I will cheerfully admit that I didn't know what an ailurophile was - although as I sit here at home (snowed in, what a tragedy), cat upon my knee, I feel that perhaps I should have done.
This afternoon I have been dipping, whenever I have a few spare minutes, into the list of the 100 most beautiful words at AlphaDictionary.com. From caliginous (dark and misty) to foudroyant (dazzling), it's a glorious piece of work.
I love the ring of propinquity. The susurration of surreptitious. The cosiness of inglenook. The onomatopoeia of mellifluous (and hurrah - onomatopoeia makes it in too). The versatility of the English language that we have a word - potamophilous - for loving rivers. But my favourite is aestivate - not sure I'll be able to carry it off in conversation though. This summer, I shall mostly be aestivating in south London… Hm.
Whether you've struggled into the office, or like me have been defeated by the lack of public transport, I hope the list can while away a few happy minutes for you as well - and let me know if you have any personal favourites that have been left out.
