All about writing

Words are fascinating ... Put them together in the right way, and we can communicate with people in other places and other times. Make a mess of it and ...

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Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

The Most Beautiful Word in English

Asphodel

This is "any of various chiefly Mediterranean plants of the genera Asphodeline and Asphodelus having linear leaves and racemes of white or pink or yellow flowers" and Wilfred Funk listed it as the most beautiful word in the English language. (Yes, that Wilfred Funk of Funk and Wagnall's fame).

The others he fancied are as follows: fawn, dawn, chalice, anemone, tranquil, hush, golden, halcyon, camellia, bobolink, thrush, chimes, murmuring, lullaby, luminous, damask, cerulean, melody, marigold, jonquil, oriole, tendril, myrrh, mignonette, gossamer, alysseum, mist, oleander, amaryllis, rosemary

Lots of flowers in there, but not the one I happen to think is lovely, and that's carnation.

I've always liked the word as well as the flower and the smell! There's something wonderful about the spicy scent of old-fashioned carnations, don't you think?

What's your favourite word ... and why?