- Today's Word
Tranquiluxe
[trang-kwil-uhks]
Definition
- (noun) This captivating term combines “tranquil,” signifying a state of calm and peacefulness, with “luxe,” a short form of “luxury.” It’s used to describe a place, experience, or moment where the serenity and tranquility of a location or activity is elevated to a level of pure luxury and opulence.
Example
Imagine visiting a spa retreat nestled in the midst of a lush forest, where you can enjoy a rejuvenating massage surrounded by the soothing sounds of nature, followed by a gourmet dinner. You might say, “The spa weekend was a true Tranquiluxe experience. It was both tranquil and incredibly luxurious.”
Fun Fact
“Tranquil” has its origins in the Latin word “tranquilus,” meaning “calm” or “still.” “Luxe” is a term that signifies luxury and opulence. “Tranquiluxe” creatively combines these concepts to celebrate moments when the serenity and tranquility of a setting or experience are taken to a new level of opulence.
(adjective) Showy and cheap in appearance; flashy in a way that suggests low quality or poor taste.
The hotel lobby was all tawdry glamour — gold-painted fixtures, velvet ropes, and crystal chandeliers that turned out to be plastic on closer inspection.
Tawdry is one of English’s most remarkable etymological stories — it derives directly from St. Audrey, a 7th century Anglo-Saxon queen who died of a throat tumor she believed was divine punishment for her youthful vanity in wearing elaborate necklaces. At the annual St. Audrey’s Fair held in her honor on the Isle of Ely, cheap lace necklaces were sold as souvenirs — called “St. Audrey’s lace,” which over time was slurred into “tawdry lace,” and eventually just tawdry. A queen’s dying regret became an adjective for everything she once loved.