: The art of buying books and leaving them unread, often piled together with other unread books; Book hoarding

#75 Voorpret (n.)

Pronunciation: VOR – pret 

Origin: Dutch

Definition: Pre-fun; The sense of enjoyment felt before party or event takes place; joy or pleasure ahead and in anticipation of the actual fun event

#76 Meraki (v.)

Pronunciation: may-rah-kee

Origin: Greek

Definition: To do something with soul, creativity, or love; to leave a piece and essence of yourself in your work

#77 Hanyauku (v.)

Pronunciation: ha-ahn-yoh-kuu

Origin: Kwangali (Namibia)

Definition: To walk on tiptoes across hot sand

#78 Jazba (n.)

Pronunciation: jaẕ-bā

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Strong desire or passion or emotion or sentiment

#79 Drapetomania (n.)

Pronunciation: drap-et-O-mAn-E-a

Origin: Greek

Definition: An overwhelming urge to run away

#80 Querencia (n.)

Pronunciation: kweeuh-ruhn-see-uh 

Origin: Spanish

Definition: A place where you are your most authentic self; A place from which your strength of character is drawn, where you feel safe, where you feel at home

#81 Quaquaversal (adj.)

Pronunciation: kwey-kwuh-VUR-suh l

Origin: Latin

Definition: Moving or happening in every direction instantaneously towards a center

#82 Heimweh (n.)

Pronunciation: heim·veyh

Origin: German

Definition: Homesickness; Longing for home; Nostalgia

#83 Heimat (n.)

Pronunciation: hai-mat

Origin: German

Definition: A place that you can call home; A sense of belongingness, acceptance, safety, and connection to the homeland.

#84 Dérive (n.)

Pronunciation: dih-rih-vee

Origin: French

Definition: Literally translates to “drift”; A spontaneous and unplanned journey where the traveler leaves their life behind for a time to let the spirit of landscape and architecture attract and move them

Does this ever happen to you? I felt that drift when I visited the Vis island in Croatia.

#85 Photophile (n.)

Pronunciation: pho-to-phile

Origin: English

Definition: Derived from the biological term “photophilic” for an organism that thrives in full light, it means a person who loves photography and light

#86 Ecophobia (n.)

Pronunciation: ih-ko-foh-bee-uh

Origin: English

Definition: A fear or dislike of one’s home

#87 Numinous (adj.)

Pronunciation: ‘nU-mi-nus

Origin: Latin

Definition: Literally translates to “divinity”; Describing an experience (mostly spiritual) that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted – the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired

#88 Schwellenangst (n.)

Pronunciation: ‘shwel-en-ahngst

Origin: German

Definition: Fear of crossing a threshold to begin a new chapter; Fear of new things

#89 Strikhedonia (n.)

Pronunciation: “strik-he-‘dOn-E-a

Origin: Greek

Definition: The pleasure of being able to say “to hell with it”

#90 Vagary (n.)

Pronunciation: vuh-gair-ee, vey-guh-ree

Origin: Latin

Definition: An unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; A whimsical, wild, unusual idea, desire, or action

#91 Livsnjutare (n.)

Pronunciation: lives-noo-tuhreh

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Literally meaning, “enjoyer of life”, This describes someone who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme

#92 Commuovere (v.)

Pronunciation: com-muò-ve-re

Origin: Italian

Definition: To stir, to touch, to move to tears; To be moved in a heartwarming way, usually relating to a story that moved you to tears

#93 Abendrot (n.)

Pronunctaion: A-bend-rot  

Origin: German

Definition: Literally translates to “evening red”; The color of the sky while the sun is setting

#94 Serein (n.)

Pronunciation: suh-RAN

Origin: French

Definition: The fine, light rain that falls from a clear sky in the twilight hours after sunset or in the early hours of the night; Evening serenity

Read More: Sunset Quotes and Sunset Captions for Instagram

#95 Erlebnisse (n.)

Pronunciation: Ar-‘lEb-nis-e (ayr-LEEB-nis-eh)

Origin: German

Definition: The experiences, positive or negative, that we feel most deeply, and through which we truly live; Not mere experiences, but EXPERIENCES

#96 Astrophile (n.)

Pronunciation: as-trophile

Origin: English

Definition: A person who loves stars

Are you Astrophile? Then, you must take this epic stargazing road trip in Colorado!

#97 Psithurism (n.)

Pronunciation: sith-your-ism

Origin: English

Definition: The sound of the leaves rustling as the wind blows through the trees

#98 Trouvaille (n.)

Pronunciation: trU-‘vI

Origin: French

Definition: A chance encounter with something wonderful

#99 Hygge (n.)

Pronunciation: hue-guh

Origin: Danish

Definition: The warm feeling you get while enjoying the company of great friends and all life has to offer

Discover and experience the Danish concept of Hygge in Copenhagen! Hey, and also take a look at the beautiful Danish words!

#100 Onism (n.)

Origin: Danish

Definition: The awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience; The frustration of being stuck in just one body that inhabits only one place at a time

#101 Rückkehrunruhe (n.)

Pronuciation: rück·keh·run·ru·he, Rukeerenruhee

The feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows defines – the feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to keep reminding yourself that it happened at all, even though it felt so vivid just days ago—which makes you wish you could smoothly cross-dissolve back into everyday life, or just hold the shutter open indefinitely and let one scene become superimposed on the next, so all your days would run together and you’d never have to call cut.

#102 Vemödalen (n.)

Pronunciation: ve·mö·da·len

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The fear that everything has already been done

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows defines – The frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist—the same sunset, same waterfall, same curve of a hip, same closeup of an eye—which can turn a unique subject into something hollow and pulpy and cheap, like a mass-produced piece of furniture you happen to have assembled yourself.

#103 Kopfkino (n.)

Pronunciation: kopf·ki·no

Origin: German

Definition: Literally translates to “head cinema”; It’s the act of playing out an entire scenario in your mind

#104 Quaintrelle (n.)

Pronunciation: quAn-‘trel

Origin: Middle English

Definition: A woman who emphasizes a life of passion expressed through personal style, leisurely pastimes, charm, and cultivation of life’s pleasures

#105 Pulchritudinous (adj.)

Pronunciation: pul-kruh-TOO-di-nuhs

Origin: English

Definition: Beyond beautiful; A person of breathtaking, heartbreaking beauty

#106 Yoko meshi (n.)

Pronunciation: yoh–koh mesh-ee

Origin: Japanese

Definition: Literally translates to “a meal eaten sideways”; It’s a beautiful and untranslatable word that describes the stress of speaking a foreign language.

#107 Selcouth (adj.)

Pronunciation: sel′ko̅o̅th′

Origin: Old English

Definition: Unfamiliar, rare, and strange, yet marvelous and wondrous; The way we feel the sense of wonder and amazement when we see and experience something new and unusual whilst traveling

The selcouth beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park left us awestruck!

