Fantastic Thing No. 2

‘fantastic’

/fæntæst̥ɪk/

Have you ever actually thought about that word?

What do you think ‘fantastic’ means? Mostly, when we use that word, it’s just a way to express that we feel that something is really good. And that’s not wrong, but really, if you want to further master your use of language, then you should understand the more accurate definition of this word.

Look at the first part of the word:

fantas-tic

What other words can you think of that start this way?

fantas-y, fantas-ize, etc.

Does it come as a surprise, then, to know that this is the first definition of the word ‘fantastic?”

‘fantastic’ : ‘imaginative or fanciful; remote from reality’

Let me tell you why this is so cool:

Because I did not even really think about that when I named this blog.

I just thought that “Daydreams and Fantastic Things” sounded cool. Really, this was intended to be a blog where I could give my daydreams more life than just existing inside my head. A place where, just for fun, the endings to my everyday situations were conveniently always perfect! (NOT LIKE CHICK FLICKS THOUGH. ROMANTIC COMEDIES MOSTLY MAKE ME SICK.)

It was something that just came to me: Daydreams and Fantastic Things.

But it’s totally fitting!

Because what are daydreams, if not fantasies? (I mean that in the most innocent way.)

What is daydreaming, if not fantasizing?

Gold. :)

(referring to the word choice employed in my title of this blog, not answering that last question, which was intended to be rhetorical)

Also, my linguistic brain is now exploding.

Think of this: the words ‘cool’ and ‘hot’ are both used to denote positive feelings toward something. Those words are opposites. It’s kind of a testament of the fact that there are all kinds of beautiful. There is more than one right opinion. A slight linguistic paradox, if you will, that teaches us something quite remarkable!

And these(!!):

REMARK-able. WONDER-ful. AMAZE-ing. AWE-some. MAGNIFI-cent.

And a really cool one I just learned more about: ‘tremendous.’ It comes from the Latin root ‘tremere’ which means ‘tremble.’ Something so grand and/or great and/or intense that it causes one to TREMBLE. Now, will you use this word to describe something that causes you to tremble in fear or in awe? Something awesome could also be tremendous! GAH. WORDS.

Think about the words you use!! There are so many ways to express yourself in this wonderful language of ours! And I’m positive that other languages also have hidden gems in them that produce such amazing realizations!

Life, my dears, is a beautiful thing. :)