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a
  • accosted -

    verb / uh-kos-tid / accost / accosts / accosting to approach and speak to someone in a challenging way I SAW a man pursuing the horizon;Round and round they sped.I was disturbed at this;I accosted the man.“It is futile,” I said,“You can never” —“You lie,” he cried,And ran on.Stephen Crane (I Saw a Man)

  • acid -

    adjective / as-id / acidic / acidly / acidness / nonacid / preacid (Emotions) a way of speaking that causes irritation or discomfort (Seeing) extremely vibrant, possibly irritating, in color (Smelling) violently pungent odor (Tasting) sour in flavor (Touching) leaving a stain As Harry and Ron rounded the clump of trees behind which Harry had first heard the dragons roar, a witch leapt out from behind them. It was Rita Skeeter. She was wearing acid-green robes today; the Quick-Quotes Quill […]

  • amble -

    to walk slowly and leisurely, often indicating relaxation or enjoyment

  • ambrosial -

    adjective / am-broh-zhuhl / ambrosialy / ambrosian (Smelling) having a luscious fragrance worthy of the gods; positively divine!(Tasting) extremely pleasant and delicious flavor(Hearing) exceptionally harmonious to the ear Some time later, although Walter couldn’t have guessed how long if he’d been paid to do so, he became aware of a warm, spicy, almost ambrosial smell. Christa Faust (The Zodiac Paradox)

  • ascend -

    to rise or move upward, often indicating progress, improvement, or achievement

b
  • babbling -

    to make a continuous series of low, murmuring sounds : FOUND IN :

  • bay -

    verb / bey / bayed / bayer to howl with a deep, prolonged bark, like a dog on the prowl I‘M a lean dog, a keen dog, a wild dog, and lone; I’m a rough dog, a tough dog, hunting on my own; I’m a bad dog, a mad dog, teasing silly sheep; I love to sit and bay the moon, to keep fat souls from sleep. Irene Rutherford McLeod (Lone Dog)

  • bleary -

    adjective / bleer-ee / blearier / bleariest / blearily / bleariness (Atmospheric) dull or blurry from fatigue The moon looked like melted mozzarella to my bleary and blurry vision. Was I tired, intoxicated, or in love? Or was I sober, asleep, and alone? Jarod Kintz (At even one penny, this book would be overpriced. In fact, free is too expensive, because you’d still waste time by reading it.)

  • bleary-eyed -

    having tired, blurry eyes, indicating fatigue, exhaustion, or sleepiness

  • bob -

    a short, quick movement, resembling a nod or a bounce

  • bower -

    a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or grove > Used in “County Guy,” #bower. [G] [Photo]

  • breeze -

    a light wind : FOUND IN :

  • burrow -

    a tunnel or hole in the ground, used for safety or privacy

c
  • cadence -

    a rhythm or flow of sounds, often used in music or speech

  • callous -

    having a hard, insensitive, or unfeeling texture, indicating toughness, coldness, or cruelty

  • calm -

    a state of tranquility, peacefulness, or serenity, free from agitation or disturbance

  • caramel -

    a sweet, creamy brown color, often used to evoke comfort, warmth, or indulgence

  • chattering -

    a rapid, continuous sound of voices or objects, often associated with conversation, movement, or chaos

  • chirping -

    a series of high-pitched sounds made by birds or insects, often associated with nature, happiness, or serenity

  • chrysanthemums -

    a kind of plant in the daisy family with brightly colored flowers that bloom in late summer and fall that can be used in tea : FOUND IN :

  • churlish -

    adjective / chur-lish / churl / churlishness / churlishly (Emotions) without manners, uncultivated, and difficult to work with The way I viewed it, there were lots of very ugly things in London, so, on the occasions when something beautiful with a glossy coat came along and nudged its cold nose into your hand, it seemed churlish not to take a few moments to celebrate the mere fact of its existence. Tom Cox (Under the Paw: Confessions of a Cat Man)

  • clopping -

    the sound of hooves hitting the ground : FOUND IN :

  • commotion -

    a state of confusion, agitation, or disturbance, often associated with noise, movement, or conflict

  • compassionate -

    showing kindness, care, and concern for others, suggesting empathy, generosity, or understanding

  • corporal -

    relating to or affecting the body : FOUND IN :

