Apricity is an old English word for the warmth of the sun on a winter’s day. To bask in the sun is to apricate. The air may be cold, but radiant solar heat can raise objects to much higher temperatures, especially away from the convective cooling of the wind. The word apricity derives from the Latin apricus, meaning “warmed by the sun”.
To apricate also means to freshen and disinfect by exposure to sunlight. In particular, the ultraviolet component of sunlight can kill bacteria, fungi and other microbes, hence the old saying that sunlight is the best disinfectant. This is traditionally applied to laundry, but has other uses too.
Some two million people worldwide rely on solar disinfection or Sodis for water purification, essentially by putting water in a plastic bottle and leaving it in the sun for several hours. This method does not remove other contaminants or guarantee that water is safe to drink, but it can greatly reduce the number of dangerous bacteria.
The month of April has a different etymology. It derives ultimately from Apru, the Etruscan name for Aphrodite, the goddess to whom the month was dedicated. Her name is not connected with apricity but she probably enjoyed basking in the sun on a winter’s day as much as anyone.
