New Word Alert

Some new-to-me words from some recent reads:

• Burin, an engraving tool. From Art Spiegelman’s introduction to the beautiful boxed set of Lynd Ward woodcut novels.

• The casuarina and manchineel, invasive and native trees, respectively, to the Caribbean. Via Broken From the Colony, by Ada M. Patterson.
• Paling, a spiky fencepost or a fence comprised of them, such as a palisade. Same source as above.
• Cathect, to invest with emotion. Same source.

• Comity, a state of harmonious interaction, especially of a polity. From John Clute’s SFE entry on the late Terry Bisson.
• Apothegm (or apophthegm), an aphorism. From Clute’s definition of equipoise in genre.
• Vade mecum, Latin for a guidebook or other everyday carry item. From the entry on China Miéville.

• Etiolate, to become pale from lack of light. Via The Bad Graft by Karen Russell in BASFF 2015.

Posted on Saturday, January 13th, 2024.