Vocabulary Of The Week #7: Lela’s Favorite Words - Pt. 2!
By Lela S. <3<3<3<3<3
In the past few weeks, I’ve been reading a lot of interesting books, including Around The World In Eighty Days, and the Across The Universe trilogy, to name a few. Those books have been providing me with enriching vocabulary that I can’t wait to share with you in this article!
1. Pensive
When I first encountered the word “pensive” as a description of an abnormal Windows emoji, I immediately associated it with the French verb “penser”, to think. Searching up the definition, I found that it meant almost exactly what I had thought, except it had a slightly negative note to it. A more specific meaning would be “to think deeply and sadly”.
Example: See Tay over there, staring out the window, looking so pensive and lost in thought? Is he okay?
2. Hitherto
Hitherto sounds like a really weird word, but it means a very simple thing: so far. It’s an adverb that’s used to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time. My way of learning this word was to associate it with the word “history”.
Example: ValidPenguin867 found a hitherto undiscovered hidden tunnel in his cellar.
3. Incendiary
Like the word “pensive”, this word sounds like one I know in french: “incendie”. The English translation would be a calamitous fire, explosion, or event. Just like I thought, “incendiary” means capable of catching fire spontaneously or causing fires or burning readily, figuratively or literally.
Example: LEADA1SY’s incendiary statement sent Emi Cooky threatening to quit CookyLela News.
4. Diurnal
Everyone’s heard of the word “nocturnal”: belonging to or active during the night. However, not many know of its antonym counterpart: diurnal. So, of course, the definition of this word would be “of or belonging to or active during the day”.
Example: In humans and other diurnal animals, the release of melatonin into the bloodstream helps prepare the body for sleep.
5. Vicissitude
This word is fun to say but not so fun to experience. Losing a pet, catching COVID-19: these are examples of vicissitudes — chapters in one's life that one would rather avoid but must get through. Some lives have more vicissitudes than others, to be sure, but no life is without events that test and challenge us.
Example: Lela World is a very interesting Minecraft server, having passed through many vicissitudes over the years and seen many changes during its varied and chequered history.
6. Apathy
First hearing this word in an Olivia Rodrigo song, I had to search it up. Turns out, this lazy-sounding word indicates a lack of interest, action, or emotion. You can use “apathy” when someone isn't interested in the important things that are happening.
Example: Maybe I’m too emotional, but your apathy’s like a wound in salt.