I don't want to depress you. Here in the UK we've been enjoying an early spring. The hedgerows and fruit trees are bright with blossom and I already have roses budding in my garden and strawberries beginning to fruit. However, do you realise that it's only four or five months until those same hedgerows and trees will take on hues of gold, orange and brown before they shed their autumn garments and winter sets in?
Ok, that's just my way of leading us into today's word, courtesy of Michael Quinion, 'Filemot'.
He states quote:
"This word is now so rare that people who write about it tend to quote from one of its last unforced appearances, Lew Wallace's Ben-Hur from as long ago as 1880 ("each compartment crowded with
labelled folios all filemot with age and use"). Here's another, from a little earlier still:
October now. All the world swings at the top of its beauty; and those hills where we shall live, what robes of color fold them! Tawny filemot gilding the valleys, each seam and rut a scroll or arabesque, and all the year pouring out her heart's blood to flush the maples, the great impurpled granites warm with the sunshine they have drunk all summer!
You may by now have guessed that "filemot" (said, if you please, as three syllables, and not as "file-mot") is a colour, the russet or brown colour of dead autumn leaves.'
Personally I think that the beautiful autumn colours are in their own way just as beautiful as the myriad greens and flamboyant colours of spring and summer. (The picture above was taken from the field adjoining the one where I keep my horses, looking out towards the bridle path.)
So what do you think about the 'filemot' colours, and what do you think is the most colourful or beautiful season?
*World Wide Words is copyright © Michael Quinion 2011. All rights reserved
'World Wide Words website be found at:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm
Posted for P.L. Parker:
ReplyDeleteGreat post - kept kicking me out when I tried to comment. So here is my comment - I love late spring early summer - flowers are in bloom and look their prettiest then.
Thanks so much for visiting Patsy - sorry Blogger wouldn't let you post yourself, I appreciate you leaving a message on my FB Page.
ReplyDeleteI love fall. It's by far my most favorite time of year!
ReplyDeleteAnd I've never seen the word filemot before -- had no idea that meant color!
Clever, interesting post, Lyn. Thanks! :)
Thanks so much Miss Mae - I agree, it's hard to beat the beautiful colours of Autumn. especially when we got those lovely golden evenings as well!
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting, thank you, Hywela - hadn't come across that before. I think you're a little further ahead with spring than we are up here!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite season is autumn to winter, then I like the new life in spring. I don't like summer at all - probably because I'm not keen on the heat (we should be so lucky!).
As long as summer is nice and warm I will be happy...So far we are getting rain, rain and more rain.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Rosemary, yes I think it's usually colder in Scotland than it is here in the south. I don't like it too hot either, but it is nice to see a bit of sun!
ReplyDeleteHi Savannah
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for calling by and for your comment - yes, I'm hoping we have a decent summer here too, although so far it's been unseasonally warm and dry and we really could do with some rain now!
Sorry I'm a few days late! Playing catch up.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Filemot colors that last linger on the branches and dust the ground in autumn. Yes, the early vibrant colors upon the trees catch your breath, but the muted hues of late fall crinkling beneath one's feet as they stroll down their favorite woodland path holds its own unique allure.
Great post, Lyn! :-)
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Sky - that was almost poetic! :)
ReplyDelete