Weekly Wonderful Words

English is a truly impressive language, with a vast array of words that are interesting and quirky. Or, as I like to say, wonderful.

Words have fascinated me for a long time. They are the natural tools of the most magical occupation ever created – writing. I find it a huge privilege to spend all of my time creating artwork that both informs and entertains people.

Here are some of my favourites. Unlike most other articles, I’ve gone into more than the basic definitions of the words, including what I have been able to find out about the history of the word and how it has developed over time. Language is never static while it is living, and I would argue that there has seldom been a language quite as ‘alive’ as English.

Facsimile

The dictionary definition of facsimile is “an exact copy or reproduction”, or “duplicator that transmits the copy by wire or radio”, or “to send something via a facsimile machine”.

The word seems to have originated around 1690, from the Latin fac simile meaning “make similar”. The second and third definitions of the word are obviously much later, coming from the 20th century.

Umbrage

The dictionary definition of umbrage is “a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult”, or “shady branches”, or “shade, shadow”.

The word in English seems to have originated sometime in the early 15th century, coming from Old French ombrage meaning “shade, shadow”, which in turn came from the Latin umbracticum – “of or pertaining to shade, shadow”.

Its more common modern use in the first definition seems to have come from the 17th century. There are certainly uses of ‘take umbrage at’ in writing from around 1610.

Grandiose

The dictionary definition of grandiose is “impressive because of unnecessary largeness or grandeur; used to show disapproval”, or “affectedly genteel”.

Grandiose seems to have made its way into English from French sometime around 1820, though this was taking the word from Italian grandioso (which was also added to English as a musical term). This comes from the Latin grandis, which meant “big”.

Adjure

The dictionary definition of adjure is “to command solemnly under or as if under oath or penalty of a curse” or “to urge or advise earnestly”.

The earliest use I can find in English comes from the late 14th century, adjuren and it seemed to mean “to bind by oath” or “to question under oath”. It comes from the Latin adiurare, which comes from ad “to” and iurare “swear”.

Majesty

The dictionary definition of majesty is “impressiveness in scale or proportion”.

It comes from around 1300 from Old French majeste “grandeur, nobility”, which came from the Latin maiestatem, from maior “great, large, big”.

The earliest uses in English are in reference to God or Christ. Your Majesty didn’t become a title of address to kings and queens until the late 14th century.

Lapidary

The dictionary definition of lapidary is “one skilled in working with precious stones”. It has sometimes been extended as a term applied to people who collect precious stones, or those who have an extensive knowledge of them.

The earliest I can find this word is from the late 14th century, and it comes from the Latin lapis “stone”. It probably reached English via the 12th century Old French lapidaire “stonecutter” or “treatise on precious stones”.

Profess

The dictionary definitions of profess are “to receive formally into a religious community following a novitiate by acceptance of the required vows” or “to declare or admit openly or freely” or “to confess one’s faith in or allegiance to” or “to practice or claim to be versed in (a calling or profession)”.

This word seems to come from the early 14th century from Medieval Latin professare “avowed”, which comes from pro “forth” and fateri “acknowledge, confess”.

The meaning didn’t shift to “declare openly” until around the 1520s.