What makes a word beautiful? The marriage of form, function and sound? The meaning? The etymology?
Anyway, here is my list.
Anyway, here is my list.
- OK - Alan Metcalf makes a strong case for what he calls 'America's greatest word'. He argues that OK encapsulates the American spirit of tolerance, enterprise, and practicality.
- Love - the word that features in the title of 12 Beatles songs (All You Need Is- /Can’t Buy Me -/And I - You). And 113 US Number One singles.
- Yes - Joyce describes this as the feminine word and has Molly Bloom end Ulysses with a resounding tribute to it: 'yes and his heart was going like mad, and yes I said yes I will Yes. "
- Bewitched - beautiful sound, beautiful Rodgers & Hart song, magical idea. Would also enter ‘bothered’ and ‘bewildered but with only five
- Twilight - vampire fans are banned from voting.
- Iridescent (ir-i-DES-ent) - ‘brilliant, lustrous, colourful’ - what more could you ask from a word?
- Serendipity - the beauty of chance/fate
- Audacious - brave, bold, ambitious
- Enchanted - Some enchanted evening/You may see a stranger/You may see a stranger/Across a crowded room
of those make your list? Or would you prefer one of the alternatives in the poll? Please vote below: