Some of us enjoy the winter months. We long for the colder air, wrapped up in coats and gloves, perhaps even enjoying a bit of snow. For others, winter is anathema. They seek and covet even the smallest ray of sunshine. Even those who love winter may find themselves stepping into the patches of sunshine piercing through windows or the twigs and branches of deciduous trees. There is a word for what they are seeking, and that word is apricity.
Meaning: the warmth of the winter sun.
Origin: from the Latin words apricitas, denoting plenty of sunshine, and apricus, meaning “warmed by the sun”. It seems this word was coined at some time in the early 1600s, possibly by the lexicographer Henry Cockeram. However, it’s use and popularity remained quite stagnant over the centuries.
Example: The sun’s apricity soothed her cold bones as she walked through the park.
It’s that time of year when the northen hemisphere leaves winter behind and the southern hemisphere ploughs ever closer to it. If you’re like me, you’re looking forward to winter. I love dressing up in warm clothes and sitting by the fireplace. I even look forward to the single day of snow that may or may not grace itself during the winters of my locality. But it is true that no matter how much I love winter, I do like the feeling of the winter sun’s rays on my cold face. At that moment, I spare a thought for all the people who dislike winter. It sure has its charms.
