Culture > Literature > Forms

Now updated for CSW19. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.

actioner (Sl.) a story with much action.
adespota (Greek) anonymous works.
adversaria miscellaneous notes; commonplace books.
afterword an epilogue.
allegoric having the properties of an allegory.
allegorical having the properties of an allegory.
allegorically (Adv.) ALLEGORICAL, having the properties of an allegory.
allegoricalness the state of being allegorical.
allegorise to make an allegory of.
allegorize to make an allegory of.
allegory a story presenting a moral principle.
almanac an annual table, or book of tables, containing a calendar of months and days, usually with astronomical data and other information.
almanack an annual table, or book of tables, containing a calendar of months and days.
ana a collection of someone's table-talk.
analecta (Greek) a collection of writings; literary gleanings.
analectic relating to analects; made up of selections; as, an analectic magazine.
analects a collection of writings; literary gleanings.
anecdotal relating to anecdote.
anecdotally (Adv.) ANECDOTAL, relating to anecdote.
anecdote a short narrative of an incident of private life.
antinovel a work written in defiance of novelistic convention.
antistory a narrative that does not follow the normal conventions of story.
apolog a beast fable, a moral tale.
apologal relating to an apolog, a beast fable, a moral tale.
apologia (Lat.) an apology, usually in literary form.
apologue a beast fable, a moral tale.
autobiographic relating to autobiography.
autobiography the biography of a person narrated by himself or herself.
belletrism the writing of belles-lettres.
belletristic relating to belles-lettres.
belletristical relating to belles-lettres.
bestiary a book about beasts.
bildungsroman (Ger.) a psychological novel dealing with the early moral development of the protagonist.
bio (Coll.) a biography.
biog (Coll.) biography.
biograph to write a biography of.
biographee a person about whom a biography is written.
biographic relating to biography.
biographical relating to biography.
biographically (Adv.) BIOGRAPHICAL, of, relating to, or constituting biography.
biographise to make the subject of a biography.
biographize to make the subject of a biography.
biography the story of someone's life.
bonkbuster a work of popular fiction centering on erotic encounters.
burlesque (Fr.) a ludicrous imitation; (adj.) resembling a burlesque (verb) to make a burlesque of
burlesquely (Adv.) BURLESQUE, ludicrously imitative.
burleycue a ludicrous imitation.
carriwitchet (Scots) a teasing quibble; a quip.
causerie (Fr.) a light and informal conversation; a brief, conversational essay.
chapbook a small book or pamphlet containing stories, poems, or religious tracts.
chrestomathic of or like a chrestomathy, a selection of passages compiled as an aid to learning a language.
chrestomathical of or like a chrestomathy, a selection of passages compiled as an aid to learning a language.
chrestomathy a selection of passages compiled as an aid to learning a language; a volume of selected passages or stories of an author
cliffhanger a narrative that ends each section on a suspenseful note.
collectanea a collection of passages, a miscellany.
comix (Sl.) comic books.
compend a compendium; a summary.
composition a piece of writing.
concordance an alphabetical index of the principal words in a book or the works of an author with their immediate contexts.
conte (Fr.) a short story (as a literary genre).
coursebook a book used on an educational course.
critique (Fr.) a criticism; esp a critical analysis, article, or essay; (verb) to make a critique of.
curiosa (Lat.) rare and curious books.
cyberpunk a genus of science fiction involving a computer-dominated society and usually a gifted young hacker who rebels against this.
cyclopaedia an encyclopaedia.
cyclopaedic encyclopaedic.
cyclopedia an encyclopaedia.
cyclopedic encyclopaedic.
dekalogy a group of ten novels.
diarise to enter in a diary.
diarize to enter in a diary.
diary a personal journal.
dictionary a book containing the words of a language alphabetically arranged, with their meanings, etymology, etc.
dreadful awful (noun) a lurid novel
dreadfully (Adv.) DREADFUL, awful.
drunkalogue an account of a person's problems with alcohol.
encheiridion a handbook or a manual.
