vitriol & venom

These words are for this past weekend, and they clearly have quite a bit in common, but there are some differences I'd like to mention as well. "Vitriol" you might recognize from "vitriolic," a word that is most often used to describe acerbic or caustic tempers; it never occurred to me that the root might correspond to a noun until reading "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle," in which Sherlock Holmes mentions "a vitriol-throwing" among the various crimes inspired by the titular stone. "Vitriol," as it turns out, is another word for sulfuric acid, though according to dictionary.com it also refers to a number of metal sulfates. Both vitriol and venom, then, are dangerous liquids that occur in nature, just as the words that refer to them are both used to describe some malicious behavior or attitude towards another person.

There are differences, however, in connotation. To describe a temper as "vitriolic" is to paint a picture of ill will, certainly, but does not necessitate intent; one can be vitriolic quite against one's will if they have little self-control and circumstances bring it about. "Venomous," on the other hand, denotes a serpentine intention, a sly knowledge of the meaning behind one's actions and a hope that they will harm. This is rather appropriate, considering the fact that vitriol is created through natural processes - it is present in acid rain - while venom is strictly an element of fauna - there is always some kind of brain behind it.

The pre-hiatus theme: Ominously enough, considering what it preceded, the theme of the last week blogged was that each word is linked to "dead" in a popular phrase or title.

Chivalry is dead
The Quick and the Dead
The Grateful Dead
Dead and gone
The Dead Zone