A.Word.A.Day		About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us

Home Today's Word Yesterday's Word Archives FAQ

A.Word.A.Day--duende duende (doo-EN-day) noun 1. Demon; goblin. 2. Inspiration; fire; spirit; magic; charm; magnetism. [From Spanish dialectal duende (charm), from Spanish (ghost).] "A key part of the myth of authenticity is duende, the spirit that inhabits the soloist at the climax of a performance." Louise Levene; It's Good to Sing; Independent (London, UK); Feb 4, 1997. "'If I don't get up here and paint, if I don't get up here and work on some kind of sculpture, I don't feel that I'm living. The duende says, 'Come on: Do it! Do it! Do it!'" Dan Sperling; Ever-driven Anthony Quinn; USA Today; Aug 5, 1987. This week's theme: words borrowed from Spanish. X-Bonus Every increased possession loads us with new weariness. -John Ruskin, author, art critic, and social reformer (1819-1900)

The Book: A Word A Day is now a book. Find it in your local bookstore or at Amazon.com. "A delightful, quirky collection." -The New York Times Join Us: Subscribe to A.Word.A.Day to receive it in your mailbox every day. Anu on Words: Writer Magazine SF Gate SF Gate Globe & Mail  Interact: Bulletin board AWADtalk Moderated Chat AWADchat Readers' Voice AWADmail