Mine is “palimpsest”. I first encountered this word while reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

Definition: a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain.

I love that there’s a word for this.

  • Sraebog@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    Mine is “snickerdoodle” which brought back long forgotten memories of bake sales. Also it’s just a delightful word!

  • TychoRC@lemmy.one
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    I just came across “palimpsest” for the first time recently too! It was while reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by VE Schwab. It’s been a while since I had to look a word up, so it stuck in my mind, lol.

  • Zipheir@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    I discovered ‘jeroboam’ in The Difference Engine by Gibson & Sterling. It’s an interesting word: when capitalized, it’s a Biblical king; otherwise, it’s a bottle.

  • Knoll0114@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Florid; as in, “Wilde’s florid prose…”

    I don’t know why but it’s stuck in my mind since.

  • cheeseisdisgusting@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    One in Spanish that I really liked: arrebol. The definition is “the reddish colour of the sky during twilight”. It’s a pretty word for a pretty concept. 🌅