Deleterious is one of those words seldom used. When it is used, I think its context is often with health: “Smoking is deleterious to health.” It derives from the Greek, meaning to destroy. I mentioned in an earlier post that we have more words in our language to discuss negative emotions and aspects of life,…
Tag: devil
Otherworldly Words: Cloven
Why is the cloven hoof of such adorable animals as the deer associated with the devil? If I had to guess, I’d say it has something to do with Pan, the mischievous God of the woods. We also associate ram’s horns with the devil. We often look for symbols in nature, like the dove for…
Otherworldly Words: Bedevil
Bedevil is a word that I think is underused. Just think when your car won’t start, “My car is bedeviled!” Or, for a wicked boss: “My boss bedevils me with needless duties to make my life a living hell.” Perhaps the word is not used because, to a certain degree, it lacks seriousness. It feels…
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