Apricity
noun /əˈprɪsɪti/ — The warmth of winter sunlight on your skin.
Definition
The warmth of the sun in winter — that particular, unexpected sweetness of sunlight when the air is cold; the pleasure of being warmed by light when warmth is scarce.
Beyond the definition
Apricity is a small joy with an outsized emotional effect. It arrives unexpectedly — a patch of winter sun, a tilted face, a closed-eye moment of warmth. It is the opposite of taking things for granted.
Origin & history
From Latin apricus (exposed to the sun, sunny), from aperire (to open). An archaic English word recorded in 1623, since fallen out of use — a word that deserves to come back.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She found a bench in the apricity and sat without her phone for once.
January apricity — weak and golden, entirely welcome.
There's a particular apricity in February that feels like a promise.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Apricity” when the meaning fits your context: The warmth of the sun in winter — that particular, unexpected sweetness of sunlight when the air is cold; the pleasure of being warmed by light when warmth is scarce.
Synonyms
winter warmth, sun's warmth, solar comfort
Antonyms
chill, shade, cold
Related words
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
In November, in a northern city, there is a specific quality to the sun. It is low, it is brief, it arrives between clouds with a warmth entirely disproportionate to its strength.
People arrange themselves toward it unconsciously — turning their faces up, pausing on the sunny side of streets, sitting on benches that would be too cold in the shade.
A photographer documented this for a winter: the way a city tilts toward the sun in late autumn. The people didn't know they were doing it. They just followed the warmth. "It's the most honest thing I've ever photographed," she said. "People chasing something they can't name."
Questions about this word
What does "Apricity" mean?
Apricity is noun meaning: The warmth of winter sunlight on your skin.. The warmth of the sun in winter — that particular, unexpected sweetness of sunlight when the air is cold; the pleasure of being warmed by light when warmth is scarce.
Where does the word "Apricity" come from?
From Latin apricus (exposed to the sun, sunny), from aperire (to open). An archaic English word recorded in 1623, since fallen out of use — a word that deserves to come back.