Charleston Lim's Blog - Posts Tagged "thoughts"
I’m thinking of a word
There is this quirk that I have, which I think may be unique to me and a handful of people. When I encounter a new word, I get really hung up on that word, its meaning, its entomology, how it is used, was used, how it can be used in my own work.
A few days ago, I encountered the word “Vestigial”.
adjective: vestigial
forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable.
"he felt a vestigial flicker of anger from last night"
Biology
(of an organ or part of the body) degenerate, rudimentary, or atrophied, having become functionless in the course of evolution.
"the vestigial wings of kiwis are entirely hidden"
It’s a very interesting word. The first recorded usage of the word was in 1841. I would assume the word was used in a biological context. The word was based on the latin Vistigium, which meant to walk or walk a path.
Basically the word now describes something remaining as the last small part of something that existed before. Like a remnant. Describing the word like this evokes a lot of curiosity and emotion for me.
Something that was once prominent, but is now insignificant or useless. Like past relationships, loves, feelings, events, and memories. Vestigial memories, vestigial love. It’s such a powerful adjective to describe something that was once integral, but now atrophied and insignificant.
Something that has been made functionless as we move through time, as we symbolically evolve and change through different stages in our lives.
A few days ago, I encountered the word “Vestigial”.
adjective: vestigial
forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable.
"he felt a vestigial flicker of anger from last night"
Biology
(of an organ or part of the body) degenerate, rudimentary, or atrophied, having become functionless in the course of evolution.
"the vestigial wings of kiwis are entirely hidden"
It’s a very interesting word. The first recorded usage of the word was in 1841. I would assume the word was used in a biological context. The word was based on the latin Vistigium, which meant to walk or walk a path.
Basically the word now describes something remaining as the last small part of something that existed before. Like a remnant. Describing the word like this evokes a lot of curiosity and emotion for me.
Something that was once prominent, but is now insignificant or useless. Like past relationships, loves, feelings, events, and memories. Vestigial memories, vestigial love. It’s such a powerful adjective to describe something that was once integral, but now atrophied and insignificant.
Something that has been made functionless as we move through time, as we symbolically evolve and change through different stages in our lives.
