- Today's Word
Whimsical
[WHIM-zi-kuhl]
Definition
- (adjective) something that is playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way. It often refers to things that are unpredictably charming, capricious, or simply out of the ordinary.
Example
The children’s book author was known for her whimsical illustrations, featuring talking animals and trees with faces that captured young readers’ imaginations.
Fun Fact
The word “whimsical” derives from the noun “whimsy,” which originally meant “a fanciful or fantastic device” in the 1500s. It comes from the word “whim-wham,” an Middle English term for a fanciful object. The concept of whimsy has played a significant role in various art movements, particularly in the Surrealist movement of the early 20th century, where artists deliberately created works that were dreamlike and fantastical. In modern usage, “whimsical” has become associated with a lighthearted, carefree approach to life and art, often invoking a sense of childlike wonder or playfulness.
(adjective) Obviously planned or forced rather than arising naturally; lacking authenticity or spontaneity.
The film’s ending felt contrived — a sudden reconciliation between characters who had spent two hours proving they could never forgive each other.
Contrived comes from the verb contrive, rooted in the Old French controver, meaning “to imagine” or “to find out,” itself from the Latin contropare — “to compare” or “to devise.” It entered English in the 14th century originally meaning simply to plan or devise something cleverly. Over time the word acquired its current negative undertone, shifting from neutral ingenuity toward the suggestion of something manipulated or artificially engineered to produce a desired effect.