Originally meant as odd or strange, this word has been grossly misinterpreted.

In grade school, before I knew about homosexuality and any derogatory words for it, I read it in a classic book (not that I can remember what it was now). The next day, I told this girl she was being queer for [...]

Just the combination of the crisp ‘cre’ sound at the end and the meaning, the way it’s such a wonderful word to describe a very ‘un-wonderful’ state. It’s lovely.

Chloe Bargery UK

I used to think that this word was just average, merely used to describe tea that’s cooled down a bit or the temperature of a shower once everyone else has taken all the water, but now I’ve realised it’s true potential. It perfectly describes that ‘in-between’ mood or indeed a whole personality. I think [...]

I like how it is awkward to say at first, but begins to roll off the tongue in a pleasing way the more you say it. It has a great meaning, too. A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence is surprising in a way that causes [...]

Whenever I hear “surreptitious” I always visualize someone in a black cloak sneaking on tiptoe through the night, silently sidling along the walls. How the word sounds perfectly matches its meaning: stealthy; secret or unauthorized; clandestine.

Suzanne

While this word has a certain religious association, I’ve never thought of it that way. In fact, the meaning is never really what matters to me. It just feels nice to say. The way it rocks back and forth in your mouth, volleying off the pallet to the lips, its repeatability… I often catch [...]