Fantasy Dictionar

Chatterbox: Crowd Sorcery

Fantasy Dictionar

Fantasy Dictionary

Writing a fantasy story often involves world-building: creating the setting in which your story takes place. Physical location is an important part of this phase—the house, cavern, mountain, forest, town, ship, island, or any other space your characters inhabit. But it is more than just a place. Building a world may mean thinking about the history, art, music, language, clothing, and customs of the story’s people—how they earn a living, what they do on holidays, and what everyday objects they use.

Of course a writer can’t design every aspect of a culture. If you did that, you’d never get around to writing the story! But here is the key: you want to think carefully enough about these things so that the reader believes your fantasy world goes on beyond the edges of your story. You want this imaginary world to feel real. And you do that with some well-placed, clear, creative details.

So let’s do some world-building! Please come up with objects, places, words ... any ideas for a fantasy story’s world. Tools, animals, types of clothing, dwellings—any of these and more may become necessary elements in our story! You may suggest as many as you like, or even post a strange word and let others suggest meanings. If you want, you can also write a sentence using the word or describing the fantasy place. Here are two examples:

haloris – a lantern that gives off both light and a pleasant scent. It is used by people who live near the swamps to counter the odors of mud and decay.

“Quill’s boots sank into the moss, deeper at each step, and ahead she could see a swamp, moonbeams glittering on pools that lapped around the tree roots. Catching the stench of stagnant water, she pulled the haloris lamp from her pack and set it alight.”

gnawk – a large, black bird with a raucous cry and uneven feathers that always look ruffled and untidy. Gnawks have a fondness for pecking and chewing on rope, and they are notorious for setting free dogs and farm animals tied with ropes. They unmoor boats tied to docks, and have been known to free certain fortunate prisoners.

Can you see how story ideas practically ooze from your Fantasy Dictionary, once you get your imagination going?

submitted by Fred Durbin
(April 23, 2014 - 10:11 am)

makras -- beings made of wind, which can look like humans, in human form, if they wish. They have whispery voices and speak the language of the inhabitants of Earthgard.

lirin -- a bracelet or anklet made by the Fey; they usually contain magic.

uoasor -- young sorceress or sorcerer.

soamai -- luscious Skyhide fruits. They are only known to Earthgard because they occasionally fall to the ground. The fruit is grayish in color, and shaped like hearts.

 

 

 

 

 

submitted by The Chocabookaholic , age 11
(April 27, 2014 - 3:53 pm)

Chocabookaholic I like the now fuirts and words for Earthgard/Skyhide.

submitted by John F.Q., age 11, nice words
(April 28, 2014 - 6:01 am)

You're welcome.

submitted by Jonh F.Q, age no need to, London
(April 28, 2014 - 4:45 pm)

you're welcome.

submitted by Jonh F.Q, age no need to, London
(April 28, 2014 - 4:45 pm)

fizcus -- being involved with both fire and water

difary -- a maiden of both fire and darkness

sesf -- an ember used by water people to make fire in water with magic

crifeny -- an unusual event that rarely happens 

syle -- an upward flowing stream or river 

~I'm a bit bad with coming up with new words, but oh well :) 

submitted by Moss, age 13
(April 28, 2014 - 4:06 pm)

No! These are awesome!

 

submitted by Sarah
(September 7, 2014 - 7:33 pm)

Thanks :D 

submitted by Moss, age 13
(September 21, 2014 - 8:06 am)

oriela- Skyhide-dwelling curly-furred white flying tiger. I don't know where this came from.

 

submitted by The Chocabookaholic, age 11, FANTASY DICTIONARY!
(April 29, 2014 - 9:06 am)

Well.. My friends and I are writing a story, and here is the vocab we came up with. By the way, is there a certain time period it has to be in?

vestigium -- a tracking device the government uses. It is injected into your skin when you are born. The government uses a digital map to track each person of their town.

micronmnis -- a chip sort of thing attached to each room or place so the government can listen in on your conversations. Of course, the citizens don't know about this.  

lucemcarpus, lucems for short -- devices you wear on your wrist (you can't take it off!) that help you get around. The government can inject you with a poison that paralyzes you. For the citizens, it's a map, a clock, calculator, all those useful tools.

lucem makers -- police and fire department. They are the people concerned with removing evil, rebels, and  

salus -- people concerned with health and welfare

salus station -- basically hospitals where the salus work

 

submitted by Nathan F., age 11-18, London, England
(April 29, 2014 - 4:44 pm)

Oh, I forgot to mention, could we not use these in the story? I just wanted to share them. Thanks!  

To admins: that name, Nathan Field, was made up from the story King of Shadows I'm reading right now... I'm really Legion I. Is it okay to do that?...

 

Yes, as long as you say that the name is from that story.

Admin

submitted by Nathan/Legion/whatev, age 13, SDenver
(May 8, 2014 - 8:57 pm)

Golem -- An artificially created being. Sometimes used for war, but mostly for work.

Charspawn -- Children of dragons and humans, they are human-like in appearance, but have scales, claws, and can breathe fire. 

submitted by Sean C., age 9, Oregon
(April 29, 2014 - 7:30 pm)

Frenka - a pastry, usually a warm cinnamon roll with jelly inside

Stwen - slang for a bow and arrow

Treekoom - a child raised away from civilaztion, usually a bit peculiar

Alakchon - a dress made of one piece of fabric, casual, common women's wear during the Spring and Summer

Xee-xui - slang for bird, any bird 

 

 

submitted by Raina O., age 13, Eugene, Or. USA
(April 30, 2014 - 1:06 am)

I hope you have read my heroine comment. This dictionary is for the same story. Sorry if I spell anything wrong!Embarassed

d-naro > an endless sack that carries all of your things. It can look like a backpack, a knapsack, a tote, and it has many other forms. When you carry it, it will be weightless.

Wolfernes > a wolf worshipper

Hayra > a guardian of Wolfernes

Dracugon > a land in the world of Turys, where all dragons live

Turys > their planet

Morain > a royal vampire

Dhainer > a guardian of Morain

I hope you like it!!Cool 

submitted by Abby E., age 10, Missouri
(April 30, 2014 - 6:14 pm)

trundle -- a pack of food that refills. Is expensive. 

bolx -- a bee/wolf/fox. They are very small and can make themselves very big if threatened.

espiro -- a mix of bologna, bacon, pork, and steak. Is put on sandwiches. 

submitted by Ashleigh
(May 1, 2014 - 3:39 pm)

swezlix -- a cat/raven like creature that feeds on bolx (a creature I created). They are a dark as night and almost invisible at night. In day the are as blue as the sky and sunset red, orange, and yellow. They use camouflage basically so bolx dont see them coming.

twixleburn- - when faires are burned, the burn sparkles red and pink and burns anyone that touches it. When a person touches it the rash itches and doesn't go away till you stop itching it for a hour.

bamknes- - a special food that only faires can consume. It's a mix of nectar, pollen, and melons. It has a sweet smell and is delicious.

toklein -- an elvish/mermaid. When they enter water the become a mermaid but when they leave water, there are scales and fins on there legs.

 

 I had sooo much fun with this and I might make more :3. I <3 cricket!!!!!! 

submitted by Ashleigh
(May 1, 2014 - 4:45 pm)