- Today's Word
Photality
[foh-tal-i-tee]
Definition
- (noun) This imaginative term combines “photo,” signifying a photograph or image, with “reality,” representing the state of things as they truly exist. It’s used to describe the magical moment when a photograph captures the essence of a real-life situation or scene in such a way that it feels like a window to reality.
Example
Imagine taking a photograph of a stunning sunset, and when you look at the picture, it’s so breathtakingly vivid that it feels as if you’re witnessing the actual sunset all over again. You might say, “The photo of the sunset had incredible Photality. It felt like I was right there in that moment.”
Fun Fact
“Photo” is short for photograph, often associated with capturing moments, while “reality” signifies the true state of things. “Photality” creatively combines these concepts to celebrate those extraordinary photographs that transport you to the heart of a real-life experience.
(noun) An actor or actress; someone who performs on stage or in dramatic works.
Even as a child, Maya showed thespian talent, turning every living-room corner into her own private stage.
Thespian comes from Thespis, a Greek performer from the 6th century BCE who is often credited as the first actor in theatrical history. Before him, performances were sung or spoken collectively, but Thespis introduced the idea of stepping out from the chorus to speak as an individual character — a shift that shaped all of Western drama.