Perfect for Halloween Night, will-o’-the-wisp is the ghostly light in the woods that is always just in front of you. So much of nature has inspired our tales of horror as we grapple with understanding the difference between the natural world and the preternatural. I’ve long thought the much maligned full moon lit the way…
Month: October 2014
Otherworldly Words: Vex
The word vex comes from a word that means to shake or jolt. When someone truly vexes us, it does sometimes feel as we have been physically shaken due to the emotional or mental stress caused by his or her actions. I think that’a great way to think of vex: someone has troubled you to…
Writing Prompt: The Paintings
Patrons in a museum are suddenly cast into the paintings. Where do they go? What happens? If you enjoyed this post, look around, or sign up below ↓ to receive future posts via email.
Otherworldly Words: Vanquish
Vanquish is one of those words that many people find interchangeable with words like decimate or annihilate. These words are a really good example of how visiting the thesaurus and hitting replace doesn’t quite do the job sometimes. As I stated in my post “The thesaurus is out to get us,” the nuances of words…
Shapeshifter movies that aren’t about werewolves
Werewolves are shapeshifters, but not all shapeshifters are werewolves. Shapeshifters is a larger category with other types of transforming creatures within it. (See chart). To show that I am an equal opportunity shifter lover, I am taking this opportunityto bring you a list of shapeshifter movies that are not werewolves as a part of the…
Otherworldly Words: Umbrage
To take umbrage is to feel shadowed. Think of the words umbra and penumbra—all from the Latin root for shade or shadow. It’s not uncommon to say that we feel “overshadowed” by someone. Umbra is the fancy-schmacy way of saying it. 🙂 What is brilliant (pardon the pun) about this word is that it also refers…
Mayhem Monday: Vampires are out there
It’s #MayhemMonday! I supply the mayhem, you try to survive. If you enjoyed this post, look around, or sign up below ↓ to receive future posts via email.
Otherworldly Words: Tribulation
Most of us have heard the phrase “trials and tribulations.” But have you ever looked up the meaning of tribulation? I think it’s one of those words we all know, and basically know the meaning of, but have never bothered to confirm. It is more than heartache; it’s…
Otherworldly Words: Trepidation
If you enter a situation with trepidation, you’re probably pretty scared. “The constant, unidentifiable screech coming from the room as well as the utter darkness within compounded her trepidation.” Trepidatious and trepidatiously are the adjective and adverb form, respectively. Personally I love words like trepidation because they can accomplish in one word what otherwise…
Otherworldly Words: Shade
Why would the word shade be used to mean ghost? The idea that what’s left behind after one passes is less than a reflection is a powerful one. The ghost is no more than a shadow, what’s left after the light of life is gone. I also think that the word shade as ghost is…
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