#108 Monachopsis (n.)

Pronunciation: mona-chop-sis, MON-a-Cop-sis

Origin: Greek

Definition: The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place, not fitting in

#109 Eudaimonia (n.)

Pronunciation: U-de-‘mOn-E

Origin: Greek

Definition: Literally translates to “human flourishing;” A contented state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous; The way we feel while traveling

#110 Natsukashii (adj.)

Pronunciation: nats-ka-‘shE, nahtzkah-SHEE

Origin: Japanese (懐かしい )

Definition: Feeling nostalgic; Bringing back happy memories of the past

#111 Coddiwomple (v.)

Pronunciation: KAHD-ee-wahm-puhl

Origin: English slang

Definition: To travel purposefully towards an unknown or vague destination

#112 Novaturient (adj.)

Pronunciation: nuh-vuh-nyoo-tree-uhnt

Origin: Latin

Definition: Desiring or seeking powerful change in one’s life, behavior, or a certain situation

#113 Eleutheromania (n.)

Pronunciation: el-U-“ther-O-‘mAn-E-a

Origin: Greek

Definition: An intense and irresistible desire for freedom

#114 Eunoia (n.)

Pronunciation: yoo-noy-iea

Origin: Greek

Definition: Beautiful thinking; A well mind

Out of the beautiful words in English, Did you know Eunoia is the shortest English word containing all five main vowel graphemes?

#115 Sturmfrei (adj.)

Pronuciation: stirm-fra

Origin: Germany

Definition: Literally translates to “storm-free”; the freedom of being alone and being able to do what your heart desires

#116 Nemophilist (n.)

Pronunciation: ne-‘mo-fe-list

Origin: Greek

Definition: One who loves the beauty and solitude of forest; a haunter of the woods

Do you identify yourself as a Nemophilist? You must then plan a trip to one of the best national parks in the world.

#117 Halcyon (adj.)

Pronunciation: hal-see-uhn

Origin: Greek

Definition: A period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful

#118 Thalassophile (n.)

Pronunciation: thal-uh-suh-fīl

Origin: Greek

Definition: A lover of the sea or ocean

You aren’t a thalassophile if you haven’t visited Greece, Croatia, and Sri Lanka 🙂

#119 Fika (n.)Pronunciation: fee-ka

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Almost like a ritual in Swedish culture, it’s sharing a cup coffee (or tea) and cake with friends or colleagues

#120 Ogooglebar (adj.)

Pronunciation:

Origin: Swedish

Definition: Ungoogleable, someone or something that doesn’t show up in Google search results

#121 Gluggaveður (n.)

Pronunciation: glook-ah-vay-ther

Origin: Icelandic

Definition: Literally translates to “window-weather,” the type of weather that is best appreciated indoors

#122 Arbejdsglæde (n.)

Pronunciation: ah-bites-gleh-the

Origin: Danish

Definition: Literally translates to “happiness at work,” when your work is a source of joy and happiness

#123 Vorfreude (n.)

Pronunciation: vor-freude

Origin: German

Definition: The joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures

#124 Brumous (adj.)

Pronunciation: bru·mous

Origin: Literary English

Definition: Of gray skies and winter days, filled with heavy clouds or fog

Craving cozy feel of a brumous day (no pun intended)? Head to one of the best winter destinations in the USA. Europe on mind? No problem. We even have a list of the best winter destinations in Europe for you.

#125 Hodophile (adj.)

Pronunciation: how-doh-phile

Origin: Greek

Definition: The one who loves to travel; A traveler with a special affinity for roads

You Might Like: The Ultimate List of Road Quotes for Road Trippers

#126 Ubuntu (n.)

Pronunciation: oo-buhn-too

Origin: Nguni, South African

Definition: Literally translates to “humanity”; It’s the belief that we all are defined by our compassion and humanity towards others

#127 Nunchi (n.)

Pronunciation: noon-chee

Origin: Korean

Definition: Literally translates to “eye-measure”; It’s a subtle art and ability to listen and gauge others’ moods and react appropriately

#128 Arcane (adj.)

Pronunciation: aa-kein

Origin: Latin

Definition: Secret, Mysterious, Understood by few

#129 Kaulayaw (n.)

Pronunciation: kauli-haw

Origin: Filipino or Tagalog

Definition: Intimate or close companion or friend

#130 Kos (n.)

Pronunciation: coosh

Origin: Norwegian

Definition: Danish hygge; coziness; all things warm and cozy; it can simply mean enjoying a cup of coffee with a freshly baked cinnamon bun or having a good time with family and friends or reading a good book or snuggling in a blanket while it’s snowing outside or anything that makes you feel purely happy.

Goes without saying, Norway is the best place to discover and experience the Norwegian Hygge.

#131 Ebullience (n.)

Pronunciation: uh·buh·lee·uhns

Origin: Latin

Definition: The quality of being bubbly, enthusiastic, and exuberant

#132 Goya (n.)

Pronunciation: go-yaa

Origin: Urdu (گویا)

Definition: As if; A momentary suspension of disbelief that occurs when fantasy is so realistic that it temporarily becomes reality, usually associated with a story very well told; a story that feels like reality

#133 Camhanaich (n.)

Pronunciation: kav’-an-ach

Origin: Scots-Gaelic

Definition: Early morning twilight; the half-light of dawn or dusk

Read More: The Best Sunrise Quotes and Sunrise Captions for Instagram

#134 Kawaakari (n.)

Pronunciation: ka-wa-a-ka-rE

Origin: Japanese

Definition: The glow of a river or stream in darkness or dusk, the gleaming surface of a shadowed river

#135 Mysa (n.)

Pronunciation: MEE-sah

Origin: Swedish, Icelandic

Definition: The feeling of comfort and protection; a time dedicated to coziness

#136 Ineffable (adj.)
Pronunciation: uh-NEH-fuh-bl
Origin: Late Middle English
Definition: Incapable of being expressed in words

#137 Nefarious (adj.)
Pronunciation: nuh-FEUH-ree-uhs
Origin: Latin
Definition: Wicked, Despicable, Villainous, Evil, Sinful

#138 Somnambulist (n.)
Pronunciation: som-nam-byuh-list

Origin: French
Definition: A sleepwalker, a person who walks around while they are asleep

#139 Akrasia (n.)
Pronunciation: uh-KRAY-zhuh
Origin: Greek
Definition: Lack of self-control or the state of acting against one’s better judgment

#140 Zephyr (n.)
Pronunciation: ZEH-fuh
Origin: Old English
Definition: A breeze from the west; a gentle breeze

#141 Hanan (n.)

Pronunciation: hana-n

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Compassion and Kindness

#142 Szerelem (n.)

Pronunciation: sze -re -lem

Origin: Hungarian

Definition: Romantic love

#143 Revontulet (n.)