  • cozy -

    a feeling of warmth and comfort, suggesting softness, relaxation, or homeliness

  • creaky -

    making a harsh, grating sound, indicating old age, decay, or disrepair

  • crimson -

    a deep red color, often representing passion, energy, or intensity

  • crunch -

    a sharp, cracking sound, often associated with biting or crushing something hard or crispy

  • curmudgeonly -

    adjective / ker-muhj-uhn-lee / curmudgeon / curmudgeons / curmudgeonry / curmudgeonliest / curmudgeonlier (Emotions) in a manner fitting a habitually grouchy person Sociologists also say that higher education and training in the scientific method generally make people less gullible. And for better or for worse, so does being in a bad mood. In several experiments, researchers found that when someone is in a good mood, they become more innocent and unsuspecting, while feeling grumpy makes one better at sensing deception. […]

  • cynosure -

    noun / sahy-nuh-shoor / cynosures / cynosural (Seeing) something or someone who draws major attention because of their brilliance or guidance The time capsule is a characteristically twentieth-century invention: a tragicomic time machine. It lacks an engine, goes nowhere, sits and waits. It sends our cultural bits and bobs traveling into the future at snail’s pace. At our pace, that is. They travel through time in parallel with the rest of us, at our standard velocity of one second per […]

d
  • delicious -

    having a pleasant, savory, or enjoyable taste or smell

  • delight -

    a feeling of great pleasure and satisfaction : FOUND IN :

  • delightful -

    pleasing, enjoyable, or satisfying, suggesting happiness, joy, or pleasure

  • desolate -

    adjective / des-uh-lit / desolated / desolating / desolately / desolateness / desolater / desolation (Atmospheric) grimly barren, deserted, or deprived of inhabitants I have faith in these desolate timesA score to the sound of the feet of a journeyman’s tourI have faith in these desolate timesA feel and a hope and belief that man’s peace will be stillI have faith but for how much longer? Terence Trent D’Arby (I Have Faith in These Desolate Times)

  • dwindled -

    verb / dwin-dl / dwindle / dwindling to gradually diminish in size and splendor The fire that we kindled,A beacon by night,When darkness has dwindledGrows pale in the light. George William Russell (Truth)

e
  • emerald -

    a bright green color, often used to evoke growth, prosperity, or balance

  • empathy -

    the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, suggesting compassion, kindness, or emotional intelligence

  • encroaching -

    advancing or intruding gradually, indicating invasion, infringement, or encroachment

  • enthusiasm -

    a strong feeling of excitement, interest, or passion, indicating inspiration, motivation, or optimism

  • eternal -

    lasting forever, without end or beginning, timeless

  • ethereal -

    extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect : FOUND IN :

f
  • fife -

    a small shrill pipe, like a piccolo flute, used to accompany the drum in military music > Used in “Sound, Sound the Clarion,” #fife. [G] [Photo]

  • fluffle -

    a soft, fluffy, and puffy texture, as found in feathers, fur, or clouds

  • fluttering -

    a light, rapid movement, resembling wings or leaves in the wind

  • frazzled -

    adjective / fraz-uhld / frazzle / frazzles / frazzling (Emotions) utterly exhausted and tattered on the outside I am thinking about the way that life can be so slippery; the way that a twelve-year-old girl looking into the mirror to count freckles reaches out toward herself and that reflection has turned into that of a woman on her wedding day, righting her veil. And how, when that bride blinks, she reopens her eyes to see a frazzled young mother trying […]

  • frazzles -

    to exhaust or wear out, often due to stress or overwork

  • fuzzy -

    adjective / fuhz-ee / fuzzier / fuzziest / fuzziness / fuzzily / (Touching) Covered in short fur or having an unclear surface(Seeing) Blurry and difficult to identify(Patterns & Shapes) Having unclear or blended edges where assumptions are made (Emotions) Warm and sentimental I had a dream about you. I opened your chest like a cabinet, it had doors, and when I opened the doors, I saw all kinds of soft things inside you–teddy bears, tiny fuzzy animals, all these soft, […]

g
  • galaxy -

    a large group of stars held together by an impressive force : FOUND IN :

  • gleam -

    a bright or shiny appearance : FOUND IN :

