Literary Symbolism

noun a river in South America that flows through Brazil and Peru

• Amazon is a multinational technology company that focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.
• I ordered a new book from Amazon last night and it already arrived today!
• I'm addicted to Amazon Prime, I can't stop ordering things online.
• The Amazon rainforest is often referred to as the 'lungs of the Earth' because of its vital role in producing oxygen.

noun a word that functions as the name of a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• It is important to consider factors beyond one's control when making business decisions.
• I can't believe he expects us to do all the work, it's beyond one!
• She's always going above and beyond one for her friends.
• His ambition knows no bounds, always reaching beyond one's expectations.

noun the ridge over the eye sockets where the eyebrows are located

• She raised her brow in skepticism at the proposal.
• He furrowed his brow in confusion trying to understand the instructions.
• She's always on fleek with her perfectly shaped brows.
• The mountain peak was covered in snow, resembling a white brow against the blue sky.

noun the husks of grains and grasses that are separated during threshing

verb to separate the chaff from the grain

• The farmer separated the wheat from the chaff using a winnowing machine.
• I don't have time for chaff, I need to focus on what's important.
• Don't listen to him, he's just full of chaff.
• Her harsh words were like chaff in the wind, easily blown away and forgotten.

noun a secret or disguised way of writing; a code

verb to put (a message) into secret writing; encode

• The intelligence agency used a complex cipher to encrypt classified information.
• I can't figure out this cipher puzzle, it's too hard!
• Yo, pass me the cipher so I can decode this message.
• His emotions were like a cipher, impossible to decipher.

noun a stupid or dull person

• The farmer picked up a clod of dirt to examine the soil quality.
• I accidentally stepped on a clod of mud and got my shoe dirty.
• Don't be such a clod, you need to think before you act.
• His mind was like a clod, unable to grasp the complexity of the situation.

noun a bird known for its distinctive call

adjective crazy or silly, often used to describe behavior

• The cuckoo bird is known for laying its eggs in other bird's nests.
• I heard that cuckoo bird singing in the trees this morning.
• That movie was so bad, it was cuckoo!
• His behavior was so erratic, it was like he had a cuckoo clock in his head.

noun a poetic term for the sun, especially when personified as a star that brings light and warmth to the earth

• The daystar rose in the east, casting a warm glow over the landscape.
• I love how the daystar makes everything look so bright and cheerful.
• I can't wait to soak up some rays from the daystar at the beach.
• She was like a daystar in his life, always bringing light and warmth wherever she went.

verb to remove (an item of clothing)

• The gentleman proceeded to doff his hat as a sign of respect.
• He casually doffed his cap before entering the room.
• She doffed her sunglasses and winked at him.
• It's time to doff the old ways of thinking and embrace a new perspective.

verb the action of ceasing to live or exist; undergoing death

adjective in the process of approaching death; gradually ceasing to exist or function

• The patient's condition is critical, and it seems like he is dying.
• I heard that old bakery down the street is dying out.
• My phone battery is dying, I need to find a charger.
• The art of calligraphy is dying in the age of technology.

noun a person who annoys others or stimulates them with persistent criticism

• The gadfly of the group constantly questioned the validity of the research findings.
• She's always buzzing around like a gadfly, asking too many questions.
• Don't be such a gadfly, just go with the flow.
• The artist saw himself as a gadfly, challenging societal norms through his work.

adjective a color intermediate between black and white, as of ashes or lead

• The sky turned a dark gray as the storm approached.
• I prefer wearing gray over any other color.
• That new car is so gray, it's sick!
• His outlook on life had turned gray after the tragic event.

noun a main road, especially one connecting major towns or cities

• It is always advisable to take the highroad in difficult situations.
• I know it's tough, but try to take the highroad and don't stoop to their level.
• When they start gossiping, just take the highroad and walk away.
• Choosing the highroad in life often leads to greater personal growth and satisfaction.

noun a hollow place in a solid body or surface

verb to make a hole or opening in

• The construction workers dug a deep hole for the foundation of the building.
• I accidentally fell into a hole while walking in the park.
• Watch out for that pothole on the road, it's a big one!
• She felt like she was in a deep hole financially after losing her job.

noun a collection of visual images or symbols

• The study of iconography in religious art reveals deeper meanings and symbolism.
• She was fascinated by the iconography in the ancient manuscripts.
• That artist really knows how to play with iconography to make a statement.
• The iconography of her style is instantly recognizable in the fashion world.

noun a realm or domain

• The kingdom was ruled by a wise and just monarch.
• The kingdom is run by a cool king.
• That kingdom is lit with the king in charge.
• In her mind, the library was a kingdom of knowledge.

noun something or someone that serves as a guiding principle or inspiration

• The lodestar of our company is always striving for excellence in customer service.
• She's like my lodestar when it comes to fashion advice.
• He's the lodestar of the group, always leading the way.
• The North Star served as a lodestar for sailors navigating the seas.

