I was delighted to come across a blog post by author Katharine Tree recently which features wordplay. There is a link to the post here, and it lists a number of words that have been encountered, written down and then explored. This made me happy inside as I love discovering new words. Not all of them can – or need be – incorporated into my vocabulary, but I find comfort in understanding what they mean.

So I have rifled through my writing notebooks and have a few that I’d like to share.

Senescence: growing old, ageing. This is not what I thought it would be at all.

Cephalic: of or in the head.

Epigrammatic: (of) a short poem with a witty ending; a pointed saying.

Gloaming: twilight, dusk. This isn’t an unusual word, but it is one that I have come across several times lately. It is atmospheric and brings to my mind a certain slant of light. 

Paean: a song of praise or triumph.

Quixotic: extravagantly and romantically chivalrous; visionary.

Quaquaversal: pointing in every direction – with thanks to Autumn to bringing this word into my orbit.

Have you come across any arresting words lately?

[Photo: detail of gate entrance at the Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath]