- Today's Word
Euphonalicious
[yoo-fon-uh-lish-uh s]
Definition
- (noun) A portmanteau of “euphonic” (pleasing to the ear) and “delicious,” this term describes words, phrases, or sounds that are utterly delightful and delectable to the ear, creating linguistic bliss.
Example
When you hear a particularly mellifluous turn of phrase or a beautifully constructed sentence, you might exclaim, “That poetic line was simply euphonalicious! The words danced on my eardrums like a sonorous symphony.” It’s a nod to the auditory indulgence of savoring linguistic artistry.
Fun Fact
While “delicious” typically refers to something pleasing to the sense of taste, “euphonalicious” playfully extends this concept to the sense of hearing. It suggests that certain combinations of sounds and words can be just as tantalizing and delightful as a mouthwatering treat, but for the ears instead of the taste buds.
(adjective) Tending to cry easily or frequently; having a mournful or tearful quality that evokes sadness.
The lachrymose eulogy left barely a dry eye in the room, not because it was maudlin but because every word of it was simply and devastatingly true.
Lachrymose derives from the Latin lacrima, meaning “tear,” which itself traces back to the Greek dakryma. The same root gives us lachrymal — the medical term for the tear ducts and glands responsible for producing tears — making lachrymose one of the rare words that bridges everyday emotion and clinical anatomy in a single syllable. It entered English in the 17th century, used initially in literary and poetic contexts to describe writing or music with an overwhelming quality of sadness.