In the world of the Awakened, I mention that there was a great tumult, an upset, a horrible catastrophe that shook the world in the distant past and sent a portion of humanity beneath the waves to survive. In my story world, I just call it “the Great Cataclysm.” But after looking up apocalypse last week, I thought it would be fun to look at this doom-and-destruction word too.

Cataclysm is another word that comes to us from Greek (via Latin and French). Kata- means “down” in Ancient Greek, and klyzein means “to wash.” So cataclysm is literally a wash-down…which was used in the sense of “deluge, flood.” So Noah’s flood? That was the originally-referenced cataclysm.

I honestly didn’t realize that when I named the event in my series, but it’s totally appropriate, given the results! As for what caused it? That remains shrouded in the mysteries of the past… 😉

Word Nerds Merch!

When we hear the word apocalypse, we think one thing and one thing only these days: THE END OF THE WORLD!

Ever wonder why?

Apocalypse has come to mean that because it’s the Greek name of the last book in the Bible, which we English-speakers today call Revelation. Its story, however, includes the end (and new beginning) of the world. So it’s no surprise that, over the centuries, apocalypse has taken on that meaning, and it’s had it since the 1200s.

But the word itself means something very different–and a lot more like our English translation. Apocalypse literally means “unveil.”

Yep. See, apo- means “off, away from” and kalyptein means “to cover, to veil.” So apocalypse is “to remove the veil.” To reveal (hence Revelation). I love that the book isn’t actually named for “doom and gloom and destruction” but for the revealing, the unveiling of mysteries. I especially love the way the Church Fathers read this book, not just as a “what will happen someday” but as a glimpse at what is happening in Heaven when we worship on Earth.

Word Nerds Merch!

Okay, so neither Etymonline.com nor Merriam-Webster recognize this word as a real word.

But it IS, man. It is a REAL THING. You know it. I know it. The mug below certainly knows it. 😉

Abibliophobia. It’s a word that modern book-lovers have absolutely made up, using a mash-up of Greek roots, to mean something we all know exists.

a- meaning “lack.” Biblio meaning “book.” Phobia meaning “fear.”

A fear of running out of books.

Right?! And this is why we always have to buy more, even when our shelves are overflowing! 😉

Word Nerds Merch!

You know the people. The ones you’ve learned not to lend books to because they always forget to return them. The ones who will swear they didn’t have them or that they gave them back, even though you know that precious volume is right there on their shelves. Or worse–people who outright take books that don’t belong to them.

They are book thieves. And there’s a word for them.

Biblioklept.

Yep. The word was coined in 1880 to describe someone who snatches (or doesn’t return) books, and a Greek word was created for it to “soften the ugly word ‘book-thief’ by shrouding it in the mystery of the Greek language.”

I daresay Corinne and Christian from The Collector of Burned Books both have strong opinions on biblioklepts…unless the thieving is to keep the books safe, of course. 😉

Word Nerds Merch!