The Secret of Nyms
December 1st, 2006 by Chief NutHere’s the third edition of the Name Game.
Tip Three: Learn the secret of Nyms. No, not the cartoon about talking mice! If you tried out tip two and now have a three column table with A LOT of words, phrases and ideas but you still don’t see something that resonates with you, try this. Add five more columns and title them “Synonyms”, “Antonyms”, “Homonyms” (plus Homophones and Homographs in that column) and “Idioms” … you have my permission to call that column “Idionyms”. I’ll know what you mean. In the last column add “Acronyms”. This last one is a low probability approach but it is interesting.
For synonyms and antonyms the best resource is www.Thesaurus.com. A good list of Homonyms can be found at Alan Cooper’s homonym web site.
A fabulous resource is www.Dictionary.com for a list of alternate meanings, idiomatic expressions (slang) and to get an even bigger list of synonyms and antonyms.
Try AcronymFinder.com for TBLOA (the best list of acronyms).
An example: If you’re a wedding consultant and you have “rose” on your list of related words, you’d find:
Synonyms: arise, proceed, mount, succeed, advance, dream world, hope, idealism, idealization, rosy picture, cardinal points, degrees, direction symbol, map symbol, compass rose, degrees, half points, quarter points, blush, burn, color, color up, crimson, flame, glow, go red, mantle, pink, pinken, redden, rose, rouge, suffuse, be suffused, blare, blaze, blush, brighten, burn, color, crimson, fill, flame, flare, flush, gleam, glimmer, glisten, glitter, ignite, kindle, light, mantle, pink, pinken, redden, rose, rouge, shine, smolder, thrill, tingle, twinkle, alluring, auspicious, bright, encouraging, favorable, glowing, hopeful, likely, optimistic, pleasing, promising, reassuring, rose-colored, roseate, sunny
Antonyms: sink, fall, descend, fail, decrease, worsen, retire
Homo-nyms, -graphs, -phones: Rhos, Roes, Rows (as a boat), Rows (like columns), Rose (to ascend)
Alternate meanings: Several dozen of them!
Idioms: MANY … including “coming up roses”
and finally…
Acronyms: How about “Reconnaissance Operations and Secret Enforcement” or “Repository of Scholarly Eprints”
INDEED, taking this approach is a great way to overload your brain with ideas. Hundreds and hundreds of ideas. You’ll likely get overwhelmed. That’s expected. Look at each of these ideas as a little seed. In short order, ONE of those initial ideas will germinate into … well … a rose!
