Word Play

[rolanni]

One of the. . .side effects of being simultaneously the author of a long-running series which contains quite a number of made-up words, and a long-time reader of Just About Anything is that. . .sometimes readers of the stuff I write don't know when I'm using a "real" word or a made-up word.

I hasten to say that this is not just something that I do -- use old words, or make up news ones.  Most writers indulge in word play.  We wouldn't be in this business, if we didn't love language.

From Trader's Leap, we have the following. . .odd. . .words:

brume -- (broom) mist or fog.  This is an English word

empyrean -- (em-PEER-ee-in) celestial. This is an English word

louche -- (loosh) disreputable or sordid in a rakish or appealing way. This is an English word

wrapt -- (rapt) past participle of wrap. This is an English word, although it is an old English word

aequitas -- (ee-KWI-tis) This is a Latin word, the basis of the English word "equality".  It is also the name of a goddess: In Roman mythology, Aequitas, also known as Aecetia, was the goddess of fair trade and honest merchants.

ombudsone -- (ohm-BUDS-one) one third of this word is made up.  The English form is "ombudsman," but in the Liaden Universe® we try to avoid unnecessary gendering.  So "man" in the original gets replaced with "one," and I think we should immediately adopt this word in real life.

daibri'at -- (DAY-bree-aht) Liaden Universe® Tai Chi.  This is a made-up word

sokyum -- (SEW-kee-um) a large feline-ish creature.  This is a made-up word

zaliata -- (zah-LEE-ah-tah) For the purposes of our narrative, it denotes an energy creature, perhaps an angel.  Another made-up word

And, there!  That was fun.  At least, it was for me.

 

Comments

[autopope]

Ahem: louche is French (a loan word).

[pedanther]

zaliata -- (zah-LEE-ah-tah) For the purposes of our narrative, it denotes an energy creature, perhaps an angel. Another made-up word

And one that hasn't been seen in a Liaden Universe novel for... quite a while, now. Oh, this is going to be interesting.

[ariaflame]

I must admit I've enjoyed spotting the odd bit of what looks like esperanto that has crept into places in some of the books.

Of Words and reading

[ireneha]

Wow! I only spotted one of those that I didn't know. The only one that I totally read past, but didn't know, was brume. The others I either remembered, learned, or guessed pretty well.

Thank you (and Steve) for always knowing the right word.