Earwig and the Witch is a children's novel written by Diana Wynne Jones. The story revolves around an orphan girl named Earwig who is adopted by a witch. The main idea of the book is the unexpected adventures and struggles faced by Earwig in her new life. Earwig is a clever and independent character who is used to having things her way. She is initially apprehensive about living with a witch, as she assumes that she will be subjected to spells and potions. However, she quickly realizes that her new guardian, Bella Yaga, is not as powerful or scary as she initially thought.

bayou

Recent Examples on the Web The only way that Helena can put the demon of her father to rest is to return to the Upper Peninsula — a kind of northern bayou — and confront him there. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2023 The first day of December 1982, two animal trappers found Smith, in blue jeans and a T-shirt with a gunshot wound to the head, floating in a shallow river bayou near Seymour, local newspapers reported. — Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023 The bayou's course varies from straight-cut with low embankments to serpentine with steeper banks and dense vegetation. — Robin Soslow, Chron, 17 Apr. 2023 Chef Isaac Toups subscribes to the latter—much to the benefit of restaurant-goers on his side of the bayou. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2023 While here, be sure to take a boat tour through the swamps of the bayou. — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023 Uncontrolled flooding from the adjacent bayou made worse by nearby development has been washing graves into the adjoining ravine. — Elizabeth Williamson, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023 More than two dozen major facilities have turned what was once bayou backwaters into what is effectively a city-size industrial park, and companies are angling to build several more plants in the area. — David Gelles, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023 On the bayou side of the town, water was still lapping up onto the sidewalks in some spots where chairs, bottles and other trash had been pushed onto the pavement by raging water. — Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bayou.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

bayou

From Cajun French bayou, from Choctaw bayuk ( “ creek ” ) . Doublet of bogue.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• IPA (key) : /ˈbaɪ.(j)uː/ , /ˈbaɪ.oʊ/

Noun [ edit ]

bayou (plural bayous)

1. A slow-moving, often stagnant creek or river.
2. A swamp; a marshy (stagnant) body of water.

Usage notes [ edit ]

• Used almost exclusively to refer to bodies of water in Louisiana and adjoining areas, including southern Mississippi, Alabama, eastern Texas, Arkansas, and Florida.

Derived terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ]

Anagrams [ edit ]

However, she quickly realizes that her new guardian, Bella Yaga, is not as powerful or scary as she initially thought. The bold main idea of the book is that Earwig uses her wit and resourcefulness to manipulate Bella Yaga and make her life more comfortable. She cleverly outsmarts the witch and gets her to do things in a way that benefits her.

French [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

Pronunciation [ edit ]

IPA (key) : /ba.ju/

Noun [ edit ]

bayou m (plural bayous)

1. a stagnant body of water left behind by the meandering of the Mississippi River in Louisiana or elsewhere; a bayou

Further reading [ edit ]

• “bayou”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [ Digitized Treasury of the French Language ] , 2012.

• English terms borrowed from Cajun French
• English terms derived from Cajun French
• English terms derived from Choctaw
• English doublets
• English 2-syllable words
• English terms with IPA pronunciation
• English lemmas
• English nouns
• English countable nouns
• en:Louisiana, USA
• French terms borrowed from Choctaw
• French terms derived from Choctaw
• French 2-syllable words
• French terms with IPA pronunciation
• French terms with audio links
• Rhymes:French/ju
• Rhymes:French/ju/2 syllables
• French lemmas
• French nouns
• French countable nouns
• French masculine nouns
• fr:Landforms

• English entries with topic categories using raw markup

Cajun Words
Learning To Talk Like a Cajun

I was born and raised in Lake Charles, LA. As a boy, I had no idea that these Cajun words were difficult for others to say. It was what I grew up with. Louisiana has a french and Indian (native American) history and many names are in french as well as Native Indian words.

While I have lost the accent, for the most part, I do feel if you visit Louisiana you won't get so many stares if you can say the words correctly. Oh, the locals know what you mean if you say it incorrectly, but it dispels all doubt that you "ain't from around heeya".

Earwig's character is portrayed as smart, determined, and quick-witted. Throughout the story, Earwig befriends a talking cat named Thomas and together they uncover the secrets of Bella Yaga's past. They discover that Bella Yaga used to be a powerful witch, but her powers were taken away by the Other Side due to her misdeeds. This revelation leads Earwig to come up with a plan to help Bella Yaga regain her powers. The book emphasizes the importance of friendship and loyalty. Earwig forms a strong bond with Thomas and together they navigate the challenges they face. Despite the initial negative perception of Bella Yaga, Earwig realizes that she needs to help her and restore her powers. The story ends on a positive note, with Earwig successfully helping Bella Yaga and finding her own place in the world. The main idea of the book is the journey of self-discovery and how one can overcome obstacles by using their intelligence and determination. Earwig's character is a wonderful example of a strong and resilient young girl, who is not afraid to stand up for herself and the ones she cares about..

Reviews for "Comparing "Earwig and the Witch" with Studio Ghibli's Classic Works"

1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Inspect earwig and the witch". The animation style was just not appealing to me at all and the storyline felt rushed and underdeveloped. I didn't connect with any of the characters and found them to be quite bland. Overall, it was a forgettable experience and I wouldn't recommend it.

2. James - 1/5 stars - "Inspect earwig and the witch" was a complete letdown. The animation felt cheap and lackluster, and the plot was all over the place. I couldn't understand the motivations of the characters and found myself losing interest quickly. The whole movie felt like a rushed cash grab and lacked the creativity and heart that Studio Ghibli movies are known for. I would advise skipping this one.

3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I really wanted to like "Inspect earwig and the witch", but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The animation style was jarring and didn't feel like it belonged in a Studio Ghibli film. The characters lacked depth and I found the dialogue to be uninspiring. The story had potential, but it was poorly executed. Overall, it was a disappointing watch and not up to par with the studio's other works.

4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I was excited to see "Inspect earwig and the witch" as a fan of Studio Ghibli, but it sadly didn't live up to my expectations. The plot felt confused and messy, and the character development was nearly non-existent. The animation style was a departure from the signature Ghibli look, and it just didn't work for me. The whole movie felt rushed and lacked the usual magic that Ghibli films possess. I would recommend sticking to the studio's earlier works.

Exploring the Themes and Symbolism in "Earwig and the Witch