noun the condition of being a maiden or virgin

• The town of Maidenhead is located in Berkshire, England.
• I heard there's a nice pub in Maidenhead we can check out.
• Let's hit up Maidenhead for a night out!
• She held her maidenhead high, refusing to give in to societal pressures.

noun Persephone

• Persephone was known in Greek mythology as the queen of the underworld.
• Have you heard the story of Persephone and Hades?
• Persephone is like the OG goth queen.
• Just like Persephone, she felt like she was stuck in a dark place.

noun a contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium, typically with the formation of buboes (bubonic plague) and sometimes infection of the lungs (pneumonic plague)

verb to cause continual trouble or distress to

• The bubonic plague was a devastating pandemic in the 14th century.
• The plague wiped out a large portion of the population in medieval times.
• The plague was like, totally gnarly back in the day.
• Negativity can spread like a plague if left unchecked.

noun a group of distinguished people or things, typically in the same field or profession

• The pleiad of talented artists showcased their work at the prestigious gallery.
• There's a whole pleiad of food trucks at the festival, we should try them all!
• I can't believe the pleiad of drama that went down at the party last night.
• The pleiad of stars in the night sky was breathtaking.

noun a city-state in ancient Greece, especially as considered in its ideal form for philosophical purposes

• The polis was the central political and administrative unit in ancient Greece.
• The polis was like a city-state in ancient Greece.
• The polis was where all the action went down back in the day.
• In modern times, the concept of a polis can be seen in tightly-knit communities.

noun a day on which rain falls

adjective describing the day as being characterized by rain

• On a rainy day, it is advisable to carry an umbrella to protect yourself from getting wet.
• I love staying in and watching movies on a rainy day.
• Let's just chill and play video games on this rainy day.
• Sometimes a rainy day can symbolize feelings of sadness or gloom.

noun the hollow stem of this plant, used to make panpipes and other musical instruments

• The musician played a beautiful melody on the reed instrument.
• I found a nice spot by the pond to sit among the reeds.
• Let's go chill by the reeds and soak up some sun.
• She stood tall like a reed in the face of adversity.

noun A sacred hymn or text used in Christian liturgy, particularly in the Roman Catholic Mass

• The choir sang the Sanctus during the church service.
• I always get chills when they sing the Sanctus at church.
• The Sanctus was lit at the concert last night.
• The Sanctus of nature could be felt in the stillness of the forest.

noun A person who performs duties for others, especially a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant.

• The servant prepared a delicious meal for the guests.
• The servant whipped up a tasty meal for everyone.
• The servant cooked up a storm for the party.
• The servant's dedication to their work makes them a true servant of the people.

noun the act, power, or process of seeing; perception of objects by use of the eyes; vision

verb to see, catch sight of, or perceive with the eyes

• The beautiful landscape was a sight to behold.
• The view from the top of the mountain was an amazing sight.
• That new car is a sight for sore eyes.
• The success of the project was a sight for sore eyes after months of hard work.

noun a wasting disease or atrophy, especially pulmonary tuberculosis

• The patient presented with symptoms of tabes dorsalis, a form of neurosyphilis affecting the spinal cord.
• I heard that tabes can cause problems with walking and coordination.
• My grandpa calls his old computer a tabes because it's so slow and outdated.
• The tabes of our relationship became apparent when we realized we had grown apart.

noun In Christian theology, the concept of the Trinity refers to the three persons of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

adjective Trinity can also be used as an adjective to describe something that is related to or characteristic of the Trinity.

• The concept of the trinity is a fundamental belief in Christianity.
• Do you understand the concept of the trinity in Christianity?
• The trinity thing in Christianity is like, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
• In literature, the trinity of protagonist, antagonist, and anti-hero often creates a complex dynamic.

noun a phantom or shadowy apparition

• The scientist studied the umbra of the eclipse to understand its effects on the atmosphere.
• I stood in the umbra of the tree to escape the hot sun.
• Let's chill in the umbra of that building to avoid the rain.
• Her anger cast an umbra over the entire room, making everyone uncomfortable.

noun a musical instrument of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, typically six-stringed and played with a bow

• The viol is a stringed musical instrument that was popular in the Renaissance period.
• I heard that Jenny plays the viol in her school orchestra.
• Hey, did you see that guy shredding on the viol at the concert last night?
• The sound of the viol echoed through the halls, filling the room with a sense of nostalgia.

noun an area of open or uncultivated land, especially in southern England

• The weald is a large area of open land covered with grass and shrubs.
• Let's take a walk through the weald and enjoy nature.
• The weald is a cool spot to hang out with friends.
• In the weald of my mind, I find peace and clarity.

noun a dense growth of trees and shrubs; a forest or wood

adjective characterized by being uncultivated or untamed; not domesticated or controlled

• The wildwood is a protected area where various species of flora and fauna thrive.
• Let's take a hike through the wildwood this weekend, it's so peaceful there.
• I heard there's a cool party happening in the wildwood tonight, wanna check it out?
• Her mind was like a wildwood, full of untamed thoughts and ideas.

noun a part of the vocal organ of birds located at the base of the trachea

• The syrinx is a specialized vocal organ found in birds.
• I learned about the syrinx in my ornithology class.
• Check out the syrinx on that bird, it's so cool!
• Her voice was like a syrinx, effortlessly hitting high notes.

noun a small island in a river or lake, especially one that is used for picnics or recreation

• The eyot in the river was a protected nesting ground for rare bird species.
• Let's have a picnic on that little eyot over there.
• I heard there's some good fishing off that eyot.
• The small island acted as an eyot of calm in the midst of the chaotic city.

noun In Islamic theology, a shaitan is a devil or demon that tempts humans to sin.

