Comments on: The missing word

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:27:12 +0000

I’d almost suggest you were describing Christopher Alexander’s ‘Quality Without A Name’, which I think he now just calls ‘life’. A sort of comfortable, habitable excellence which borders on spirituality.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:07:57 +0000

I appreciate the treasures from Welsh. Here in the States, we occassionally resort to Yiddish terms when nothing else in English quite does the trick.
As for coining a new term, why not adapt a common one. Would “contentous” convey the idea of something that inspires contentment? Sadly, the word itself doesn’t have a very contenous ring to it; too much of “contend” or “contest” to be truly restful.

By: sandy lewis

sandy lewis — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:22:26 +0000

Being a welsh speaker, I find using Welsh terms instead of English ones instantly brings warmth, solidarity and feeling to what I’m describing. It’s like using ‘Hiraeth’. It has no true translation but some do describe it as: homesickness, longing, yearning, nostalgia. All, to me, make me think of home and my love of Wales and I can only express this as ‘Hiraeth’. So in your case Chris, welsh might have the answer, your ‘lost’ word. I’m not fluent so I can’t give you a definite answer, but I do know that homely in welsh is ‘cartrefol’ and not only does this make me feel warm, I think it’s a solid word and a word that could mean so many things. I hope this helps! God Bless.

By: ChrisW

ChrisW — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:42:57 +0000

Hmm worthy tries. In fact ‘worthy’ isn’t bad either. ‘Classy but understated’ perhaps? ‘Solid’ sounds a wee bit like porridge. ‘Solid quality?’ As for wallesque Hmmm………………

By: kirsty

kirsty — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:25:12 +0000

Would ‘solid’ fit?

By: Boaz

Boaz — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:04:08 +0000

How about coining a neologism: wallesque? Or would that be quixotic task to undertake?

By: Bruce IV

Bruce IV — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:52:56 +0000

pity … I was hoping someone had come up with the missing word – I tend to use “classy” in a similar sense, but it doesn’t quite fit.