enchiridion a manual or handbook.
encyclopaedia a work containing information on every branch, or on a particular branch, of knowledge.
encyclopedia a work containing information on every branch, or on a particular branch, of knowledge.
epigraphical relating to an epigraph.
epigraphically (Adv.) EPIGRAPHICAL, relating to an epigraph.
epilog an epilogue.
epilogic or or like an epilogue.
epilogise to speak or write an epilogue.
epilogist one who writes or speaks an epilogue.
epilogistic of or like an epilog.
epilogize to speak or write an epilogue.
epilogue the concluding section of a book, etc; (verb) to provide with an epilogue.
epinikian an ode celebrating a triumph.
epistle a letter; (verb, Milton) to preface.
epistler a writer of epistles, or of an epistle of the New Testament.
epistolet a little epistle.
epistolic of or like an epistle.
epistolical of or like an epistle.
epistolise to write a letter.
epistolist one who writes epistles.
epistolize to write a letter.
epitaphial pertaining to an epitaph.
epitaphian pertaining to an epitaph.
epitaphic pertaining to an epitaph.
essayette a short essay.
essayish like an essay.
essayist one who writes essays.
essayistic relating to an essayist.
excerptum (Lat.) an excerpt, selection.
excursus (Lat.) a dissertation or discussion on some particular matter appended to the main body of a book or chapter.
exemplum (Lat.) a short story or anecdote with a moral.
fable a kind of moral story; (verb) to compose or tell fictitious tales.
fabliau (Fr.) one of the metrical tales of the Trouveres, or early poets of the north of France.
fabulise to write fables or speak in fables.
fabulistic having the nature of a fable.
fabulize to write fables or speak in fables.
facetiae (Lat.) witty or humorous sayings or writings.
fairytale of or like a story about fairies or other supernatural beings.
fanfic (Short for) fiction written around previously established characters invented by other authors.
farcify to turn into a farce.
festschrift (Ger.) a volume of writing by different authors presented as a tribute or memorial esp to a scholar.
feuilletonism the production of feuilletons.
feuilletonistic related to feuilletonism.
fiction an invented or false story.
florilegium (Lat.) a collection of literary pieces; an anthology.
folktale a tale forming part of the oral tradition of a people.
foodoir a book or blog that combines a personal memoir with a series of recipes.
formulary a book of formulae or precedents.
gest (Obs.) an exploit; a tale of adventure.
geste (Obs.) an exploit; a tale of adventure.
glossarial of or pertaining to glosses or to a glossary.
glossarially (Adv.) GLOSSARIAL, of or pertaining to glosses or to a glossary.
glossary a list of terms and their definitions.
glossator a writer of glosses or comments.
glossist a writer of glosses or comments.
gnomist a writer of gnomes, pithy sayings.
hagiography a biography of saints; an idealizing or idolizing biography.
hagiologic relating to hagiology, the study of saints' lives.
hagiological relating to hagiology, the study of saints' lives.
hagiology the literature dealing with the lives and legends of saints.
handbook a manual.
heptaglot a book written in seven languages.
herbal relating to herbs; (noun) a treatise on herbs.
hexaglot a book written in six languages.
historiette a short history or story.
homiletic relating to homily or the art of preaching.
homiletical relating to homily or the art of preaching.
homiletically (Adv.) HOMILETICAL, relating to homily.
homilist one who writes homilies.
homily a usually short sermon; a lecture or discourse on a moral theme.
isagoge (Greek) an academic introduction to a subject.
isagogic introductory.
jeremiad a literary work or speech expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom.
jestbook a book of jokes.
journal a daily register or journal; (verb) to record in a journal.
journalizer one who journalizes.
kidlit literature for children.
lampoon a personal satire; (verb) to attack or ridicule by personal satire.
lampooner one who writes lampoons.
lampoonery the practice of lampooning.
legendarily (Adv.) LEGENDARY, having the nature of legend.
legendary having the nature of legend (noun) a book or writer of legends
legendry legends generally.