  • glowing -

    emitting a soft, warm light, sometimes indicating happiness, health, or beauty

  • gnarled -

    twisted, rugged, or rough, conveying a sense of age or hardship

  • gnashed -

    to grind or strike teeth together in anger or pain

  • golden hour -

    a time of the day when the light is soft and warm : FOUND IN :

  • gratitude -

    a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation, associated with happiness, contentment, or generosity

  • grotesque -

    adjectives / groh-tesk / grotesques / grotesquely / grotesqueness fantasically bizarre If that was true he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream. He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was upon the scarcely created grass. A new world, material without being […]

  • grumbles -

    a low, rumbling sound, often indicating dissatisfaction or discontent

  • gurgling -

    a low, bubbling sound, resembling flowing water or laughter

h
  • harmony -

    a combination of different sounds or elements that blend well together : FOUND IN :

  • heath -

    noun / heeth / heaths a wasteland of poor soil where only heather grows I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth. Emily Brontë (Wuthering Heights)

  • hoary -

    adjective / hohr-ee / hoariness / hoarier / hoariest whitish-grey from aging There is not really any courage at all in attacking hoary or antiquated things, any more than in offering to fight one’s grandmother. The really courageous man is he who defies tyrannies young as the morning and superstitions fresh as the first flowers. The only true free-thinker is he whose intellect is as much free from the future as from the past. G.K. Chesterton (What’s Wrong with the World) […]

  • honorable -

    having a strong sense of integrity, ethics, or moral principles, indicating trustworthiness, respect, or admiration

  • hot -

    having a high degree of heat or a high temperature

i
  • illuminates -

    to light up or brighten, indicating clarity, understanding, or revelation

  • indigo -

    a dark blue-purple color, often used to evoke intuition, wisdom, or mystery

  • intrigued -

    curious, fascinated, or interested, indicating attraction, mystery, or wonder

j
  • jolted -

    suddenly jarred or shocked, indicating surprise, alarm, or discomfort

l
  • laden -

    heavily loaded or burdened, often indicating a heavy weight or responsibility

  • lavender -

    a pale purple color, often used to evoke relaxation, tranquility, or healing

  • lea -

    noun / lee / leas an open pasture laid fallow for grazing When I was a child I grew up by the River Lea. There was something in the water, now that something’s in me. Oh I can’t go back, but the reeds are growing out of my fingertips. I can’t go back to the river. Adele (River Lea)

  • linger -

    to stay in a place longer than necessary : FOUND IN :

  • loom -

    to appear as if about to happen : FOUND IN :

  • love -

    a strong feeling of affection and attachment towards someone or something

m
  • magenta -

    a deep pink-purple color, often used to evoke passion, energy, or creativity

  • mauve -

    a pale purple-gray color, often used to evoke nostalgia, sophistication, or femininity

  • maze -

    a complex network of paths or passages, often difficult to navigate or escape from

  • meanders -

    moves in a winding or curved way : FOUND IN :

  • melancholy -

    noun / mel-uhn-kol-ee / melancholies / melancholia affected with deep thoughtful sadness BREATH o’ the grass,Ripple of wandering wind,Murmur of tremulous leaves:A moonbeam moving whiteLike a ghost across the plain:A shadow on the road;And high up, high,From the cypress-boughA long sweet melancholy note.Silence.And the topmost sprayOf the cypress-bough is stillAs a wavelet in a pool;The road lies duskily bare:The plain is a misty gloom:Still are the tremulous leaves;Scarce a last ripple of wind,Scarce a breath i’ the grass.Hush! the tired […]

  • melancholy -

    a feeling of sadness or gloominess, often accompanied by a sense of wistfulness

  • melody -

    a leading sequence of pleasing sounds in a harmony : FOUND IN :

  • melody -

    a sequence of musical notes that form a pleasing or memorable tune, often conveying emotion or mood

  • melting -

    when something softens or becomes liquid, conveying warmth, tenderness, or affection

  • mirth -

    noun / murth / mithless / mirthful an emotion that follows humor and accompanied by laughter and amusement We, in the ages lyingIn the buried past of the earth,Built Nineveh with our sighing,And Babel itself with our mirth;And o’erthrew them with prophesyingTo the old of the new world’s worth;For each age is a dream that is dying,Or one that is coming to birth. Arthur O’Shaughnessy (The Music-Makers)  

