Cool Words

As a writer, words are my tools. I really enjoy words and actively seek out additions to my vocabulary. I've got a lot of books on choosing the right word, obscure words, descriptive words, and that kind of thing. (I love reference books of all kinds, in fact. I hate the feeling of knowing there's a word for a particular thing, but not knowing what it is. I also hate using the same words over and over.) At any given time, I have a file on my desktop simply called "Cool Words."

Now, for some of the words I like and use I get teased a little at times. "Eldritch," obviously, comes to mind. That's a word I picked up from early D&D as well as Dr. Strange comics. I've been chided for "fane" as well, which I got originally from Vault of the Drow.

The following, however, is my current list of cool words. You're probably familiar with some, but maybe not all. Some words I put on my list not because they're new to me, but just as a reminder that they are available for use. It's easy to forget really interesting words like "baleful" or "vapid," even if they're not new to you.

I suspect that you'll note a few words on the list that you have seen in my writing. There's no rhyme or reason to the list. Some have been on there for years, and some I replace with others now and again. (This is by no means a complete list, nor is it my list of favorite words.)

baleful — sinister
chasuble — priestly vestment
Cimmerian — very dark
circean — referring to beauty of a dangerous kind
contumacious — rebellious
contumelius — insolently abusive and humiliating
cynosure — the center of attraction
eschar — scab or burned layer of skin
flagellum — long, thin appendages
flagitious — villainous
funereal — dark, gloomy
internecine — referring to a conflict within a group
lares — household gods (also penates)
lorn — forsaken
maladroit — inept
malefactor — evil doer
maleficent — working evil
malefic — malicious
malison — curse
mammon — material wealth having a debasing influence
necrology — list of the recently dead
necrosis — decay of body tissue
propitiation — offering to a god
rive — to break apart
saccate — shaped like a pouch or sac
sacristy — place in a church where sacred vessels are kept
salience — pronounced feature
sallet — light helmet with a brim flaring in the back
sphenic — shaped like a wedge
surplice — loose-fitting priestly garment with wide sleeves
syrinx — vocal organ of a bird
tabard — short, heavy cape or tunic (worn over armor)
tenebrific-causing gloom or darkness
tenebrous — shut out from the light, obscure
teredines — tiny worms that ruin ships and wharfs
tutelary — guardian spirit or god
umbra — darkest part of a shadow
vapid — lacking spirit
venal — capable of being bribed, mercenary
welter — to wallow; turmoil
wizened — shriveled
wormwood — anything bitter or grievous
xiphoid — shaped like a sword
yamen — office or home of an official (Chinese)
ylem — universal matter to have existed before the big bang
zygodactyl — having two toes pointing backward, two forward