Pronunciation:  Re-von-tu-let

Origin: Finnish

Definition: Literally translates to Fox Fires; Aurora Borealis; Northern Lights

#144 Yötön yö (n.)

Pronunciation: Yoton-yo

Origin: Finnish

Definition: Nightless night; Midnight Sun

The summer in Finland is magical. The sun doesn’t go down at all in the northern region of Finland. It’s when you can see the magical Yötön yö.

#145 Elvágyódás (n.)

Pronunciation: El-vagyo-dash

Origin: Hungarian

Definition: The desire to get away from where you currently are; Aching for what is far away

#146 Sonrisa (n.)

Pronunciation: Sohn-ree-sah

Origin: Spanish

Definition: Smile

#147 Weltschmerz (n.)

Pronuciation: velt-shmerts

Origin: German

Definition: Literally translates to translates to “world weariness” or “world pain”; It’s a melancholic feeling that comes from the realization that the material world can’t ever comfort the emotional and mental desires

#148 Sadiq (n.)

Pronunciation: Saa-duhk

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Friend; Companion; True; Faithful; Veracious; Sincere; Honest; Loyal

#149 Forelsket (adj.)

Pronunciation: for-el-skit

Origin: Danish

Definition: Being madly in love – an ineffable euphoria experienced when one’s enamored with someone

#150 Ruhaniyat (n.)

Pronunciation: Ruu-haa-niyat

Origin: Arabic

Definition: Soulfulness; Spiritualism

#151 Sarang (n.)

Pronunciation: sa-rang

Origin: Korean

Definition: Love

I’m sure with so many new words added to your vocabulary, it’d be a cinch to describe your emotions, your life, or just you. Over to you now. Which one of these words do you identify with the most? Would you like to add your favorite word to the list? Share with us in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this post. If yes, would you please share it with the world.

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Words are an important part of communication. Perhaps, some might argue, the most important part. But words are ever-changing, and what a word means today doesn’t always align with what it meant years ago. In this article, we explore 32 words that have changed meaning over time.

The history of the English language is a long and winding road, leading words to take on new meanings as time has gone by. Some words have retained their original meaning while others have been given entirely new ones. The interesting thing about these changes is that they reflect how society has evolved over the years – from kings ruling kingdoms to computers dominating offices and homes across the globe.

Now, as we face even more societal changes – such as gender identification, cultural appropriation, and inclusion – words that we used to toss about on a daily basis will need to change again.

There are words that were once used to describe people or things in a very different way than they do now. That’s because the English language – and language in general – is a living organism: it changes through time and across cultures in order to reflect the needs of that society. Words that have changed meaning over time don’t usually do so by accident. Or, at least, they didn’t used to.

Sometimes words just take on different meanings as colloquialisms change over time, but often words were given new meaning by those in power – such as monarchs or presidents ruling a country who specified the language used within their domain.

The history of English has a lot to do with power struggles: from kings trying to control their kingdoms with words to tyrants waging wars for global domination. And sometimes words that have changed meaning did so simply because it’s more fun than keeping things traditional. Plus, pop culture plays a role in how words are used as we are increasingly exposed to sayings and meanings that we might never have seen without Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

If you love words as much as I do, you’ll love some of these Words of Wisdom posts featuring some stunning quotes on various subjects, including:

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WORDS OF WISDOM – THE BEST QUOTES TO GET YOUR THROUGH YOUR DAY

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Here we look at 32 words with meanings that have changed throughout history. We also see how these changes represent societal progress over time! Examples include useful words like ‘awful’, ‘unbelievable’, and ‘gay’ but there are many others for your enjoyment too!

The Word Nice

In the past, this word used to mean “simple” or “foolish”. It was meant as a derogatory comment about someone’s less-than-stellar mental capacities. Nowadays, it has a very different – and much “nicer” – meaning.

The Word Silly

The space that Nice used to occupy is now owned by Silly. Today, this is used to refer to someone who is “foolish” or acts in a way that’s immature. However, it comes from an Old English term meaning “blessed”. This word morphed over time from “blessed” to “pious” to “innocent” to “harmless” to “pitiable” to “week” to “feeble” over the course of several centuries.

The Word Unbelievable

This word originated as a contraction of words meaning “not able” and “to believe”. It meant exactly what the word says – unable to believe. In order words, you were accusing the person of lying. However, nowadays it is used to describe something as “very good or impressive”.

The Word Dumb

In the past, this word meant someone who was mute or silent – either by choice or by physical restriction. Today’s meaning relates more to mental state as a dumb person can say a lot of dumb things.

The Word Awful

This is another example of a derogatory term having been transformed from something that used to have positive connotations. Awful meant impressive, great, or worthy of respect (aka Full of Awe), and could be good or bad depending on its usage. Now, something that is awful is never very good!

The Word Fizzle

Fizzle used to be a word that described the sound made by gas escaping from something, such as drinks (or the human body)! The word has since been adopted in English slang and is now used to describe something that fails to perform as expected.

The Word Glamour

To think of something that has Glamour, one tends to think of opulence, such as Hollywood Glamour, but this word was originally used to refer to a magical enchantment.

The Word Mad

Mad is an adjective that meant “insane” or “crazy”, a way to describe someone who had severe mental problems! To ask someone “Are you mad?” had VERY serious potential consequences back in the day. Not only have these meanings softened over time, but “Mad” can now be used in a positive way, such as complimenting someone on their “Mad Skills, bro!”

The Word Sick

In the past, this was a noun meaning someone with a severe illness or disease – it was not used when someone simply felt unwell. Although it is still used in that way today, it has also expanded and has – in recent years – been adopted in English slang to describe something as “cool”.

The Word Wench

Wench is a word that has an interesting and somewhat surprising history. It first came into the English language as words describing children of both genders – it was even used to describe a young boy or apprentice – although it was more commonly used to refer to a female child. It was only later words used to describe female servants.

The Word Fathom

Fathom is a word that was used to describe the act of measurement. To “Fathom” something was to measure it using your outstretched arms to measure something. Now, instead of wrapping your arms around something, it means to figuratively “wrap your mind around” an interesting concept. I can’t quite Fathom how this came to be. However, as with many words that have changed meaning over time, there are still traditional uses of the word, and Fathom is still often used to measure the water’s depth.

The Word Clue

Clue was used to describe a thread or “balls of yarn”. These balls were useful for finding your way through winding passages, and that’s how they started being used to describe a way of finding your way out of a difficult situation. Eventually, it evolved to describe any kind of guide, even something as simple as a hint or a suggestion!

The Word Gossip

Gossip originated from words describing those who sang in the choir. The choir would often gather around and “sing” (gossip) to one another about other members of their community!

The Word Naughty

Although naughty is used to describe children (or adults) who misbehave, that wasn’t always the case. This was used to describe a child too young to speak (had naught words), or those who were poor (had naught or nothing). It wasn’t until later that it was used to describe behavior.

