english word · 2026-06-11
Petrichor
noun
Meaning
The pleasant, earthy smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather. In literature, it is often used as a sensory metaphor for renewal and the return of memory.
Etymology
Coined from Greek 'petra' (stone) and 'ichor' (the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods).
Examples
"The novelist devoted an entire chapter to the petrichor rising from the pavement, signaling the end of the protagonist's long emotional drought."
"As the storm broke over the valley, the air filled with a sharp petrichor that made the garden feel alive again."
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