Areopagus Special: Readers' Lexicon

Seven short lessons every someday.

Welcome one and all to... a slightly different instalment of the Areopagus. O Fortuna, thou art fickle! Last week I asked you this:

What is your favourite word, and why?

I received a flood of fascinating followups. And so, though I had planned this week to write about the coronation of King Charles III (or, rather, along lines related to coronations and kingships in all their guises) I realised it would be unconscionable not to share the fabulous lexicon with which my inbox has been filled over the last seven days.

Language is a rich heritage. We have hundreds of thousands of words at our disposal. Ernest Hemingway said "one dollar" words are best. Perhaps he's right. But, sometimes, "ten dollar" words are better. Because when you can name something you can also perceive it. Then you can think about it. And then your engagement with both yourself and the world around you is deepened. They are powerful things, these collections of lines and symbols we call words, so we shouldn't be afraid…