The Word Spinster

In the past, Spinster was used to describe women who spun yarn. This evolved into a new meaning, describing single, working, or unmarried women!

The Word Bachelor

For the variation that applies to single men, the word bachelor originally described a young knight of the lowest rank. It wasn’t until later that this word started being used to describe an unmarried man.

The Word Flirt

Flirt was used to describe something that fluttered or flickered, like a bird’s wings! Now it has a more negative connotation to describe someone who is insincere and attention-seeking, or someone playing with another’s emotions.

The Word Hussy

This is another word that completely changed its meaning over time, as it was originally used to refer to the mistress of a household (aka a housewife). Now, it takes on a much less reputable meaning.

The Word Quell

Back in the day, Quelling something or someone meant to kill it outright, now it takes on a much more subdued meaning (pun intended)!

The Word B*tch

This is another example of an offensive term that has been used in positive ways over time! It derives from the technical term for a female dog, which then transitioned to a derogatory descriptor for someone acting as such. Eventually, it became a generally disparaging description for an unliked female. Although even more recently, it is often used in a friendly way among social gatherings – but use it with caution!

The Word Dork

This is now used as a word to describe someone who is not very cool. However, the word ‘dork’ was originally another term for a male penis. Nowadays, it’s used in a more affectionate way, meaning something or somebody “nerdy” or perhaps even “super smart.”

The Word Maid

This originated in the Middle Ages when it was used to describe a woman who worked in domestic service. This word then evolved into meaning “a sexually pure or innocent young woman” (or old maid, which was meant to reference an older woman who never married and – therefore, it was assumed – remained a virgin). Eventually, it changed back to meaning those who helped with domestic chores.

The Word Senile

Senile was originally used to describe old people in general, but it changed over time to describe someone who has lost some (or all) of their mental faculties with age.

The Word Punk

This word started out life as words referring to a young boy or servant! It could even be related words describing the devil in Christian texts. Nowadays, we use words to describe those who are disaffected or antagonistic… or a type of music.

The Word Gay

Gay started out as describing those who were happy and carefree. It was even used to describe a type of fabric! Now it is used primarily to refer to homosexual men (and sometimes women). However, it further developed into a derogatory and sometimes offensive term to refer to something being “bad” or “stupid”. With the continued LGTBQ+ rights movement, the derogatory usage of the word “Gay” has been reduced substantially over the past few years, but you can still hear people comment that something is “So Gay!” in a negative way.

The Word Nerd

In the past, Nerd described unsophisticated or boorish people, now it takes on a different meaning altogether! It is words describing someone who is overly intellectual or beyond geeky.

The Word Hipster

Although Hipster was originally used to describe someone who wore a specific style of clothing, it has taken on words that relate more specifically to fashion and counter-culture.

The Word Egregious

Egregious was used to describe something that was not common or ordinary. So, if you were distinguished or eminent, you could be egregious. Such as being an egregious doctor. Now egregious behavior is more likely to be considered offensive and unnecessary!

The Word Queue

Queue words originally referred to a tail, and it has evolved into words referring to a line of people. It’s hard to imagine where this will go next, but I’d line up to see that!

The Word Quaint

Quaint was originally used to describe something that was old-fashioned or out of the ordinary. Now quaint has taken on more of a cute and homey meaning, and can often be considered diminutive.

The Word Myriad

Myriad words used to have a specific number, 10,000. So if you had a Myriad of something, you had 10,000 of that particular item. Nowadays, myriad just means a more general sense of quantity, as in having a LOT of something, without specifying a certain number. For example, Art & Home carries a myriad of Tapestry Wall Hangings. If I said this back in the day, it would not be true… as we don’t – quite – have 10,000 of them. Today, with over 2,000 of them to choose from, this word applies.

The Word Scurvy

Scurvy originally referred to someone who was infested with lice, but it has taken on a different meaning altogether! Although still not a pleasant situation, this is one of the words that have changed meaning within a similar category at least.

In Conclusion – Words That Have Changed Meaning

There are plenty of words that have changed meaning over time, and it will continue to happen as time continues to march on.

Words change their meaning as time goes on and as our understanding of the English language changes over time! Although words may seem like they are set in stone without much leeway for variation, it is interesting to note how these words have shifted and can continue to shift with time and context.

And I would not be at all surprised to see these words, and others, continue to change their meanings as time marches onward.

What makes a word beautiful?

Is it the sound of the word or its meaning?

The study of the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the way words and phrases sound (regardless of their meaning) is called phonaesthetics.

But I think the combination of sound and meaning is what makes for pretty words.

Consider the word “diarrhea” which trills off the tongue but isn’t a pleasant topic to ponder.

But the word “diary” is equally pleasing to the ear and has an intriguing meaning.

What Are the Most Beautiful Words?

The most beautiful words in English are those that thrill the ear and that stir the mind or soul.

They are words that inspire, uplift, excite, comfort, challenge, move and entice us. But they can also have a neutral or even unpleasant meaning (hemorrhage, flatulence, etc.).

British linguist, David Crystal, created a series of attributes of words that are commonly considered beautiful. Those attributes include:

• Having three or more syllables.
• Emphasis on the first syllable.
• The presence of particular letters people enjoy saying (like I and M).

Ultimately, the most beautiful words are the words that you find beautiful.

What is the Prettiest Word in the World?

There are more than 7000 languages in the world, with hundreds of thousands of words in most of them. So it’s difficult (if not impossible) to narrow the list to one word alone.

You might start by exploring the most beautiful languages in the world which are often considered Italian, French, Arabic, and Turkish.

But still, what each person finds beautiful is subjective.

Maybe we should just be happy there are so many lovely words in all languages.

How to Use Beautiful Words in English

Whether you are a logophile (a word lover) and simply enjoy the variety and character of words, or you’re a writer who is looking for the perfect word, you’ll find yourself needing to find aesthetic words at some point.

Maybe you wonder, “What are elegant words I can use to reflect my intelligence or sophisticated style.” The words you use do communicate to others who you are and how you see yourself.

You can use these words to . . .

Are you ready to explore some really good words that you can add to your vocabulary?

Our list of beautiful words below is a great resource to bookmark and keep handy whenever you need just the right word that sounds lovely.

Don’t have time to read the complete list of beautiful words? You can download the PDF here.

1. Abundance

A very large quantity of something.

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Again and again in the same way; forever

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3. Admirable

Arousing or deserving respect and approval.

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4. Adoration

Deep love and respect.

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5. Affable

Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.

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6. Agility

Ability to move or think quickly and easily.

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7. Ailurophile

A cat lover.

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8. Alacrity

Brisk and cheerful readiness.

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9. Alluring

Powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating; seductive.

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10. Aloha

A Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting from someone.

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11. Altruism

The belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.

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12. Amaranthine

From the Greek word amarantos, meaning immortal or unfading.

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13. Amiable

Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.

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14. Amorous

Showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire.

