If you watch the news, you’re quite familiar with this word. many dire situations arise around the globe and dire predictions—from the stock market to the climate. Dire derives from the Latin, meaning fearful or unlucky. I think the crux of the word is in those two words together: we are filled with fear about…
Category: Writing Wrongs: Essays on Language
This blog is an opportunity to discuss language – its usage, its limitations, and its beauty—through an array of shorter and longer essays.
Otherworldly Words: Pierrot
Clowns creep many people out. Why is that? Do you think it’s because they express a twisted duality within human nature, as a character who wears a sad face but makes us laugh with buffoonish antics; or conversely, wears a happy face while wilting inside. Or do you think it’s just because they’re freakin’ weird, and we…
Otherworldly Words: Tenebrous
November is associated with many things: Thanksgiving and Black Friday (in America and the Canadian border), the beginning of the Christmas season, and football. I, however, associate November with clouds. Oppressive, heavy, life-draining clouds. So, for me, tenebrous is a fitting word for November, as it is often both dark and gloomy. Tenebrous’s meaning as “obscure”…
Otherworldly Words: Timorous
This month in #Otherworldly Words, I am exploring words to do with fear. Timorous continues the path of words that cast contempt on those who show fear. Exploring the nature of fear is important. Certainly, fear has many natural components, survival instinct and adrenaline for instance. But the meaning we place on fear as a…
Otherworldly Words: Cower
This month in #Otherworldly Words, I am exploring words to do with fear. The first two words described cowardice. Cower is an action that demonstrates fear. Interesting is the link between being afraid and shame, since one can “cower with shame” as well as fear. If you enjoyed this post, look around, or sign up below…
Otherworldly Words: Poltroon
#Otherworldly Words explores words that deal with the frightening or supernatural. This month I’m exploring words that express cowardice. Poltroon derives from Old Italian meaning foal and Latin meaning young animal. This is similar to calling someone a “scaredy cat” to liken them to a young horse that startles easily. It’s important to note that the…
Otherworldly Words: Craven
#OtherworldlyWords returns with craven. Craven is the first in a group of words this month expressing fear or cowardice. In my opinion, the most interesting element in these words is how closely words for cowardice are tied to overall moral character. Many of the words make the leap that if you are a coward, you…
Otherworldly Words: Illusory
April Fools’ Day is long gone, but I still have one last word about trickery up my sleeve. Illusory is from a Latin derivative meaning to mock or ridicule. It’s a fitting end to this look at words of trickery, mockery, and deception—words that makes us fools. Illusion can be thrilling, frightening, mildly entertaining, or, as is…
Writing about mental illness without being exploitative
In my novel Red Haze, I have a number of characters who are experiencing extreme situations and have extreme reactions. At its base, the novel is a murder mystery with a paranormal twist. But for the formula to work, the characters needed to react to trauma appropriately: anguish, rage, delusion. These emotions make every muscle…
Otherworldly Words: ideomotor effect
April Fools’ Day is long gone, but I’m still exploring words about trickery throughout the month. The ideomotor effect fits the bill. This term offers a scientific explanation, a Scully if you will, for such phenomenon as moves a Ouija board. (Other than a cheesy GIF.) Basically, the effect suggests that mental expectation involuntarily influences…
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