Tag: Favorite Words

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Musings Write Away

Write Away: “Moil”

This week, I’m obsessing about, “Moil,” thanks to a suggestion from Chris St. Clair. Here are some of the many definitions:

 – To work hard : drudge

 – To whirl or churn ceaselessly; twist; eddy.

 – Glassmaking. a superfluous piece of glass formed during blowing and removed in the finishing operation.

– Origin 1350 – 1400

It’s actually a derivative of the Latin word, mollis, or soft.

Find the full definition for moil at Dictionary.com.  (I’ve been trying to use a variety of sources for fun, and had hoped to use Miriam-Webster this time, but Dictionary.com was more complete.)

~*~

Trivia note:  Chris found the word on a website about the Johnstown, PA flood (which has been referred to as the Great Flood of 1889.)  I’m not sure if I have the same website, but I found a related site here on wikipedia:  “Before hitting the main part of Johnstown, the flood surge hit the Cambria Iron Works at the town of Woodvale, sweeping up railroad cars and barbed wire in its moil.”

Railroad cars!  It’s an interesting read and a bit terrifying!

~*~

…Bubble, Bubble, Moil and Trouble (hmm, might work).

#amwriting, #amediting

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Musings Write Away

Write Away – “Petrichor”

Natural parks and blue sky with cloud

This week, I’m thinking about, “Petrichor.”  (#amwriting)

Write Away Cat - Reduced

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

– Find this definition at oxforddictionaries.com.

– Coined in the 1960’s.

Do you remember that wonderful smell of freshly cut grass from childhood?  I do.  Sunday mornings after Dad mowed the lawn.  Monday at recess, kicking a ball around.  Eating barbecue and throwing frisbees at a place we called, “Hart Park.”  (It’s technically, William S. Hart Ranch and Museum.)  Living in the city of Seattle today, I don’t often catch the hint of Petrochors, but the thought of the fragrance still evokes memories of warm and innocent youth.

I wanted to convey that feeling in a section of my current book, so I did some research.  It turns out Petrichors come from trauma.  A Mental Floss article notes that, “It’s the smell of chemical defenses and first aid. The fresh, “green” scent of a just-mowed lawn is the lawn trying to save itself from the injury you just inflicted.”  This release of what’s actually naturally chemicals helps to “close the wounds” and prevent infection!

Shocker, huh?  I never would have guessed.

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Musings Write Away

Write Away – “Canting”

Gotta love those interesting words.

This week, I’m obsessing about, “Canting” (No, not catting).  Here are 3 of the many definitions:

Write Away Cat - Reduced

– To bevel; form an oblique surface upon.

– To put in an oblique position; tilt; tip.

– To throw with a sudden jerk.

– Origin 1560-1570

Find the full set of definitions for canting at Dictionary.com.

I especially like the verb when used to describe a head toss by a human.  It’s different from a jerk or a nod, and the word, “nod” shows up way too often in my current manuscript!

~*~

Her:  “I’m buying a new dress, so there!”  She cants her head in defiance.

Him:  Seeing the head toss… “Hmm, I see you cant.”

Her:   “Yes, I can!”

Him:  “I didn’t say you couldn’t.”

~*~

I saw this word used much more cleverly in a blogpost called, “Sin on a Plate,” from one of my favorite sites for writers, thrillwriting.blogspot.com, by Fionna Quinn.  Check it out!

#amwriting