Fifteen vivid words to inspire a poem in you

Writer's block has nothing on the word penumbra

Photograph by Nadia Gerassimenko

Dear hopeful reader,

There are some words that one may never use in poetry or prose, unless the context calls for it. However, they’re so evocative that they rouse such powerful emotions and images in one’s mind, especially when you know what they mean.

In case you’re struggling with writer’s block right now, I’ve compiled a list of fifteen vivid words to help you fight through it.

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#1: Woolgathering

Definitions:

1. Gathering of sheep wool torn by bushes, fences, et cetera

2. Indulging in purposeless daydreaming

#2: Empurple

Definitions:

1. To become or color something purple

2. To darken or redden

3. To anger to the point of face becoming red

4. To make writing overly flowery without duly reason

#3: Mondegreen

Definitions:

1. A word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of a word or phrase in a saying, song, slogan, or poem

2. Misunderstanding of a written or spoken word or phrase due to various definitions

3. Mishearing

#4: Dysania

Definition:

1. Difficulty or inability getting out of bed in the morning

#5: Bombinate

Definition:

1. To buzz, hum, or drone

#6: Syzygy

Definitions:

1. Alignment of three celestial bodies such as the sun, earth, and moon during a solar or lunar eclipse

2. A measure of two feet into a single unit as in classical prosody

3. Two related things in likeness or opposition

4. And more!

#7: Agelast

Definition:

1. A person who never laughs, especially at jokes

#8: Penumbra

Definitions:

1. A partial shadow between areas of complete shadow and illumination such as in an eclipse

2. The point in which light and shade blend as in painting

3. Uncertainty, grey area, or intermediacy

4. Fringe, outskirt, or edge

5. And more!

Also read: Writer's block? Try these 5 creative writing prompts

Photograph by Nadia Gerassimenko

#9: Widdershins

Definitions:

1. Counterclockwise

2. The wrong way

3. Also withershins

#10: Caterwaul

Definitions:

1. To cry like a cat in heat

2. To howl, wail, screech, or yowl

3. To have a noisy quarrel like cats

#11: Apricate

Definitions:

1. To sunbathe or bask in the sun

2. To expose to sunlight

3. To disinfect or freshen with sun exposure

#12: Mogshade

Definition:

1. Shadows cast by trees

#13: Halcyon

Definitions:

1. Calm as in weather

2. Happy as in times

3. Prosperous as in times

4. A fabled kingfisher bird that breeds during the winter solstice in a nest on the sea and that calms the winds and waves while nested there

5. A kingfisher bird

#14: Brontide

Definition:

1. A sound like distant thunder caused in a seismic region such as along a seacoast or over a lake

#15: Phosphene

Definition:

1. Seeing light without it entering the eye, produced by mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimulation of the retina or visual cortex

Also read: Seventeen untranslatable words to inspire your writing

Photograph by Nadia Gerassimenko

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What’s your favorite word on the list? Do you know of other words that evoke rich imageries? Share them with me in the comments!

Yours hopefully,

Nadia

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