"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Saturday, 4 April 2009

Limpid

The answer to one of our crossword clues the other day was limpid. Limpid means clear and bright and is used especially of a liquid. It also means transmitting light , particularly transparent or bright, or able to be seen through with clarity and is used in that context with regard to crystals.

Limpid can also be used metaphoricaly to mean transparently clear or easily understandable; as in "he writes in a limpid style".

An alternative word of similar meaning is the delightful sounding 'pellucid'.
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2 comments:

  1. shabby girl4 April 2009 at 01:56

    I like it! Crosswords come up with all kinds of new words!
    I heard a new word (for me) today, in regards to the area in which the terrible shooting happened in NY. It was bucolic. I had to look it up.
    Way too nice a word to associate with a horrific act.

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  2. Scriptor Senex4 April 2009 at 04:36

    I agree entirely Shabby Girl - far too nice a word for use in that context. For those who don't know (and I didn't) bucolic (as a noun) means a peasant: a country person;
    (as an adjective) arcadian: (used with regard to idealized country life) idyllically rustic; relating to shepherds or herdsmen and their lifestyle or devoted to raising sheep or cattle.

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