In a Word: Apricity

Pronunciation: /əˈprɪs.ɪ.ti/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition:

The warmth of the sun in winter.

Origin & Etymology

Dating back to the seventeenth century, apricity derives from the Latin verb apricari, meaning “to bask in the sun,” which itself stems from apricus (“warmed by the sun” or “sunny”). English lexicographer Henry Cockeram recorded it in his 1623 English Dictionarie, defining it simply as “the warmnesse of the Sunne in Winter.” Though it fell out of common usage for centuries, it has recently experienced a quiet renaissance among writers and language lovers.

Why It Deserves a Comeback

English is full of words for biting cold—frost, chill, blizzard, bitter—but far fewer for the brief, golden respites that make a freeze bearable. Apricity names a very specific sensory contrast: the brisk, biting air against your cheeks paired with the sudden, radiant heat of sunlight striking your coat through a clear winter sky. It is the feeling of sitting on a south-facing bench in January, closing your eyes, and feeling, for a moment, like spring never left.

In a Sentence

• “She paused on the snow-covered porch, turning her face upward to soak in a rare moment of mid-January apricity.”
• “The afternoon walk was freezing in the shade, but stepping into the clearing offered the golden comfort of pure apricity.”