liber (Lat.) a book of public records.
lipogram a piece of writing that avoids one or more letters of the alphabet.
lipogrammatic of or like a lipogram, a piece of writing that avoids one or more letters of the alphabet.
lipogrammatist one who writes lipograms.
listicle a piece of writing based around or consisting of a list.
logbook a book containing a detailed daily record of a ship's voyage.
longform designating an unusually long piece of writing.
manga (Japanese) a type of adult comic book popular in Japan.
marchen (Ger.) a story or fable, a folktale No -S.
mazarinade (Hist.) a satire or pamphlet against Cardinal Mazarin.
memoir a biography.
memoirism the act or art of writing memoirs.
metafiction fiction which refers to or takes as its subject fictional writing and its conventions.
metafictional relating to metafiction.
metanarrative in postmodernist literary theory, a narrative about a narrative or narratives.
metaphrase the turning of prose into verse or vice versa; (verb) to turn prose into verse or vice versa.
metaphrast one who produces a metaphrase.
mimography the writing of mimes.
momoir a memoir written by a mother, concentrating on the experience of motherhood.
monograph a special treatise on a particular subject of limited range; (verb) to write a monograph.
monographic of or like a monograph.
monographical of or like a monograph.
monographically (Adv.) MONOGRAPHICAL, of or like a monograph.
monography a monograph.
monolog (US) a dramatic piece for a single performer; (verb) to perform a monolog.
monologize to engage in a monolog.
monologue a dramatic piece for a single performer; (verb) to perform a monologue.
monologuist one who gives monologues.
monostrophe a poem in which all the stanzas or strophes are written in the same metre.
narrational relating to narration.
narrative relating to story (noun) that which is narrated, a story
narratively (Adv.) NARRATIVE, relating to story.
necrological relating to necrology, the study of corpses.
necrology an obituary list.
noctuary a record of the events or one's thoughts during the night.
noir (Fr.) a type of crime fiction.
noirish pertaining to noir, a type of crime fiction.
nonfiction literature or cinema that is not fictional.
nonnovel a literary work that is not a novel.
notabilia (Lat.) notable sayings; things worthy of notice.
nouvelle (Fr.) a long short story.
novel new (noun) a fictional prose narrative
noveldom the world of fiction.
novelette a short novel.
novelettish having the properties of a novelette.
novelisation the act of making into a novel.
novelise to turn into a novel.
novelistic relating to a novel eg a novelistic device.
novelistically (Adv.) NOVELISTIC, relating to a novel.
novelization the act of making into a novel.
novelize to turn into a novel.
novella (Ital.) a short novel a Roman emperor's decree
obitual relating to an obit, a religious office for a dead person.
octapla (Greek) a book of eight (especially Biblical) parallel texts.
opusculum a short work.
orature oral forms of literature such as folklore.
pandect a treatise covering the whole of any subject, esp the complete laws of a country.
pandectist one who writes a pandect, a treatise covering a subject exhaustively.
parable a fable or story told to illustrate some doctrine or moral point; (verb) to tell parables.
parodic having the character of parody.
parodical having the character of parody.
parodistic relating to parody.
parody a burlesque or satirical imitation; (verb) to imitate a serious literary work for comic effect.
pasquil (Ital.) a satire or lampoon; (verb) to ridicule with a lampoon.
pasquinade (Fr.) a lampoon posted in a public place; (verb) to compose a pasquinade.
passional a book containing accounts of the sufferings of saints and martyrs, for reading on their feast days.
pastiche (Fr.) a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work.
pasticheur (Fr.) one who does pastiches.
pastoral of literature, music, or works of art, portraying rural life or the life of shepherds, esp in an idealized or romantic form (noun) a pastoral poem, play etc
pastorally (Adv.) PASTORAL, portraying rural life.
periegesis a description in the manner of a tour; a journey through.
periodical periodic (noun) a periodical publication
philavery an idiosyncratic collection of uncommon and pleasing words.
photonovel a novel in the form of a series of photographs with speech balloons.
