The Word Project: Obscure Words in Bricolage

The Word Project: Obscure Words in Bricolage:

 

What aviary resemblance has to do with the study of soil and the irresistible urge to dance.

We love words and language, especially artful intersections of lingolove and design. Earlier this week, we spotlighted illustrator Veronika Heckova’s lovely Words Without Words project and, thanks to reader Cassandra Marketos, we discovered the utterly wonderful work of artist Polly M. Law. The Word Project is a compendium of 100 odd and obscure words, illustrated in Law’s signature bricolage paper-dolls style.

 

Strigiform: (adj) resembling an owl; Struthiform (adj) resembling an ostrich

Image courtesy of Polly M. Law

 

 

 

Dinomania: (n) irresistible urge to dance

Image courtesy of Polly M. Law

 

 

 

Godwottery: (n) an overly ornate garden

Image courtesy of Polly M. Law

 

 

 

Pedology: (n) the study of soils

Image courtesy of Polly M. Law

 

 

 

Lucubrate: (v) to work by artificial light

Image courtesy of Polly M. Law

 

 

 

Bibliotaph: (n) a person who hides books

Image courtesy of Polly M. Law

 

 

 

Empyreal: (adj) celestial, elevated

Image courtesy of Polly M. Law

 

 

At once whimsical and illuminating, The Word Project is a playful and inspired gateway into grown-up vocabulary, approaching the intellectual with the kind of childlike curiosity we so encourage.

Thanks, Cass

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