Favourite Words in April

• - thicket. Noun, English.
• - spinney. Noun, English.
• - zolfanello. Noun, Italian.
• - twee. Adjectiv, English.
• - hemlock. Botanical name, English.

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This is my 500th post, by the way. Isn’t that great?I would have loved to make a giveaway for this occasion, but I honestly don’t have the time at the moment so I’ll have to find another reason to hold one (or just hold one without a special reason except that I think my readers are great).
I’m horribly busy right now (hence no further explanations for words), we’re only a few days away from our musical premiere, but I didn’t want a month without favourite words. I’ll be back for more after May 5th.

Have a lovely time!

Favourite Words in March

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• - libretto. Noun, Italian. Librettist is also a pretty relative of this.
• - detox. Noun/ verb, English.
• - brachial. Adjective, German. It even sounds brute, like breaking something.
• - Dreadnought. Name, English. I am the captain of my soul. (- W. E. Henley)
• - aardvark. Noun, English. Also, cute animal.

Favourite Words in February

• - innenschön. Noun, German. Hard to translate (it’d be “insidepretty”, but that just doesn’t have the same feeling to it) this word has its origin at Natron’s. It describes a minor detail on the inside of a piece of clothing that only reveals its beauty to the wearer.
• - fantabulous. Adjective, English. Something to describe Jules’ style goal.
• - enthrall. Verb, English. Beautiful, but a bit looming.
• - monoceros. Noun, Greek. Also the name of a constellation, the unicorn.
• - myrtille. Noun, French. Blueberries, and also a good name for a pet.

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On a different notice: I completely missed my blog anniversary. That’s four years of Teaparties & Fairytales now. Wow. Thanks for still reading, you are lovely!
Also, the move to the new flat is going quite well, I’ll keep you updated a bit more often now – I had absolutely no idea where my card reader was lately, so I bought a new one yesterday when I was out to get an electric kettle. Now this is finally starting to feel like home.
Last but not least, today’s the 200th anniversary of the publication of the Brothers Grimm’s first fairy tale collection. Happy Birthday, Kinder- und Hausmärchen!

Favourite Words in January

This is not a rabbit.

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1. - cusp. The first few days of January are one. It’s like climbing a hill and peeking carefully over the peak to see what awaits.
2. - camphor.
3. - ephemera. A words that has an almost magical quality.
4. - lapin. French for rabbit.
5. - Jack. There are so many Jacks. Jack O’Lantern, Jack Frost, Jack the Giantkiller. I like most of them. Somehow, Jack is a very good name.

Favourite Words in December

1. - yuletide. Roundworld Hogswatch.
2. - aujourd’hui. Today in French. I always thought it a very happy, small word – it’s kind of cute.
3. - terrific.
4. - schneekönigin. Snow Queen in German.
5. - hogswatch. Discworld Yuletide.

Favourite Words in November ’12

1. - immediately.
2. - mirth. A very fine, clinking, rustling word for joy.
3. - parapluie. French for umbrella.
4. - citrouille. French for pumpkin. Also, a good name for a mouse.
5. - chakra.

Favourite Words in October ’12

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1. beeswax.
2. snapdragon.
3. kiboko. kiswahili for hippopotamus.
4. hippopotamus. english for kiboko.
5. sturgeon.

Favourite Words in September ’12

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1. hexnut. Well, yes, actually you write this with a space between the words hex and nut, but I pronounce it as one word, and they look a bit weird when they are torn apart.
2. Dartmoor.
3. bespoke.
4. unsternbedroht. German for star-crossed.
5. tuppence. Most of September’s words have the colour of aged copper in different variations so I thought this might fit in quite well. It’s a sort of curious, peek-around-the-corner word, a bit tip-toey but jumpy, like a little girl from the 20s in a short light yellow dress hopscotching down a street near sundown.

Favourite Words in August ’12

work in progress

1. silly.
2. gnome. A word one can stretch and bend off which other words and things might bounce of if they fall on it. It also is green (a dark, forest-y shade) and has probably the structure of foam rubber.
3. moonstruck.
4. amiable.
5. star-crossed. Isn’t this word beautiful for something so tragic?

Favourite Words in July ’12

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• shenanigans. I was about to write what a summerly word this is, but refrained when I realised that I mainly associate the word with a certain feeling and surrounding that is connected to period dramas. Why? Henry Tilney, that’s why.
• psychopompos [ψυχοπομπóς]. I’m always telling Jules that Psychopomp would be the best name for a pug ever, but it doesn’t match his plans to name the rest of his yet-to-become army of fat little dogs after French royalty, so I’m keeping that option myself should I ever get a cuddly, short-haired kind of dog myself.
• hippopotamus. How can one not like this word?
• embellishment. Contains “bell”, therefore is wonderful. It practically rings.
• entourage. I just like it. It sounds like something with cartwheels. Or a bit like cartwheels on a dry countryside road between hay fields in the sun.