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15. Angelic

An exceptionally beautiful, innocent, or kind person.

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16. Apotheosis

The highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.

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17. Assemblage

A collection or gathering of things or people.

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18. Astonishing

Extremely surprising or impressive; amazing.

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19. Astounding

Surprisingly impressive or notable.

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20. Ascension

The act of rising to an important position or a higher level.

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21. Astral

Of, connected with or resembling the stars.

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22. Audacious

Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.

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23. Aurora

A natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, usually near the northern or southern magnetic pole.

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24. Awe

A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.

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25. Beatify

To make holy or sacred.

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26. Beauteous

Beautiful.

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27. Becoming

Flattering a person’s appearance.

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28. Beguile

To charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way.

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29. Belonging

An affinity for a place or situation.

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30. Beloved

Dearly loved.

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31. Benefactor

A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.

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32. Benevolence

The quality of being well-meaning; kindness.

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33. Blazing

To burn fiercely or brightly.

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34. Blessing

A beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being.

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35. Bliss

Perfect happiness; great joy.

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36. Blossom

The state or period of flowering.

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37. Breathtaking

Astonishing or awe-inspiring in quality, so as to take one’s breath away.

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38. Breeziness

Fresh and animated;lively.

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39. Brilliance

An intense brightness of light.

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40. Brisk

Active, fast, and energetic.

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41. Bubbling

Characterized by cheerful high spirits.

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42. Bucolic

Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.

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43. Bungalow

A low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.

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44. Buoyancy

The ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.

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45. Calcination

To heat (a substance) to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point, causing loss of moisture, reduction or oxidation, and the decomposition of carbonates and other compounds.

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46. Calm

Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.

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47. Candor

The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.

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48. Caprice

A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.

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49. Carpe Diem

Latin, ‘seize the day!’, a quotation from Horace.

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50. Cascade

A small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope.

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51. Cashmere

Fine, soft wool, originally that from the Kashmir goat.

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52. Catharsis

The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

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53. Celerity

The swiftness of movement.

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54. Centered

Well balanced and confident or serene.

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55. Champion

A person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else.

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56. Charisma

Compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.

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57. Charm

The power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration.

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58. Chatoyant

Of a gem, especially when cut en cabochon, showing a band of bright reflected light caused by aligned inclusions in the stone.

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59. Cheerful

Noticeably happy and optimistic.

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60. Chrysalis

A transitional state.

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61. Cinnamon

An aromatic spice made from the peeled, dried and rolled bark of a Southeast Asian tree.

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62. Clarity

The quality of being coherent and intelligible.

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63. Classy

Stylish and sophisticated.

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64. Clearheaded

Alert and thinking logically and coherently.

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65. Clinomania

An obsession with bed rest.

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66. Coalesce

Come together to form one mass or whole.

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67. Comely

Typically a woman who is pleasant to look at; attractive.

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68. Compassion

Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

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69. Conflate

Combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one.

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70. Consciousness

The state of being awake and aware of one’s surroundings.

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71. Contentment

A state of happiness and satisfaction.

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72. Coruscate

Flash or sparkle of light.

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73. Creativity

The use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

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74. Crepuscular

Of, resembling, or relating to twilight.

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75. Crystalline

Having the structure and form of a crystal; composed of crystals.

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76. Cuddle

Hold close in one’s arms as a way of showing love or affection.

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77. Cynosure

A person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.

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78. Dalliance

A casual romantic or sexual relationship.

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79. Dandy

A man unduly devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance.

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80. Dapper

Typically a man who is neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing.

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81. Dauntless

Showing fearlessness and determination.

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82. Dazzling

Extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily.

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83. Debonair

A man who is confident, stylish, and charming.

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84. Delicate

Very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality.

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85. Delicious

Highly pleasant to the taste.

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86. Delightful

Causing delight; charming.

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87. Demesne

Land attached to a manor and retained for the owner’s own use.

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88. Demure

A woman who is reserved, modest, and shy.

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89. Denouement

The final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.

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90. Desirable

Wanted or wished for as being an attractive, useful, or necessary course of action.

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91. Desuetude

A state of disuse.

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92. Desultory

Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.

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93. Devotion

Love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.

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94. Diaphanous

Light, delicate, and translucent, especially a fabric.

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95. Discombobulate

To disconcert or confuse someone.

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96. Dissemble

To conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs.

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97. Divinity

The state or quality of being divine.

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98. Doting

Extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring.

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99. Dreamy

Having a magical or pleasantly unreal quality; dreamlike.

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100. Dulcet

A sweet and soothing sound.

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101. Earnest

Resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction

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102. Ebullience

The quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance.

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103. Ecstasy

An overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.

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104. Effervescent

A liquid giving off bubbles; fizzy.

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105. Efflorescence

A state or time of flowering.

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106. Effortless

Requiring no physical or mental exertion.

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107. Elation

Great happiness and exhilaration.

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108. Elegant

Pleasingly graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.

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109. Elision

The omission of a sound or syllable when speaking

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110. Elixir

A magical or medicinal potion.

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111. Eloquence

Fluent or persuasive speaking or writing.

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112. Embrocation

A liquid used for rubbing on the body to relieve pain from sprains and strains.

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113. Emollient

Having the quality of softening or soothing the skin.

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114. Emulate

Match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation.

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115. Enamoured

To be filled with a feeling of love for someone or something.

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116. Enchanted

Placed under a spell; bewitched.

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117. Enraptured

Experiencing intense pleasure or joy.

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118. Enthralled

Experiencing fascinated attention.

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119. Ephemeral

Lasting for a very short time.

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120. Epiphany

A moment of sudden revelation or insight.

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121. Equanimity

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.

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122. Equilibrium

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

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123. Erstwhile

Former.

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124. Ethereal

Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.

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125. Etiquette

The customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.

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126. Euphoria

A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.

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127. Evanescent

Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.

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128. Evocative

Bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.

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129. Exonerate

To absolve someone from blame for a fault or wrongdoing, especially after due consideration of the case.

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130. Exquisite

Extremely beautiful and, typically, delicate.

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131. Exuberant

Filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement.

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132. Fabulous

Amazingly good; wonderful.

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133. Faithful

Loyal, constant, and steadfast.

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134. Fascination

The power to fascinate someone; the quality of being fascinating.

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135. Feasible

Possible to do easily or conveniently.

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136. Feisty

A person who is relatively small or weak but also lively, determined, and courageous.

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137. Felicity

Intense happiness.

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138. Festive

Cheerful and jovially celebratory.

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139. Fetching

Attractive.

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140. Fidelity

Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.

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141. Filament

A slender threadlike object or fiber, especially one found in animal or plant structures.

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142. Flawless

Without any blemishes or imperfections; perfect.

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143. Flourish

To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.

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144. Flowing

Hanging or draping loosely and gracefully.

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145. Forbearance

Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.