  • munching -

    to eat something with a mumbled crunching sound : FOUND IN :

  • murmur -

    a soft and low sound : FOUND IN :

  • musky -

    having a strong, earthy, or animalistic scent, conveying a sense of sensuality or seduction

n
  • nestled -

    to be situated in a cozy or comfortable place, often indicating safety, security, or protection

  • nimble -

    quick and light in movement, suggesting agility, grace, or skill

o
  • oblivious -

    unaware, inattentive, or forgetful, indicating distraction, preoccupation, or absentmindedness

  • obstacles -

    a barrier or hurdle that prevents progress or success, indicating challenges, difficulties, or setbacks

  • olfactory -

    relating to the sense of smell : FOUND IN :

  • open-minded -

    receptive to new or different ideas, indicating curiosity, empathy, or creativity

p
  • pellucid -

    clear or transparent, conveying a sense of purity, clarity, or openness

  • periwinkle -

    a pale blue-purple color, often used to evoke calmness, peace, or spirituality

  • pitter-patter -

    the sound of light, rapid steps or drops : FOUND IN :

  • plump -

    having a full and rounded shape, indicating health, vitality, or abundance

  • primal -

    relating to or resembling the earliest stages of development, instinctual

  • pulse -

    a rhythmic beating or vibrating, indicating energy, excitement, or vitality

  • pure -

    not mixed with any other substance : FOUND IN :

r
  • refreshing -

    having a cooling, invigorating, or revitalizing effect, often providing a sense of relief or rejuvenation

  • rejuvenated -

    restored to youthfulness or vitality, conveying a sense of rest or renewal

  • relief -

    a feeling of ease, comfort, or release from stress, pain, or anxiety

  • relish -

    to take pleasure in : FOUND IN :

  • remnants -

    noun / rem-nuhnts / remnant / remnantal (Patterns & Shapes) a small part of something that remains after most of the original has been used I hadn’t realized that music could unlock things in you, could transport you to somewhere even the composer hadn’t predicted. It left an imprint in the air around you, as if you carried its remnants with you when you went. Jojo Moyes (Me Before You)

  • resilience -

    the ability to recover from difficulties or setbacks, suggesting strength, perseverance, or adaptability

  • resonates -

    a feeling or emotion that is strong or deeply felt, indicating a connection, understanding, or sympathy

  • restoring -

    bringing back to a previous state, condition, or quality, indicating renewal, healing, or revitalization

  • reverberate -

    a sound that echoes or bounces off surfaces, conveying depth, power, or resonance

  • roam -

    to move around without a fixed destination : FOUND IN :

  • roared -

    make a loud, deep, and prolonged sound, typically as a result of anger, pain, or excitement

  • rumpus -

    a noisy and disorderly disturbance or commotion

s
  • sanctuary -

    a place of refuge or safety, conveying peace, tranquility, or comfort

  • saunter -

    to walk in a relaxed and leisurely way : FOUND IN :

  • savoring -

    to enjoy and appreciate something fully, often through the senses or emotions

  • scruffy -

    messy in appearance, indicating a lack of care or attention

  • selcouth -

    adjective / sel-kooth / selcouthly (Atmospheric) has a vague but indefinable familiarity; not clearly evident or well known; possibly even silly in nature “ffor sothe I sagh neuer sich a sight In no-kyns land; A starne thus, aboute mydnyght, so bright shynand. It gyfys more light it self alone Then any son that euer shone, Or mone, when he of son has ton his light so cleyn; Sich selcouth sight haue I sene none, what so euer it meyn.” The […]

  • serenity -

    a state of calm, peacefulness, or tranquility, indicating relaxation, harmony, or balance

  • shudders -

    verb / shuhd-erd / shudder / shuddered / shuddering to tremble convulsively as a result of fear, revulsion, or coldness The true genius shudders at incompleteness — imperfection — and usually prefers silence to saying the something which is not everything that should be said. Edgar Allan Poe (Marginalia)  

  • silken -

    having a smooth, soft texture like silk : FOUND IN :

