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A.Word.A.Day--charnel

charnel (CHAR-nel) noun

A repository for the bones or bodies of the dead; a charnel house.

adjective

Resembling, suggesting, or suitable for receiving the dead.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin carnale, from neuter of Latin carnalis, of the flesh, from caro, carn-, flesh.]

"This ending does not follow Hugo's novel, in which Esmeralda is hanged, and her body taken to the charnel house of Montfaucon, where Quasimodo enters the vault and stays with her, embracing her body until he dies of starvation." The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Magill's Survey of Cinema, Jun 15, 1995.

October 31 marks Halloween, the day when fear is celebrated in many parts of the world. On this day, many people wear strange costumes, make-up, or masks that are supposed to cause dread in others. But one doesn't need to buy exotic paraphernalia, for words--arranged properly--are simply enough to inspire fright. Consider The Monkey's Paw, a short story from English writer W.W. Jacobs https://www.advsys.co.uk/homepages/chris/shortstr/paw.html . This little tale also serves as a good reminder of the old adage, just in time for Christmas: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. -Anu

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