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146. Fortitude

Courage in pain or adversity.

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147. Friendship

The emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends.

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148. Fugacious

Tending to disappear; fleeting.

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149. Fulfilling

Making someone satisfied or happy because of fully developing their character or abilities.

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150. Furtive

Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive.

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151. Gambol

Run or jump about playfully.

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152. Gargantuan

Enormous.

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153. Giddy

Having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizzy.

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154. Ginger

A hot, fragrant spice made from the rhizome of a plant, which may be chopped or powdered for cooking, preserved in syrup, or candied.

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155. Glamour

An attractive or exciting quality that makes certain people or things seem appealing.

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156. Glorious

Having a striking beauty or splendor that evokes feelings of delighted admiration.

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157. Goddess

A woman who is adored, especially for her beauty.

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158. Gorgeous

Beautiful; very attractive.

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159. Gossamer

Used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate.

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160. Graceful

Having or showing grace or elegance.

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161. Halcyon

Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.

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162. Handsome

A good-looking man.

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163. Harbinger

A forerunner of something.

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164. Harmony

The quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.

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165. Heartfelt

A feeling or its expression that is sincere; deeply and strongly felt.

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166. Heartwarming

Emotionally rewarding or uplifting.

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167. Heavenly

Very pleasing; wonderful.

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168. Hilarity

Extreme amusement, especially when expressed by laughter.

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169. Holiness

The state of being holy.

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170. Hopefulness

Having or manifesting hope.

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171. Humility

A modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.

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172. Idyllic

A time or place that is extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.

---

173. Illumination

Lighting or light.

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174. Illustrious

Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.

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175. Imbrication

An overlapping of edges (as of tiles or scales).

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176. Imbroglio

An extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation.

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177. Imbue

To inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality.

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178. Incandescence

The light emmited by an incandescent object.

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179. Incipient

In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.

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180. Ineffable

Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.

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181. Ingenue

An innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film.

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182. Inglenook

A space on either side of a large fireplace.

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183. Insouciance

Casual lack of concern; indifference.

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184. Intrepid

Fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect).

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185. Inure

Accustom to something, especially something unpleasant.

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186. Invincible

Too powerful to be defeated or overcome.

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187. Iridescent

Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.

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188. Jaunty

Having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner.

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189. Jocular

Fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful.

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190. Jovial

Cheerful and friendly.

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191. Joyous

Feeling,showing,or causing joy; joyful

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192. Jubilant

Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph.

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193. Judicious

Having or showing good judgment or sense.

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194. Juvenescent

Becoming young or youthful.

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195. Kindred

One’s family and relations.

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196. Kindliness

The quality of being kind, warmhearted, or gentle; kindness.

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197. Kissable

Capable of being kissed; inviting to be kissed through attractiveness.

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198. Labyrinthine

A network like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting.

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199. Lagniappe

Something given as a bonus or extra gift.

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200. Lagoon

A stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef.

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201. Languid

Displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.

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202. Languor

The state or feeling, often pleasant, of tiredness or inertia.

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203. Lassitude

A state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.

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204. Leisure

Free time.

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205. Lilting

Speak, sing, or sound with a lilt.

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206. Lissome

A person or their body that is thin, supple, and graceful.

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207. Lithe

A person’s body that is thin, supple, and graceful.

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208. Lovable

Inspiring or deserving love or affection.

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209. Lullaby

A quiet, gentle song sung to send a child to sleep.

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210. Luminescence

The emission of light by a substance that has not been heated, as in fluorescence and phosphorescence.

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211. Luxury

Sumptuous or extremely comfortable living surroundings.

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212. Magnificent

Splendid in appearance;grand.

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213. Marvelous

Causing great wonder; extraordinary.

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214. Mellifluous

Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear.

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215. Mellow

Pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness.

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216. Mindfulness

A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

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217. Minutiae

Small or trivial details.

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218. Moiety

Each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided.

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219. Mondegreen

A misunderstood or misinterpreted word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of the lyrics of a song.

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220. Murmurous

Filled with or characterized by murmurs; low and indistinct

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221. Nemesis

A long-standing rival; an archenemy.

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222. Namaste

A respectful greeting said when giving a namaskar.

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223. Nebulous

Unclear, vague, or ill-defined concept or idea.

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224. Nirvana

A transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.

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225. Nourishment

The food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.

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226. Nurture

Care for and encourage the growth or development of.

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227. Oblivion

The state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening.

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228. Omnipotent

Having unlimited power; able to do anything.

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229. Onomatopoeia

The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named

---

230. Optimistic

Hopeful and confident about the future.

---

231. Opulent

Ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish.

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232. Pacify

Quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of.

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233. Palimpsest

A manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain.

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234. Panacea

A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.

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235. Panoply

A complete or impressive collection of things.

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236. Paradise

An ideal or idyllic place or state.

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237. Passion

Strong and barely controllable emotion.

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238. Pastiche

An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.

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239. Persevering

Persistent; constant in the execution of a purpose.

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240. Perspicacious

Clear-sighted; mentally perceptive or acute; keen.

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241. Petrichor

A pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.

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242. Phenomenal

Very remarkable; extraordinary.

---

243. Phosphenes

A ring or spot of light produced by pressure on the eyeball or direct stimulation of the visual system other than by light.

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244. Piquancy

A pleasantly sharp and appetizing flavor.

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245. Plethora

A large or excessive amount of something.

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246. Precious

An object, substance, or resource of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.

---

247. Prevarication

To deviate from the truth

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248. Propinquity

The state of being close to someone or something; proximity.

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249. Prosperity

The state of being prosperous.

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250. Pyrrhic

A victory won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.

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251. Quaint

Attractively unusual or old-fashioned.

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252. Quantum

A discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents.

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253. Quickening

To enter into a phase of active growth and development

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254. Quiescent

In a state or period of inactivity or dormancy.

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255. Quietude

A state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place.

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256. Quintessential

Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

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257. Radiant

Sending out light; shining or glowing brightly.

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258. Rapturous

Characterized by, feeling, or expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm.

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260. Ratatouille

A vegetable dish consisting of onions, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers, fried and stewed in oil and sometimes served cold.

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261. Ravel

Untangle or unravel something.

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262. Ravishing

Delightful; entrancing.

---

263. Redolent

Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something.

---

264. Rejuvenate

Make someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively.

---

265. Relent

Abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment.

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266. Repose

A state of rest, sleep, or tranquility.

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267. Resilience

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

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268. Resplendent

Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous.

---

269. Revelation

A surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way.

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270. Reverence

Deep respect for someone or something.

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271. Rhapsodic

Immoderately empassioned or enthusiastic.

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272. Righteousness

The quality of being morally right or justifiable.

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273. Riparian

Relating to or situated on the banks of a river.

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274. Ripple

A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by an object dropping into it or a slight breeze.

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275. Romance

A feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.

