Saturday, October 29, 2011

Word of the day: eldritch

The word of the day is eldritch:


Etymology:  Of obscure origin; connection with elf n.1, conjectured by Jamieson, would be suitable for the sense, and is supported by the form elphrish , apparently the same word. 
 
Weird, ghostly, unnatural, frightful, hideous. (OED)


"To me the original survival horror game was Alone in the Dark, released in 1992. Like many of the stories of H. P. Lovecraft it was based upon, Alone in the Dark generated suspense from the gradual immersion of its hero into a disturbing world of eldritch mystery just below the surface of everyday reality. More was implied than seen."


 - Seth Schiesel, "Angry Birds, Creeping Dread", 27 October 2011 New York Times

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