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Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

eglantine
noun  eg·lan·tine \ˈe-glən-ˌtīn, -ˌtēn\
Definition of eglantine
:  sweetbriar

Origin and Etymology of eglantine
Middle English eglentyn, from Anglo-French eglent, from Vulgar Latin *aculentum, from Latin acus needle; akin to Latin acer sharp — more at edge


First Known Use: 14th century


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

egad
interjection \i-ˈgad\
variants: or egadsplay  \i-ˈgadz\

Definition of egad
—used as a mild oath

Origin and Etymology of egad
probably euphemism for oh God


First Known Use: 1673


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

edacious
adjective  eda·cious \i-ˈdā-shəs\
Popularity: Bottom 30% of words

Definition of edacious
1
archaic :  of or relating to eating
2
:  voracious
edacity \i-ˈda-sə-tē\ noun

Examples of edacious in a sentence
my edacious dining companion could always be counted on to order the largest—and often most expensive—item on the menu

Did You Know?
Tempus edax rerum. That wise Latin line by the Roman poet Ovid translates as "Time, the devourer of all things." In its earliest known English uses, edacious meant "of or relating to eating." It later came to be used generally as a synonym of "voracious," and it has often been used specifically in contexts referring to time. That's how Scottish essayist and historian Thomas Carlyle used it when he referred to events "swallowed in the depths of edacious Time."

Origin and Etymology of edacious
Latin edac-, edax, from edere to eat — more at eat

First Known Use: circa 1798


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.



Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

ecphrasis
noun  ec·phra·sis
Popularity: Bottom 10% of words

Less common spelling of ekphrasis

:  a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

ecphoria
noun  ec·pho·ria \ek-ˈfōr-ē-ə\

Medical Definition of ecphoria
plural ecphorias or ecphoriae \-ē-ˌē\play

:  the rousing of an engram or system of engrams from a latent to an active state (as by repetition of the original stimulus or by mnemic excitation)


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

echelle
noun \ā-ˈshel\
Popularity: Bottom 10% of words

Definition of echelle
:  a diffraction grating made by ruling a plane metallic mirror with lines having a relatively wide spacing
Origin and Etymology of echelle
French, literally, ladder, from Old French eschele


First Known Use: 1949

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

ecesis
noun  ece·sis \i-ˈsē-səs, -ˈkē-\
Popularity: Bottom 30% of words

 Definition of ecesis
:  the establishment of a plant or animal in a new habitat
Origin and Etymology of ecesis
New Latin, from Greek oikēsis inhabitation, from oikein to inhabit — more at ecumenical


First Known Use: circa 1904

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

Ebullience

noun  ebul·lience \i-ˈbu̇l-yən(t)s, -ˈbəl-\
Popularity: Bottom 40% of words

Definition of ebullience
:  the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings :  exuberance
1749
First Known Use of ebullience

1749


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Monday Musings: Finding the right puppy for your lifestyle

Most people find puppies irresistible and want to take one home. Before making an impulsive decision, there are a couple of things to consider:

1. Are you prepared to make a commitment for ten to fifteen years? A puppy isn't a pair of shoes or a purse that can be shoved in the closet when you tire of it.

2. It's important to consider adopting the right companion animal for your lifestyle. Compatibility is essential for a happy life together.

Puppy Spot sent me a flowchart test that inspired me, which I've posted below. It will help you find the right puppy. Puppy Spot has a lot of information you can check out regarding puppy safety care. They also have a core policy: No Puppy Mill Promise

I took the test and discovered my Chihuahua is the perfect companion for me and my lifestyle.



Wednesday, April 05, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

dybbuk
noun  dyb·buk \ˈdi-bək\
Popularity: Bottom 20% of words

Definition of dybbuk
plural dybbukimplay \ˌdi-bu̇-ˈkēm\ also dybbuks
:  a wandering soul believed in Jewish folklore to enter and control a living body until exorcised by a religious rite
Related to dybbuk

Origin and Etymology of dybbuk
Yiddish dibek, from Late Hebrew dibbūq


First Known Use: circa 1903

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.