Author Topic: Looking for a word  (Read 8200 times)

Offline BjustaB

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Looking for a word
« on: September 07, 2007, 06:21:13 PM »
I am guessing that this group would probably be the best to help me with a word issue.  I am looking for a word that means non-magical or non-mystical.  The closest word I can come up with is “mundane” but that word also has the connotation of boring and I don’t want to convey that at all.  When my main character and her friends use the word they are only being descriptive not judgmental.

I have turned the thesaurus upside down and still am not finding the word I am looking for.  Any ideas?  Since the novel is set in this world, urban setting, I cannot make up a word – it needs to be something readily recognizable.

Thanks,
Barbara

Offline Josh

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2007, 06:43:42 PM »
How about "grounded"?

Unaffected...

Ordinary...

Uncomplicated...

Conventional...

Just throwing out ones as they come...
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Offline blgarver

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2007, 06:53:04 PM »
If it isn't magic, then of course it's boring!

Perhaps you should try making up a word.  Like "Muggles" in Harry Potter.
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Offline Orissa

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #3 on: September 07, 2007, 07:19:03 PM »
"normals" has been used for such a description in something, but I can't for the life of me remember where I'd heard it! 

Offline Yeratel

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2007, 07:34:05 PM »
I'm not sure "unpowered" is a real word, how about "the unempowered" ?
When people who are clued in on something refer to those who are clueless, they often refer to them as "the straights", which I think most readers would understand.
« Last Edit: September 07, 2007, 07:41:47 PM by Yeratel »
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Offline AcornArmy

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #5 on: September 07, 2007, 07:52:13 PM »
Naturals
Uninitiated
Common
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Offline Yeratel

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2007, 02:06:14 AM »
You say the characters are being "descriptive, not judgemental" in describing non-magical humans, but I would guess that they still feel superior to the lesser beings. Something like the Whites referring to humans as "kine" for herd beasts as food. In casual conversation among themselves, they might use shortened descriptions like "Norms" for "normals", or "Humes" for "humans", or "Ords" for "ordinary people", or even an acronym of some sort. Every subculture out there seems prone to creating their own acronyms. Humans in this case could be NPLUs, for Not People Like Us.
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Offline Pheynix

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2007, 02:15:03 AM »
If you wanted to use color as a metaphor for magic, then perhaps the mundane, unempowered, banal, or what have you could simply be...

Pale.

Offline Cyclone Jack

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2007, 06:10:23 AM »

Telluric.

Materials.

Ephemerals (as opposed to something along the lines of 'Those Who Walk In Forever'.)

Bound (as opposed to those 'freed' by knowledge of magik.)

Mute (as opposed to those who know 'The Language Of The Universe'.)

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Offline The Corvidian

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2007, 05:24:10 AM »
"Streamer", from mainstream.

"Scalie", because of the scales over mortal eyes.

"Daylighter", or "Lighter", for someone not highing the the shadows.

"Fiver", from 9 to 5.
« Last Edit: September 09, 2007, 05:25:52 AM by The Corvidian »
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Offline ballplayer72

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2007, 10:23:42 PM »
i myself use unGifted and Gifted in my novel
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Offline Bujin

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2007, 11:28:41 PM »
"Conventional" works for me.  How about "typical" or "mainstream".

Offline Spectacular Sameth

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #12 on: September 10, 2007, 01:42:26 AM »
Mortals?

Offline Shecky

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #13 on: September 10, 2007, 11:10:30 AM »
Call 'em Commons (darn you AA for thinking of it first!). Norms. Straights. Sapiens. Regs. Blinders. Giftless.
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Offline Tasmin21

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Re: Looking for a word
« Reply #14 on: September 10, 2007, 10:11:11 PM »
Ooh, I like Sapiens.