a chill wafted from the river

[alpacinou]

Hello,

Have I used "waft" correctly here? I want to suggest cool air from the river came towards me:

A chill wafted from the river and tenderly stroked our faces.

Do you have any suggestions about how this sentence can be made better?

 

[Skrej]

I guess it works, but it's uncommon to use 'waft' in that sense. 'Waft' is more commonly used for scents, smells, and odors.

 

[GoesStation]

"Chills" are generally uncomfortable things. It's hard to imagine one tenderly stroking anything.

 

[alpacinou]

"Chills" are generally uncomfortable things. It's hard to imagine one tenderly stroking anything.

But I'm talking about a situation where it was a hot day and we had a picnic by the river.

What is another word I can use to describe a soft coolness?

And if I stick with chill, what verb should I use?

 

[GoesStation]

But I'm talking about a situation where it was a hot day and we had a picnic by the river.

What is another word I can use to describe a soft coolness?

And if I stick with chill, what verb should I use?

A chill is not comfortable. A cool breeze is. It might drift up from the river.

 

[alpacinou]

A chill is not comfortable. A cool breeze is. It might drift up from the river.

What can chill do to your skin or your face. I mean instead of "tenderly stroking our faces", what can I say?

Also, is this okay?

A cool breeze wafted from the river and tenderly stroked our faces.

 

[Skrej]

A cool breeze lifted off the river and brushed our faces.

What can chill do to your skin or your face. I mean instead of "tenderly stroking our faces", what can I say?

Also, is this okay?

A cool breeze wafted from the river and tenderly stroked our faces.

Again, we normally reserve 'waft' for smells. As Goes mentioned, a 'chill breeze' would be unwelcome, so you're have to use a negative sounding verb.

A chill breeze sprang from the frozen river and raked our faces with its frozen talons.

 

[tedmc]

A chill is a feeling or a condition. I can't imagine it being carried or drifting in the air. It has to be something tangible like a breeze. But it does not go with "wafted" which is used with smell as Skrej said.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

But I'm talking about a situation where it was a hot day and we had a picnic by the river.

What is another word I can use to describe a soft coolness?

And if I stick with chill, what verb should I use?

I'd let you get away with wafted. But don't stick with chill. If a soft, cool breeze blew in from the water, then just say a soft, cool breeze blew in from the water.

You could also call it gentle, welcome, or pleasant. Chilly breeze would make more sense, but it still doesn't fit the meaning you want, because it wouldn't be pleasant.

 

[tedmc]

Chill (not the verb which means relax) and chilly have negative connotations.

 

[Tdol]

I'd let you get away with wafted.

You could stick with and claim it is a literary usage.