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276. Sacred

Connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration.

---

277. Salve

Something that is soothing or consoling for wounded feelings or an uneasy conscience.

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278. Sapphire

A transparent precious stone, typically blue, that is a variety of corundum (aluminum oxide).

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279. Savor

Enjoy or appreciate something pleasant completely, especially by dwelling on it.

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280. Scintilla

A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling.

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281. Sempiternal

Eternal and unchanging; everlasting.

---

282. Sequoia

A redwood tree, especially the California redwood.

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283. Seraglio

A large harem.

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284. Serendipity

The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

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285. Serenity

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

---

286. Silky

Of or resembling silk, especially in being soft, fine, and lustrous.

---

287. Simplicity

The quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.

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288. Solitude

The state or situation of being alone.

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289. Somnambulism

An abnormal condition of sleep in which motor acts (such as walking) are performed

---

290. Sonorous

Capable of producing a deep or ringing sound.

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291. Soulmate

A person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.

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292. Spacious

Having ample space.

---

293. Spellbound

Hold the complete attention of someone as though by magic; fascinate.

---

294. Spherical

Shaped like a sphere.

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295. Splendid

Magnificent; very impressive.

---

296. Sprightliness

Marked by a gay lightness and vivacity.

---

297. Statuesque

An attractively tall and dignified woman.

---

298. Sublime

Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.

---

299. Succulent

Tender, juicy, and tasty food.

---

300. Summery

Characteristic of or suitable for summer.

---

301. Sumptuous

Splendid and expensive-looking.

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302. Supine

Lying face upward.

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303. Surreptitious

Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.

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304. Susquehanna

A river 444 miles (714 kilometers) long in the eastern U.S. flowing from central New York south through Pennsylvania and into the Chesapeake Bay in northern Maryland

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305. Susurrous

Full of whispering sounds.

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306. Symphony

Something regarded, typically favorably, as a composition of different elements.

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307. Talisman

An object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.

---

308. Tenacity

The quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip.

---

309. Tender

Showing gentleness and concern or sympathy.

---

310. Tintinnabulation

A ringing or tinkling sound.

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311. Tolerance

The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular, the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.

---

312. Tranquility

The quality or state of being tranquil; calm.

---

313. Transfiguration

A complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.

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314. Triumph

A great victory or achievement.

---

315. Umbrella

A device consisting of a circular canopy of cloth on a folding metal frame supported by a central rod, used as protection against rain or sometimes sun.

---

316. Unabashed

Not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.

---

317. Unflappable

Having or showing calmness in a crisis.

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318. Unification

The process of being united or made into a whole.

---

319. Unique

Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

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320. Varnish

Resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood, metal, or other materials to form a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry.

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321. Veneration

Great respect; reverence.

---

322. Verity

A true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance.

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323. Vestigial

Forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable.

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324. Vibrant

Full of energy and enthusiasm.

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325. Victorious

Having won a victory; triumphant.

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326. Virtuous

Having or showing high moral standards.

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327. Vitality

The state of being strong and active; energy.

---

328. Vitriolic

Filled with bitter criticism or malice.

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329. Vortex

A mass of whirling fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind

---

330. Vulnerable

Susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.

---

331. Waft

Pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air.

---

332. Wanderlust

A strong desire to travel.

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333. Warmhearted

A person or their actions that are sympathetic and kind.

---

334. Wherewithal

The money or other means needed for a particular purpose.

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335. Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and physical well-being.

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337. Wondrous

Inspiring a feeling of wonder or delight; marvelous.

---

336. Worship

The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.

---

338. Xanadu

An idealized place of great or idyllic magnificence and beauty.

---

339. Xenophobia

Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.

---

340. Xylophone

A musical instrument played by striking a row of wooden bars of graduated length with one or more small wooden or plastic mallets.

---

341. Yearling

An animal (especially a sheep, calf, or foal) that is a year old or that is in its second year.

---

342. Yearn

Have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from.

---

343. Yesteryear

Last year or the recent past, especially as nostalgically recalled.

---

344. Zealous

Having or showing zeal.

---

345. Zenith

The time at which something is most powerful or successful.

---

346. Zephyr

A soft gentle breeze.

---

347. Zestful

Characterized by great enthusiasm and energy.

---

348. Zinfandel

A variety of wine grape grown in California.

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349. Zither

A musical instrument consisting of a flat wooden soundbox with numerous strings stretched across it placed horizontally and played with the fingers and a plectrum. It is used especially in central European folk music.

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350. Zoophilic

Having an attraction to or preference for animals.

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Beautiful Words with Dark Meanings

There are some words that sound lovely but have darker or more negative meanings. Take a look at these pretty words whose sound belies their meanings.

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351. Amorphous

Without a clearly defined shape or form.

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352. Atrament

A very dark substance — usually liquid.

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353. Caliginous

Misty, dark, obscure.

---

354. Cimmerian

A member of a mythical people living in perpetual mist and darkness near the land of the dead.

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355. Crepuscule

Twilight. Obscure, doubtful, or uncertain.

---

356. Darkling

Growing dark or characterized by darkness.

---

357. Dystopian

Relating to an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice.

---

358. Eigengrau

The dark grey color that human eyes see in perfect darkness.

---

359. Gloaming

Twilight, dusk.

---

360. Nebulochaotic

A state of being hazy and confused.

---

361. Nefarious

Wicked or criminal.

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362. Nyctophilia

An attraction to darkness or night; finding relaxation or comfort in the darkness.

---

363. Pernicious

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

---

364. Photophobic

Having an extreme sensitivity to light; growing best under reduced illumination.

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365. Somber

Gloomy, sullen, melancholy; solemn in mood.

---

366. Stygian

Extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding.

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367. Tenebrous

Dark, shadowy, or obscure.

---

368. Umbra

Shadow or darkness. A shaded area.

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369. Woebegone

Exhibiting great sorrow, or misery.

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Did you like these cool-sounding words?

Which of these beautiful words are your favorites?

How will you include them in your writing or conversation so you can make them a regular part of your vocabulary?

Learning good words that aren’t part of your current lexicon has a variety of benefits. Improving your vocabulary . . .

The most beautiful words in the English language don’t mean anything unless they are appreciated and used in communication, education, and writing.

Take advantage of this list of words, commit as many of them to memory as possible, and try to use a new word every day.

And . . . if you want to inspire others, please share this list of beautiful words on your favorite social media platform.

It is inevitable that words change their meanings over time but it is still interesting to know the English words the meanings of which became very different from what they mean originally.

You might be surprised to know that the words you’ll find here are mostly words that you use regularly. It is a regular occurrence and the change of meaning could be narrowed or broadened. An example of this is the word ”hound.” Previously, a canine is traditionally called hound, while dog is used to indicate a canine that is fierce and big. The term ”dog” became the common term, which is broadening its meaning. The meaning of ”hound” became narrow as it now only refers to hunting dogs. Dogs of smaller breeds, especially, including Chihuahuas and toy dogs should never be called hounds.

