Agency Dictionary
nautical
adjectivePronunciation: /ˈnɔː.tɪ.kəl/
In Portuguese: náutico
History & CivilizationsWhat does “nautical” mean?
Of or concerning sailors, ships, navigation, or maritime matters on oceans and navigable waters.
Etymology
From Latin nauticus, itself from Greek nautikos (of or for sailors, pertaining to seafaring), from nautēs (sailor), from naus (ship). Latin received the adjective from Greek; English attached the suffix -al, common in adjectives of Latin origin, probably also with the support of French nautique. The word designates anything that belongs to the world of ships, sailors, and navigation on open water.
Usage note
A nautical mile is a unit of distance at sea equal to one minute of arc of latitude, approximately 1,852 metres, distinct from the statute mile used on land.
Synonyms
- maritime
- marine
- seafaring
- naval
Often confused with
- naval
- Naval refers specifically to a navy or military fleet; nautical is broader, covering all aspects of seafaring, including civilian navigation.
Word family
Usage examples
A Titanic is a writer because it has the capacity to cross thousands of nautical miles with its own engine.
Writing.1 - The Titanic Theory A Titanic is a writer because it has the capacity to cross thousands of nautical miles with its own engine.
Concepts
- RMS TitanicThe RMS Titanic is the ocean liner that was said to be unsinkable and sank after hitting an iceberg. In the Agency editorial it is the central allegory of the Titanic…
- The Titanic TheoryThe Titanic Theory is a literary manifesto and philosophical framework for writers navigating an automated, post-literary era. It posits that writers must act as…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
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- samurainoun
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- cinnamonnoun
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Also from these editions: terms
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- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- paperweightnoun
- A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
- omissionnoun
- The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- Maximnoun
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- aestheticsnoun
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- anesthetizedadjective
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- Authenticitynoun
- The quality of being real, genuine, and true to one's own character or stated origins.
- Catharticadjective
- Providing psychological relief through the open expression and release of strong or repressed emotions.
- helmnoun
- The wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered. Figuratively, the position of control or leadership.
- numbnessnoun
- The state of being unable to feel or react, in the body or, figuratively, in the mind and the will.
- proverbnoun
- A short, pithy saying in frequent and widespread use that expresses a perceived truth or piece of practical advice.
Also from these editions: concepts
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- Technical ImageA technical image is a visual representation produced through scientific or mechanical apparatuses such as photography, cinema, and digital screens. It reorganizes human…
- The Iceberg TheoryThe Iceberg Theory is a literary technique coined by Ernest Hemingway asserting that the deeper meaning of a story should not be visible on the surface. By deliberately…
- Post-Literary EraA post-literary era is a cultural epoch where linear alphabetic reading ceases to be the dominant medium for storing, transmitting, and processing human knowledge. It is…
- Show, Don't TellShow, don't tell is a classic creative writing maxim advising authors to convey characters, emotions, and settings through sensory action rather than direct exposition…
- Authorial VoiceAuthorial voice is the distinct personality, stylistic rhythm, and ideological outlook that permeates a writer's work. It serves as an unmistakable literary fingerprint…
- Does Writing Have a Future?Does Writing Have a Future? is a book by Vilém Flusser. In Writing.1, the edition cites it briefly: Flusser bravely argued that writing does not have a future. Issue.16…
- Existential WritingExistential writing is the philosophical act of writing primarily as a commitment to truth, self-discovery, and human meaning rather than commercial acclaim. It views the…
- Vilém FlusserVilém Flusser is the thinker the Agency editorial cites for arguing that writing does not have a future. Writing.1 ties his name to the book Does Writing have a Future?…
- Baltasar GraciánBaltasar Gracián was a Spanish Jesuit writer of the 17th century, author of The Art of Worldly Wisdom, a collection of maxims. Writing.1 quotes him once, in a quotation…