Cool your vocab

What is a "Moonglade"? 10 uncommon summer words to impress your friends

Image: Raphaël Biscaldi

Although summer is coming to an end, we are not quite ready to let go yet. There are some pretty English words that, while part of our dictionary, are little known and rarely make their way into everyday conversations. You might have felt the cool touch of "spoondrift," enjoyed watching the "alpenglow," or felt a little "languorous," but you probably have never heard these terms. If you want to discover these and other unfamiliar summer-related words, read on!

Image: Jeremy Bishop

Let's start with a term that covers everything summer: "aestival." This word is an adjective that describes anything related to the summer season, whether it's activities, sensations, processes, or more.

This term comes from Latin. Aestas is the Latin word for "summer," and aestivus means "of summer" or "pertaining to summer." In the 16th century, this word passed into English as "aestival" and is still used today, specifically in scientific contexts, such as biology research.

A clear example of the use of this word would be "The biologist noted the aestival patterns of the migratory birds, which returned to the region during the summer months." Or, more informally, we could just say this is an aestival article.

Image: Stacey Hayden

One of the joys of summer is the scenery: the rich colors of flowers that have blossomed from spring and the rich, bright green of the summer grass and foliage. If you want to wow everyone by elegantly describing the backyard of your summer home, English dictionaries have an adjective that will come in handy.

"Verdant" is used to describe the lush, green vegetation or the vibrant freshness of plants. It comes from the Latin viridis, which means "green" or "fresh." The word entered English around the 16th century, and today, it still retains the meaning associated with the freshness of the color green. Over time, it has also taken on metaphorical meanings, describing someone who is inexperienced.

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While this is a word with a very, very specific meaning, it's perfect for describing moments at the beach. So, if you find yourself by the ocean, you might get the chance to use it!

Have you ever heard of "spoondrift"? Even if you haven't heard the word before, you're probably familiar with what it describes. "Spoondrift" is a noun for the spray or fine mist of seawater that's blown off the tops of waves by the wind. Beautiful, isn't it?

The word was coined in English in the 19th century, and while it's not part of many Americans' everyday conversations, it's a nice term to incorporate into your summer vocabulary, don't you think?

Image: Thanun Buranapong

While, in recent years, this word has made a comeback, the truth is many people still aren't familiar with the meaning of this term.

"Petrichor" not only has a beautiful sound but also describes a lovely scent you've probably experienced. We're talking about that fresh, earthy aroma that rises after a summer rain.

The term was coined relatively recently, in the 1960s, by combining the Greek words petra, meaning "stone," and ichor, the mythical fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.

This aroma specifically occurs when rain falls on dry soil or after a period of warm, dry weather. It's produced by a mix of oils and soil compounds that evaporate into the air.

Image: Vladislav Muslakov

This is the perfect adjective for summer days. When you're on vacation and the heat is just too much, it's the perfect time to relax, whether chilling in bed with the air conditioning cranked up or drifting on an inflatable raft in the pool.

"Languorous" describes that state of relaxation, typical of those lazy, hot days when doing anything feels like too much effort. It can also be associated with the lack of energy produced by the oppressive heat.

Languorous comes from the Latin languere, meaning "to be weak" or "to be languid," and entered English around the 18th century.

Image: Elizeu Dias

Just say this word out loud, and you'll want to use it in all your conversations.

"Effulgent" is a lovely adjective that describes something radiant, something that shines brightly, whether in a literal sense or metaphorically. This term is perfect to describe the bright blue of a summer sky, the sunshine sparkle on the water, or the glowing smile of someone enjoying the season.

"Effulgent" comes from the Latin effulgere, which means "to shine forth," and entered English between the 15th and 16th centuries, retaining most of its meaning.

Image: Mushegh Hakobyan

This is one of those words with a very specific meaning, but it can be incredibly useful at the right moment (and it's undeniably beautiful).

Picture a warm summer evening at a hotel with a perfect view of the mountains, where you can watch the sunset right from your room. Poetic, right? That's the moment when the word "alpenglow" fits perfectly. This noun refers to that reddish light that glows over the mountainsides during sunrise or sunset. We can't help but envy anyone lucky enough to witness such a stunning scene!

This word is different from the rest on this list; it doesn't come from Latin or Greek but from the German word Alpenglühen, a combination of Alpen (referring to the Alps or mountains in general) and glühen ("to glow").

Image: Federico Di Dio photography

When it comes to lovely summer scenery, the next word is perfect for describing the beauty of those spectacular moments.

