- 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.
(noun) A form of irony in which a person pretends to refuse or show disinterest in something they actually desire
His accismus was obvious to everyone at the table — he waved off the dessert menu three times before finally ordering the chocolate cake.
Accismus comes directly from the Greek akkismos, meaning “prudery” or “affectation,” derived from Akkō, the name of a foolish woman in Greek legend known for her coy, affected behavior. It entered English as a formal rhetorical term, classified among the figures of speech used in classical oratory and persuasion.