WORD OF THE WEEK: Pernicious

Summary: Today's word, pernicious, comes complete with the usual etymology, pronunciation and definition. But it also includes a bonus list of synonyms and a special writing exercise just for you! Read more ...

This week's word may be a bit troubling, but don't let it cause you to lose any sleep. Entering the English language in the 15th century, pernicious (PER - NI - shus) originally meant wicked—but has since evolved to mean merely harmful or injurious, a lesser degree on the evil scale.

It's gained popularity in usage again, especially in fictional literature. (Think Twilight and Harry Potter series.) In fact, the implications of the word pernicious are fatal, as in "causing fatal injury or harm." Other synonyms are deadly, lethal, toxic and noxious. While each of these words is subtly different in meaning, their similarities are close enough to be interchangeable at times. Hence, the synonyms!

Probably my favorite synonym for pernicious is destructive, as it's much closer in meaning than the others—without the extreme connotations for wickedness, of course. Pernicious, to me, always implies a slow and steady kind of annihilation, such as the Biblical reference (by some translations) to "the pernicious snake" in the Garden of Eden.

Here's your writing assignment for the week: Write at least a paragraph about something pernicious in your life, be it a thought process, an illness or an ever-present, competitive co-worker. Then comment here to share how being honest about it makes you feel.

© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010

PHRASE OF THE WEEK: Writer's Block

Summary: Continuing our series on writer's block, this week's featured vocabulary word is actually a list of synonyms for the very phrase we're exploring. Can you come up with others? (Remember: Click on the pronunciation links to hear how each word sounds when spoken.)

Writer (RY - ter) - (n.) one who physically scribes or pens words onto a page; one who creates or compiles stories, technical manuals or other written work; an author. Writer's (RY- ters) - (poss. n.) of or belonging to a writer. Block (blahk) - (n.) in this case, an obstruction or stoppage. The phrase "writer's block" was first coined in 1950 by the psychoanalyst Edmund Bergler, who was himself a prolific writer on the subject.

Here are some synonymous phrases:

Author's handicap
Composer's deterrent
Penman's impediment
Recorder's trammel
Formulater's fetter
Crafter's snafu
Bard's encumberence

To hear pronunciations or read further definitions or etymologies for any of these words, follow the links to my previously posted lists of online dictionaries. In addition to educating yourself, you're sure to kill some time and forget about your scribbler's hurdle for awhile! And if you still need more time away from that empty page, you can always get your creative juices started by seeing what phrases you can add to today's phrase list ...

© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010

WORD OF THE WEEK: Raillery as Serious Stuff?

Summary: Today's Word of the Week is raillery, which means "light jesting," or "good-natured ridicule." Do you know any synonyms or antonyms for this word?

One thing you won't find in this blog is heavy raillery. In fact, the phrase "heavy raillery" may be construed as a bit oxymoronic. You see, today's word—raillery—comes from the Middle French verb railler that means "to mock." But in modern usage, the definition is as follows:

Raillery (RAIL - er - EE) – (adj.) Light jesting; banter or good-natured ridicule.

Okay, maybe you'll find a bit of raillery in some of these posts. But none of it will be heavy or serious, I promise! Then again, if it were, it would no longer qualify as raillery!

What are some synonyms or antonyms of this word? How many can you think of over the next seven days ...?

© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009