Sometimes called a fetish or a voodoo doll, objects like a Golem are a sign of our wishes for supernatural interference in the natural world. Often, these moments are revenge for an act of injustice. We feel to weak or frightened to fill our own vendetta, or know that the authorities will not see to justice….
Tag: Halloween vocabulary
Otherworldly Words: Gall
Saying someone has a lot of gall is like literally saying they are filled with a bitter, disgusting fluid. Think about that. Many phrases are rooted in our physical reactions: ‘it gives me shivers’ or ‘I’m tingling all over.’ Such phases try to make concrete our feelings. But sometimes, like with gall, when you think a bit…
Otherworldly Words: Divination
Wishing to see the future, or divination, is a long sought-after talent. Whether that talent is a gift or a curse is still up to debate. Certainly, many of us would love the ability to see lottery numbers or stop the death of a beloved. Yet, in most tales of foresight, the moral often lies in…
Otherworldly Words: Deleterious
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,…
Otherworldly Words: Charnel House
What to do with the dead? A charnel house is one answer to that question. We place the remains inside stone walls and sarcophagi to rest. But the real charnel house is in our memories, where the dead live on. Our minds keep the dead alive every time we think of them, speak their name, and conjure up…
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…
Otherworldly Words: Banshee
I’m going to get personal for a moment. I have an ambivalent relationship with the word banshee. My partner’s younger brother, Matt, and I always watched horror movies together. I often introduced him to movies such as The Evil Dead. As he got older, he introduced me to many movies, too. One of our favorites…
Otherworldly Words: Baleful
Baleful derives from a word meaning pain. Interestingly, most cultures and languages, including English, are dominated by words to express feelings and thoughts like baleful, or negative emotions over positive ones. You know how they say, it takes 20 compliments to make up for an insult. Unfortunately, the compliments can start sounding rather identical while the…
Otherworldly Words: Amaranthine
I’ll admit it: I’m a word snob. I like some words just because I like the way they sound. Amaranthine is one of those words, because I think its sound matches its meaning. Just say it….Amaranthine…Does it make you feel like you’re floating in an endless sea or cloud? Have a favorite word you just love to…
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