Some Beautiful Words You Ought to Know
A gift from me to you to brighten up your writing
Throughout my life journey, I have always been an avid reader. Hiding books under my blankets at night when I was meant to be sleeping, reading under the desk at school when I just couldn't wait to finish a book, even reading menus or old newspapers left on trains.
Over the years, I have acquired a varied vocabulary which has fared me well throughout my literature degree. Knowing a plethora of words will help you to spruce up your writing, however, it does not mean that every time you hear a word that takes your fancy, you must force it into every piece of writing you produce.
The key is understanding when a word is suitable for that particular sentence and being confident that it slots into your writing naturally, without appearing as if you’ve dropped it in to seem impressive. To do this, you must know the meaning of the word inside and out before you even dare to put it to use.
So without further ado, here are some of my favourite words:
Unequivocal
I remember this being one of the first words I found and truly loved. I must have been about 11 or 12 years old and I read this word in a book. I adored the way it sounded and rushed to the dictionary to find out what it meant.
Unequivocal means without a doubt, clear and unambiguous.
‘You are unequivocally a brilliant writer, the way you construct your sentences is a work of art’.
Ineffable
This word is rather ironic in itself, as it means when something is too great to be expressed in words, something that leaves a person speechless. However, the word itself ends up describing the marvel which was characterised as indescribable.
‘Her ineffable beauty radiated through the room, evoking awe from those around her’.
Imbibe
This word is something that we do every day despite being aware of it. It means to absorb knowledge, to digest ideas. There is a lesson in most conversations, we take something from an overheard exchange in a cafe, or develop ideas about life when speaking to a child and seeing the world from their perspective.
She imbibed the Italian culture when she spent a year in Rome, the way of life fascinated her’.
Meticulous
This word describes a perfectionist down to a tee. If someone is detail-orientated and focussed on the finer points of something, they are meticulous.
‘She meticulously analysed each bead that was sewn on to the dress, searching for a fault’.
Whimsical
Whimsical is one of those words, which is reminiscent of carefree childhood times. It means to act on impulse, to perform without limitation. It can also describe something that is fanciful and full of delight.
‘The forest, laden with wildflowers and melodious birds carried a whimsical air’.
‘She decided to adopt the persona of her younger self and rather whimsically, left her job to travel the world’.
Laudable
We don’t grant praise enough, we often read an article and enjoy it, yet fail to leave a comment or let the author know how great it was. The word laudable, describes something which is worthy of praise, something which should be commended.
‘Her performance was laudable, the audience sat still in wonder at her exquisite voice’.
Eloquent
Eloquent is something you will be if you use these words in your writing! All joking aside, this is a beautiful word which describes something which is fluent and well-spoken or written. For example, the novel Great Gatsby is one that is written with such eloquence and grace, exhibiting some of the most beautiful metaphors that I have ever read.
‘The eloquence of her writing shone through in her novel, which consequently placed her on the best-seller list’.
Beguiling
Think evil queen in Snow White, picture a femme fatale. To beguile is to charm and attract someone, but often with an air of deception. Something that is alluring, yet perhaps untrusting is beguiling.
‘Her smile is beguiling, it draws people in despite her dark undercurrent’.
Languor
This is how you feel when you’ve spent all morning writing Medium articles and your brain has turned all fuzzy. It is the state of lethargy or fatigue, a mental block which is oppressing you’.
‘Her mind was shrouded in languor, as she attempted to finish her novel- she simply could not find the mental effort to continue’.
Plethora
This is a word I have already used in this article, if you have your detective hat on, you will have noticed. It is an abundance of something, a portfolio or large collection of either physical things or concepts.
‘Her plethora of skills ensured that she was the most desirable candidate for the job’.
Opulence
This is something that I wish my life was shrouded in, yet unfortunately, it remains to be a dream. Opulence means extreme luxury, something which is oozing with splendour and richness.
‘As I walked down the Champs-Elysees, the vision of Mazarattis and Dior-clad women painted a picture of opulence and wealth’.