Some of the narrowing and broadening of the meaning of words happened randomly. The question whether someone drinks refers to imbibing alcoholic drinks rather than all liquids. Previously, enjoying music means enjoying classical music, nothing else. When you say you enjoy reading today, it more or less means that the person is reading fiction instead of books on various subjects including history, science, nature and the like.

Intuitive and transformative shift

The changing of the meaning of words follows a mild transformative and intuitive direction. In the old days ”meat” referred to all items related to food, which is why ”candy” is called sweetmeat. Now meat solely pertain to flesh, which, while narrowed stayed within the sphere of food.

Some of the shift was lateral. Bird for example used to refer to a baby animal before it became the overall term for flying animals, which used to be called ”fugol.” The latter narrowed and changed to ”fowl” and now refers to birds raised in farms such as hens, geese, ducks and turkeys.

Distant shifts

The meanings of many English words today are very far from the original because of implications.

Audition

One of them is the word ”audition” that seems to have the root word that refers to ”audio.” Today, when you hear the term, what easily comes to mind is a person trying out for a film or play.

However, when ”audition” first came to be used, the word was used by doctors to mean that a patient’s hearing would be better once the ears are cleared of whatever is blocking the sound.

In 19th century England, the term for tryouts became ”hearings” because at that time trying out for plays means listening to a person reciting something, which writers turned into something fancier by using the word ”audition.”

The word stuck and used primarily to mean trying out for a performance while hearing became the term that refers to sound perception.

Commodity

Commodity now refers to staple products the quantity of which remains constant regardless of producers. The term is commonly used when referring to futures contracts that ensure uniformity in price even when the market fluctuates.

When the word was first used, it referred to comfort, for example, in accommodation, meaning indulging in personal comforts, such as enjoying the pleasure of staying in bed or spreading your body on a cozy sofa.

The current meaning is very distant for the original intent – from feeling comfortable to being products in the futures market, which is about financial contracts.

Fine

The word ”fine” came from the French word, ”fin” or end. Today, it has evolved to mean something that is ”the best,” ”the ultimate” or ”the top of the line.” Thus, initially fine, means either something of high quality or the end. The high quality meaning is what made it into the English language, which became associated with something delicate. It implies top quality as the item was produced with high precision.

However, there are other used for the word fine. When someone is asked how they are doing, the standard reply is he/she is fine. In this context, the word fine implies that the person is not hurt, is feeling great or in good health. The meaning extends to other things, such as the payment for a minor violation.

When you watch a French film, you are still likely see the word ”fin” at the end before the credits. But outside France, fine means something else.

Minority

The original meaning of the word ”minority” was a ”small portion” of something, which means that it was a technical term. However, today the word is generally used as a demographic term. When you say minority, the implication is that you refer to people of color. In the minds of many Americans, minority refers to Latino and Black people. So even if the Whites were outnumbered by Latinos or Blacks, they would never be referred to as minority because they do not have dark complexions.

Merry

Merry is a word the original meaning of which is very different from how it is used today. In the past, ”merry” meant ”short.” It is because something short or brief is pleasant. Now merry means joy, gaiety, full of merriment, fun, lively and so on. The English language already had a word ”short” in the early days, however, it meant ”sliced off.”

Merry had a long past as well. It started from the steppes in Ukraine where most of the languages in Europe originated. Merry came from the word ”mregh” that became ”brakhion” in Greece. It was a term used for the upper arm, as physically, the lower arm is longer than the upper arm. Brakhion entered the Latin language as ‘brakh” but ended as a pastry term, as in brachitella or bread that resembles folded arms. Old German adopted the term as brezitella that morphed into brezel in Middle High German, which is now known as pretzel.

In the French language, brach referred to shoulder straps that extended to mean the chemise worn by children. Brach evolved into brassiere which was shortened to ”bra.”

In a sense, pretzel and bra are the same as merry, although the evolution that happened gradually means that it would be impossible today to use the three words in a sentence that would make sense.

Awful and awesome

Both words came from ”awe,” which is an Old English word that originally meant dread, terror or fear. When used to refer to God, it meant respectful or reverential fear. Awesome and awful used to be synonyms, but in the 19th century however, awful became a term that is synonymous to the emotion’s negative aspect thus it usually refers to something very bad or something frightful. Awesome on the other hand became the term used to mean mind-boggling, stunning or marvelous, which were cited initially in a 1980 publication called Official Preppy Handbook.

Opposite meaning

The meaning of words will continue to change as long as there are speakers of the language. Some of the meanings shift to become the opposite of the original while some become complimentary or otherwise.

Nice

From the Anglo-Norman language to classical Latin to English, the word ”nice” used to refer to someone ”ignorant” from the Latin word ”nescius.” Starting from the 1300s up to the 1600s the meaning was the same – ignorant, foolish or silly. But during the same period, nice took on different meanings, from being dissolute, wanton, cowardly, effeminate, lazy, intricate, sluggish, refined to elegant.

In the 16th century the meanings changed to sharp, attentive, meticulous. When the 18th century arrived, the meanings lost much of its prestige; it gained the meaning we use today, such as pleasant or agreeable.

Dinner

Dinner started from the French word ”disner” that originated from the Latin term, ”disjejunare” or breaking the fast. Thus it originally referred to the first meal you have for the day. Through the evolution of the word, it was used to refer to the day’s main meal, which is still used in some circles. For the fashionable and professional classes today, as mentioned in the Oxford English Dictionary, dinner now refers to the largest meal taken in the evening. The last meal served during the day is called supper, which is seldom used today. The current meaning is a light meal in the early evening if you had dinner in the middle of the day. You could also have supper before you go to bed.

Naughty

Naughty people in the 1300s were those who had naught or nothing. It meant they were either needy or poor. A millennium later, the meaning shifted to someone morally wicked or bad or someone who was worth nothing. So the meaning changed from having nothing to someone sexually provocative, promiscuous or licentious. But in the late 17th century other meanings were added to naughty. These are gentler terms, often used to refer to children who display misbehavior, disobedience or mischievousness.

Several more English words have changed meanings. Silly for example used to mean blessed or worthy before the meanings became vulnerable or weak. Today, it is mainly used to refer to someone foolish. Some are more difficult to comprehend, such as clue coming from the word ”clew” meaning a ball of yarn to being important pieces of evidence. Fathom used to mean, ”to encircle with your arm” whereas today it means understanding something after spending time to think about it.

It does not matter if the meanings of many English words continue to change. The human translators of Day Translations, Inc. will always use the most applicable words to accurately translate your documents. They are all native speakers and located around the world to serve your translation requirements quickly and efficiently. We serve clients 24/7, 365 days a year. So contact us for translation services anytime by calling us at 1-800-969-6853 or sending us an email at Contact us.

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