Words in the World

Daily Writing Tips - Don't Waste Decimate had a blog post on proper usage of the word decimate. I thought it was interesting, because I already have a pretty good idea of what decimate means in the modern sense, but I'm also an avid reader and a gamer.

As raiders, we've seen three different fights with a game mechanic called "decimate". It's aptly named because it all but kills everyone in your raid group, leaving everyone vulnerable to death. It's a healer-challenge, as it creates the need to fill up health bars, and quickly. After learning those encounters, I have a clear visual of "decimate". It's not as serious as the real life implications of the word - the plague decimated the tribe, the tornado decimated the small town, or the bunnies decimated the garden, but it's still deepened my sense of the word - decimation is a serious thing, indeed.

There are other words in the game that can have the same effect, if I let them. Beacon of Light is a fantastic example, specifically #5 and #6 (since we often beacon our tanks, who are charging into battle leading the way).

bea·con -noun
1.a guiding or warning signal, as a light or fire, esp. one in an elevated position.
2.a tower or hill used for such purposes.
3.a lighthouse, signal buoy, etc., on a shore or at a dangerous area at sea to warn and guide vessels.
4.Navigation. a.radio beacon. b.a radar device at a fixed location that, upon receiving a radar pulse, transmits a reply pulse that enables the original sender to determine his or her position relative to the fixed location.
5.a person, act, or thing that warns or guides.
6.a person or thing that illuminates or inspires: The Bible has been our beacon during this trouble.

Or Penance, spell specific to Priests that can heal or deal damage to the enemy? (Pet Peeve: There's only one n!)

pen·ance - noun
1.a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin.
2.a penitential discipline imposed by church authority.
3.a sacrament, as in the Roman Catholic Church, consisting in a confession of sin, made with sorrow and with the intention of amendment, followed by the forgiveness of the sin.

There are many more: if you're a dps, you surely know the difference between your bolts, strikes, volleys, barrages, and stings. But even though I really don't know much about mages or hunters, I can take a guess that a bolt (or strike) is quick short attack while a barrage (or volley) indicates a quantity of hurt. What about a sting (a wound from a sharp object that irritates) considered with Viper Sting?

The language of WoW is amazing. Do you have words in World of Warcraft that you find special?