Sneak Peak: American Alligator

If you'd like to learn more about
the book, or would like to
read a synopsis, please visit my
website here.

I'm excited to share with you that my first novel, American Alligator, debuts January 10 on the Kindle (and shortly thereafter on all other devices). Here are a few words featured in the book to whet  your appetite.

Mordacity- the ability to bite. One which has powerful jaws might be said to be mordacious.

Dentiled- having the appearance of teeth. This word is most often used in architectural circles to discuss decorative eaves.

Albumen- the white of an egg.

Chalaza- the thin but coiled strand of proteins which tether the yolk of an egg to the shell and keep it suspended in the albumen.

Merry Christmas!

For this week before Christmas, I collected a few words to enliven well-wishing and season-greeting.

Froust- to sleep late on a holiday. I hope everyone frousts this weekend!

Saturnalia- originally, this was the festival of Saturn the Romans celebrated in December and as sources say, quite orgiastic. But recently, I’ve heard this word used to describe any boisterous Christmas celebration.

Yule- originally, the pagan festival surrounding the winter solstice in Northern Europe, this word has come to be a synonym for Christmas. The Yule Log was a large tree trunk lit to begin the festival. When the embers died, the festival was over. 

Image from U.S. public domain

Merry Christmas! And God bless us, everyone! 

Pointillism

Here's a collection of words to impress your coworkers at the office Christmas party!

Niveous- snow white.

a sample of 'Cosmic Latte'
taken from the John Hopkins
University website.

Cosmic Latte- the cumulative color of the stars; it’s not white as one might expect. Astronomers ran an ad in the newspaper for us laymen to name the color, and many responders suggested various derivations of cappuccino. The final decision was made after drinking a Starbucks latte.

Sidereal- of the stars. Don’t you think that snow looks very sidereal when falling?

Don’t forget to comment and tell us how you’re able to impress your friends! 

Winter Weather

Winter engulfed Lincoln this weekend. While trees sagged under the weight, the brumal clothing coruscated in the sun. Here’s a list of words as sparkling as the snow!

Picture by Daniel Schwen, taken from Wikipedia.org

Brumal- Wintry.

Gelid- extremely cold.

Hoarfrost- Only nebulous boundaries separate the various types of frost. While they all might be used interchangeably, I’m acquainted with the usage of hoarfrost mostly to describe the encrustation of beards and eyelashes in the cold. Since the root for hoarfrost, hoary, means ‘ancient,’ use hoarfrost to describe any frost which makes an object look like it has white hair.

Rime- another type of frost made by a deposit of frozen fog. Trees are frequent recipients of rime. 

Inaugural

For this inaugural post, I thought it would be apropos to feature words related to the current season.

Advent- in the Christian tradition this is the time of anticipation of Christ’s coming, both his coming as a baby in the manger and as a reminder that we await his second coming.  The word can also be used to mean a manifestation or a dawning of a season or time or era.

Parousia- the Second Coming. From the Greek word meaning “I have come, or I have arrived,” this present participle means literally, “I am coming.”

Annunciation- an announcement. Specifically, when used in the Christian tradition, this word is associated with the day when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive and bear a Son.

Incarnation- the act of becoming flesh. This word is used to talk about Jesus taking flesh. Preincarnate describes Jesus before becoming a man.

Immaculate- perfect, without blemish.