It's late, the sunset has faded, and the reddish and pink hues have left the sky, making way for the protagonist of the night: the moon. Admired by poets and painters, the moon has fascinated humans for centuries, and the word "moonglade" may come in handy to describe our gorgeous natural satellite.

"Moonglade" emerged in the 19th century and refers specifically to the reflection of the moon's glow drawn on a water surface, whether it's a pool, a lake, or the ocean.

Image: Hoyoun Lee

Sky and sea are a perfect summer combination, right? Especially when their colors perfectly match.

The clear, bright blue of the sky has a name: cerulean. This term describes that special shade of blue, often seen in the cloudless summer skies over the beach.

"Cerulean" comes from the Latin caeruleus, which means exactly "sky blue." While the Latin term is quite old, it only entered English around the 19th century and has its most frequent uses in the artistic field. Will you use it the next time you contemplate the sky?

Image: Joshua Fuller

Now, let's talk about one of summer's most pleasant experiences: that gentle breeze that provides a refreshing break on those hot days. And yes, we have a special word for it.

"Zephyr" is the noun that refers specifically to that soft, gentle breeze, and it has a very interesting origin. The term comes from the Greek Zephyros, the name of the god of the west wind, known as the most favorable wind and associated with the breezes of spring and early summer.

The term entered English through Latin in the 14th century, and from the start, it was associated with its current meaning.

Hey, hoy, let’s go!

What did they mean? Discover the meaning of these 12 classic tunes

Image: Luana De Marco

Song lyrics can be as simple or as complex and metaphorical as the composer wants, and examples of both can be found in almost any musical genre. Sometimes, being obscure can cripple a song’s chances to become a hit, but there are plenty of classic tracks that, if listened to carefully, have some odd or cryptic meanings, to say the least. The following 12 famous songs managed to captivate audiences despite their unusual meanings. Which ones do you like the most?

Image: Rafael Camacho Greilberger

The first item on our list is a classic 1970s hit that may sound like it is about a road trip, but it has a much deeper meaning. According to the band’s singer and songwriter, the song was written about the materialism and greed the band had experienced in the record industry, as well as the wider American culture.

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The Beatles experimented a lot, both with the sound and the lyrics of their music. And what might seem like a lovely simple song is, instead, a sharp criticism of the civil rights situation in mid-20th-century America.

Image: Debby Hudson

Back in 1973, Dolly Parton’s relationship with Porter Wagoner, her mentor and on-screen duet partner, was losing steam on all fronts. Dolly wrote this song as a farewell to Porter, who wasn’t ready to let her go.

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The lyrics to one of Johnny Cash’s most iconic songs, I Walk the Line, are a declaration of fidelity to Vivian, his first wife. The idea of walking straight served the Man in Black as a motto for his behavior.

Image: Fedor

The second Beatles track on our list was penned by George Harrison, and it was inspired by his then-wife, Pattie Boyd, who was married to the Beatle from 1966 to 1977.

Image: Todd Diemer

This Phil Collins hit was inspired by his divorce from Andrea Bertorelli in 1980, according to Phil himself, who spilled the beans during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on his talk show.

Image: Mika Baumeister

What seems like a beautiful love song is, instead, the message of a stalker to his wife. Clear hints spring to the fore with lines like "Every smile you fake", but overall, the message seemed to be masked for some as they were blinded by the soft rock music.

Image: Emily Rudolph

A song title that was subject to varied interpretations, 5150 refers to the building of Eddie Van Halen’s recording studio, but many attribute this number to the newfound balance and compromise within the band after the new singer, Sammy Hagar, came aboard to replace David Lee Roth.

Image: Kelly Sikkema

The use of reverse recordings hidden within the song has been present for quite a few decades now but, most of the time, this was done to conceal what might have been an inappropriate lyric (at least, according to some). But the members of Tool decided to hide a positive message within the song that said: ‘Work hard, stay in school, listen to your mother, your father was right’.

Image: Jongsun Lee

This famous 1980s ballad is, weirdly enough, about vampires. Originally written by composer Jim Steinman for the Broadway musical Nosferatu, the track was formerly titled ‘Vampires In Love’. The lyrics centre around life in eternal darkness and other standard vampire tropes.

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The subject of this classic Dylan track was Bruce Langhorne, who played guitar with Bob on a few records and was remembered as owning a giant tambourine, hence the name.

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The name "American Pie" refers to a quintessentially American creation that is filled with lyrical imagery for the song. One of the major inspirations behind it is thought to be the tragic plane crash that led to the demise of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP Richardson.