  • skittish -

    easily frightened or nervous, prone to sudden movements or reactions

  • slumber -

    to sleep peacefully and deeply, often indicating rest or rejuvenation

  • smalt -

    a deep blue color, associated with tranquility, calmness, or depth

  • smite -

    to strike with divine power > Used in “Harps Hung Up in Babylon,” #smite. [G] [Photo]

  • smooth -

    a texture that is even, without any roughness or bumps, conveying a sense of calmness, sleekness, or elegance

  • snug -

    fitting closely and comfortably, conveying warmth, security, or comfort

  • speckled -

    covered with small, contrasting spots or dots, conveying a sense of diversity or variety

  • splayed -

    verb / spleyd / splay / splays / splaying (Patterns & Shapes) set strangely wide apart or spread out on a slanted angle It´s like watching someone do a triple backflip dismount and land on two feet, solid, arms splayed in the air. I know I could never do it, don´t even know where I would begin to learn, but some people are built for it. He was handcrafted to leave, had practiced on other women since adolescence. I was […]

  • stomp -

    to tread heavily and noisily, often indicating anger or frustration

  • strange -

    adjective / streynj / stranger / strangely / stranger / strangest unfamiliar as a result of being out of one’s natural environment or not yet part of one’s experience Isn’t it strange How people can change From strangers to friends Friends into lovers And strangers again? Celeste (Strange)

  • surly -

    adjective / sur-lee / surlier / surliest / surliness (Atmospheric) having a darkly domineering appearance that is meant to intimidate and deter something or someone’s actions Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds – and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flungMy eager […]

  • sweltered -

    verb / swel-terd  / swelt / swelter / sweltering / swelteringly (Touching) oppressed and suffering from excessive heat A thousand people sweltered in the gymThen I heard someone whisper hey, that’s himThat’s when the crowd let out this deafening soundIt was the night Hank Williams came to town Johnny Cash (The Night Hank Williams Came to Town)

t
  • thumping -

    a loud, rhythmic sound or sensation, indicating power, energy, or excitement

  • tickles -

    a sensation that produces a light, tingling feeling, often causing laughter or pleasure

  • tilts -

    a slight, leaning movement, often associated with instability, imbalance, or curiosity

  • traipse -

    to walk or wander aimlessly, without purpose or direction

  • tranquil -

    calm, peaceful, or quiet, indicating relaxation, harmony, or balance

  • transitions -

    a change or movement from one state, place, or condition to another, indicating growth, progress, or transformation

  • tumbled -

    rolled or fell suddenly and uncontrollably

  • twilight -

    the period of the day between daylight and darkness, indicating transition, contemplation, or nostalgia

  • twinkling -

    shining with a flickering, sparkling light, indicating happiness, joy, or magic

u
  • unfurled -

    verb / uhn-furld / unfurl / unfurled / unfurls / unfurling / unfurlable (Patterns & Shapes) to spread out and develop from a curled state When I was young and bold and strong,The right was right, the wrong was wrong.With plume on high and flag unfurled,I rode away to right the world.But now I’m old – and good and bad,Are woven in a crazy plaid.I sit and say the world is so,And wise is s/he who lets it go. Dorothy […]

  • unkempt -

    untidy, messy, or disheveled, indicating a lack of grooming or organization

v
  • variegated -

    adjective / vair-ee-i-gey-tid / variegate / unvariegated / variegation (Patterns & Shapes; Colors; Seeing) A design with distinct streaks, marks, or colors (Smelling) An area with patches of scents (Tasting) Having a variety of flavor pockets (Touching) Having streaks of different textures Second hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack. Virginia Woolf

  • verdant  -

    covered in lush, green vegetation, indicating growth, fertility, or abundance

  • violet -

    a deep purple color, often used to evoke creativity, spirituality, or royalty

w
  • whistles -

    a high-pitched sound made by blowing air through a small opening, often used to convey excitement, attention, or urgency

  • wild -

    untamed or uncontrolled; living in a natural state and not domesticated

  • wisps -

    noun / wisps / wisp / wisping / wisped / wispy (Seeing) barely discernable thing or group of things that twist All morning I struggled with the sensation of stray wisps of one world seeping through the cracks of another. Do you know the feeling when you start reading a new book before the membrane of the last one has had time to close behind you? You leave the previous book with ideas and themes — characters even — caught […]

y
  • yellow -

    having the color of the sun or gold; of a bright and warm hue