Wednesday Words: Carole Avila Shares Five from Eve’s Amulet

/ katyaarmock
Today I welcome Carole Avila, sharing some of her favorite words from Eve’s Amulet.
1. Resilient (adjective)
“She placed the yellowed and aged note in my palm. I unfolded it. The paper was more resilient than I’d expected from its fragile appearance.”
In the dictionary, resilient means to spring back or rebound. The word also applies to being able to recover from illness or adversity. In Latin, resiliēns means to spring back.
This is an important word for me as I had to learn from an early age to be able to spring back from a dysfunctional and fragile childhood. It’s a strong word and implies internal strength of character.

2. Infinitesimal (noun)
“Franz noticed the infinitesimal droop in her shoulders. “Lower your weapon, Miss Luebber, and no one’s gonna get hurt.”

The dictionary states that infinitesimal means less than an assignable quantity. Some people are more perceptive than others, but just because a person is perceptive, it doesn’t mean they use that quality for the good. I think many of us can stand to be more aware and perceptive of the little, infinitesimal actions of others, or of things they say that might have greater meaning.

3. Richochet (verb)
“I stomped inside the house in search of our new domestic recruit and punched one of the kitchen swinging doors from the empty dining room. It hit the wall and I stepped out of the way before it ricocheted back.”

In the dictionary the definition of richochet is “to move…as a projectile.” The word comes from the French but the origin wasn’t cited.
This is a beautiful “old fashioned” type of word, along the lines of something springing back. But unlike “resilient,” when something richochets it can cause damage and requires caution.

4. Schlepping (verb used with an object)
“I sprang off Dusty and immediately kicked at rocks, latching onto the bigger ones and schlepping them away from the pile.”

Schlep is a Yiddish word that means to pull or drag. Middle Dutch slēpen or Old German schleifen means to slip or refers to something slippery. It’s a fun word to say, almost lazy on the tongue because you can say it in a sloppy manner. Even though the word isn’t formal, it sure gets its point across.

5. Phantasmagoria (noun)
“He thought he was worried. Try living in phantasmagoria.”

The dictionary describes this as a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination. This wonderful word comes from the French, fantasmagorie, meaning phantasm. Some think it also comes from the Greek agora, for a gathering. How many times did I ever think to use this word in a book? Never! Yet, I was able to use it in my first novel. It’s a good word. Lengthy but not boring, with a lilt that sounds like a song, like supercalifragi…well, you know.

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Author Bio:

When I was 3 years old I knew after reading Go, dog. Go! that I would become a writer. Writing is the easiest form of expression for me. I dream my stories or sit at the computer and just listen, then the words flow in. I’ve written several award winning stories and poems, and I’ve had a play produced. Eve’s Amulet, Book 1 is my first published novel. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, walking, painting, or spending time with my 3 adult daughters or two grandsons. My future goals include seeing Eve’s Amulet go into film and winning a major writing award. I’d like to meet J.K. Rowling, Diana Gabaldon, Ellen, and Oprah.

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