• In Islamic theology, shaitan is often referred to as a rebellious jinni who leads humans astray.
• Some people believe that shaitan is responsible for whispering temptations in their ears.
• I heard that guy is a real shaitan when it comes to playing pranks on his friends.
• The negative thoughts in her mind seemed to be fueled by a shaitan urging her to give up.

adjective relating to or characteristic of the period following the biblical flood

• The scientist conducted a study on the postdiluvian climate conditions.
• The history professor loves talking about postdiluvian civilizations.
• I heard that movie is set in a postdiluvian world, should be interesting.
• After the flood, the town had a postdiluvian feel to it, with everything looking washed out and new.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

conjunction a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause

• The parable of the motes and beams teaches us to examine our own faults before criticizing others.
• Before you start pointing out other people's mistakes, make sure you don't have any motes and beams in your own eye.
• Don't be a hypocrite and worry about other people's motes and beams when you have your own to deal with.
• Sometimes we are quick to judge others without realizing we have our own motes and beams to address.

adjective describing the condition of the top storey as not strong or stable

preposition showing the relationship between 'weak' and 'in the top storey'

• The structural engineer noted that the building was weak in the top storey.
• The top floor of the building is a bit shaky, according to the architect.
• The highest level of the building is kind of flimsy, if you ask me.
• The uppermost part of the tower seemed fragile, like a house of cards.

noun a benevolent or guardian spirit

adjective related to or characteristic of a eudaemon

• The philosopher believed that living a virtuous life would lead to eudaemonia, or true happiness.
• She always seems to be in a state of eudaemon, no matter what life throws at her.
• I'm feeling pretty eudaemonic today, nothing can bring me down!
• The garden was a place of eudaemon, where one could find peace and contentment amidst chaos.

noun a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible

• The laboratory study focused on the behavior of rats in response to different stimuli.
• I saw a couple of rats scurrying around the dumpster behind the restaurant.
• That movie was so bad, it was a total rat's nest of a plot.
• When the project fell apart, it felt like the rats were abandoning a sinking ship.

noun a very small human or humanoid creature, often used in alchemy and folklore

• The alchemist created a homunculus in his laboratory as part of his experiments.
• I heard that crazy scientist made a tiny homunculus in his basement.
• That little homunculus is so weird looking, like a tiny alien.
• The CEO treated his assistant like a homunculus, always ordering him around and never appreciating his hard work.

noun a genus of worm lizards

• The amphisbaena is a mythical creature from ancient Greek mythology with a head at each end of its body.
• Have you heard about the amphisbaena? It's a crazy two-headed creature!
• That amphisbaena is like something out of a fantasy movie.
• Dealing with this project feels like trying to tame an amphisbaena - it's a challenge from all angles.

noun a fictional device described in George Orwell's novel 1984, used to erase or alter historical records and memories

• The government official ordered all documents related to the scandal to be thrown into the memory-hole.
• I accidentally threw my keys into the memory-hole and now I can't find them anywhere.
• I heard that company likes to memory-hole any negative reviews about their products.
• Sometimes I feel like my brain has a memory-hole for all the embarrassing moments I'd rather forget.

noun The act of ascending or rising

• The accension of the new building was celebrated with a grand opening ceremony.
• I heard there will be an accension party at the new club downtown.
• Let's crash the accension at the fancy hotel, it's gonna be lit!
• The accension of her career was marked by a promotion to a senior management position.

adjective relating to or resembling a bird of prey, such as a hawk or eagle

• The accipitral shape of the bird's wings allowed it to soar effortlessly through the sky.
• I was mesmerized by the accipitral flight of the eagle as it circled overhead.
• Check out the accipitral wingspan on that hawk, it's huge!
• Her accipitral vision soared above the mundane details, focusing on the big picture instead.

noun a slang term for water, often used humorously or sarcastically

• At the business conference, they served only Adam's ale as refreshments.
• I'll just have a glass of Adam's ale, thanks.
• Let's grab some Adam's ale before heading to the party.
• In the desert, Adam's ale is more precious than gold.

noun aegri somnia

• The patient's aegri somnia were causing distress and confusion.
• He kept having those weird aegri somnia dreams that make no sense.
• I had some crazy aegri somnia last night, man.
• The artist's paintings were like aegri somnia, surreal and haunting.