physiologus a work containing descriptions of animals; a bestiary.
picaresque (Fr.) pertaining to rogues, esp applied to literature about rogues and vagabonds; (noun) a story of rogues.
playbook a printed play or book of plays.
playlet a short play.
pornomag a pornographic magazine.
potboiler a work in art or literature produced merely with regard to saleability.
preface to provide with an introductory statement.
prefacial relating to a preface.
prequel a book, film, etc., portraying events which precede those of an existing work.
procedural relating to procedure (noun) a realist crime novel with a specific focus
procedurally (Adv.) PROCEDURAL, relating to procedure.
prodromus a prefatory work; an initial symptom of a disease.
prolegomenal of the nature of a prolegomenon, introduction.
prolegomenary of the nature of a prolegomenon, introductory.
prolegomenon prefatory remarks; specifically, a formal essay or critical discussion serving to introduce and interpret an extended work.
prolegomenous of the nature of a prolegomenon, introduction.
promptuary a repository; a reference book of facts.
prooemion a preface.
prose ordinary spoken and written language with words in direct straightforward arrangement without metrical structure (verb) to write prose
proselike like prose.
proverb a short familiar saying expressing a supposed truth or moral lesson; (verb) to speak of proverbially.
proverbial of or like a proverb.
proverbially (Adv.) PROVERBIAL, of or like a proverb.
rhopalic having each successive word longer by a letter or syllable.
rhopalism a sentence or poem in which each word is one syllable longer than its predecessor.
roman a mediaeval romance; a tale of chivalry.
romaunt (Arch.) a romantic story in verse.
saga a medieval Scandinavian narrative.
satire the use of derisive wit to attack folly or wickedness.
satiric of or like satire.
satirical of or like satire.
satirically (Adv.) SATIRICAL, of or like satire.
satiricalness the state of being satirical.
sententia (Lat.) an aphorism; an opinion.
shojo (Japanese) manga intended primarily for girls No -S.
sottisier (Fr.) a collection of jokes, ridiculous remarks etc.
sourcebook a book of original documents for (esp historic) study.
spicilege a gleaning, an anthology.
splatterpunk a genre of fiction centring on extremely gory scenes.
steampunk a genre of science fiction set in an era of steam power, esp. Victorian Britain.
storiette a short tale.
storiologist a folklorist.
storiology the study of folk tales.
story a narrative; (verb) to relate.
storybook a book of tales true or fictitious, esp one for children.
storyette a short tale.
storyless without a story.
subliterature popular writing (as mystery or adventure stories) considered inferior to standard literature.
summa (Lat.) a comprehensive treatise.
sutra (Sanskrit) a precept; an aphorism; a brief rule.
sutta (Sanskrit) a precept; an aphorism; a brief rule.
synonymicon a dictionary of synonyms, a thesaurus.
textbook a book used in the study of a subject.
thanatography the narrative of a death.
thanatopsis a meditation upon death.
thesaural relating to a thesaurus.
thesaurus (Lat.) a storehouse of knowledge; a dictionary of synonyms.
threequel a film, play, book etc that is a sequel to a first sequel.
thriller one that thrills.
tractate a treatise; a tract.
triadist a composer of triads.
triglot in three languages; (noun) a book written in three languages.
trilogy a work in three parts.
unsatirical not satirical.
varia (Lat.) a literary miscellany.
versicular of or in verse.
whodunit a murder mystery.
whodunitry the genre of whodunit writing.
whodunnit a murder mystery.
whodunnitry the genre of whodunit writing.
whydunit a novel or film concerned with the motives rather than the identity of the criminal.
whydunnit a novel or film concerned with the motives rather than the identity of the criminal.
wordbook a dictionary or list of words.
workbook a book containing details of work done or to be done.
wuxia (Chinese) a genre of Chinese fiction involving the adventures of sword-wielding heroes.
yearbook an annual publication by a society etc., dealing with events or aspects of the (usu. preceding) year.
yellowback a cheap sensational novel.