I collect mugs. I collect shells. I collect words. Words are the easiest to find, cheap to obtain, and a joy to put to work later. Though shells just cost a walk on the beach and a mug of hot chocolate isn’t a bad thing.
These are words and definitions that I have found on Facebook, Pinterest and other places. I have included the language origins of the words when they are listed in the definition.
The dictionary entries are followed by a list of random word facts that I find in my internet and reading travels. All one of them right now. That list will grow, too, I’m sure.
Words, Glorious Words….
accismus (n.) feigning disinterest in something while actually desiring it.
aeolist (n.) a pompous person who only pretends to have inspiration or spiritual insight.
aftselakhis (n.) the desire or impulse to do something because someone else doesn’t want you to, usually to get them annoyed or upset. Yiddish
amaranthine (adj.) undying, immortal; eternally beautiful (adj.) a deep purple-red
ambisinistrous (adj.) equally clumsy with both hands.
antephialtic (n.) something that protects against nightmares.
apricity (n.) the warmth of the sun on a cold winter’s day.
augenblick (n.) lit. “in the blink of an eye”; a ‘decisive moment’ in time that is fleeting, yet momentously eventful and incredibly significant. German
backpfeifengesicht A face badly in need of a fist. German
borborygmi (n.) the rumbling sounds your stomach makes
Photo by Sanya Obsivac
bibliophile (n.) a lover of books; one who loves to read, admire and collect books.
clinomania (n.) excessive desire to stay in bed.
cynefin (n.) a place where a being feels it ought to live. It is where nature around you feels right and welcoming. Welsh
desenrascanço (n.) the improvisation of haphazard but completely sound solutions at the last minute. Portuguese
dormiveglia (n.) the space that stretches between sleeping and waking. Italian
doryphore (n.) someone who derives intense satisfaction from pointing out the errors of others.
elysian (adj.) beautiful or creative; divinely inspired; peaceful and perfect
espirit d’escalier (.) thinking of a witty comeback when it’s too late. French
fabulist (n.) (1) A liar. (2) A person who invents elaborate and dishonest stories. (**ahem** is a synonym writer?)
firgun (n.) the act of sharing in or even contributing to someone else’s pleasure or fortune, with a purely generous heart and without jealousy; or of sharing credit fairly. Hebrew | Origin German
galeanthropy (n.) the delusion that one has become a cat. English
gilgil (n.) the overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch something that is very cute. Filipino
hiraeth (n.) a homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.
hygge (n.) the act of relaxing with loved ones and good friends, usually while enjoying food and drink, in a cozy atmosphere. Danish
hobbledehoy (n.) an awkward teenager; one who is perpetually ungainly and uncertain.
incalescent (adj.) growing hotter or more ardent; set ablaze. English
induratize (v.) to make one’s own heart hardened or resistant to someone’s pleas or advances, or to the idea of love. English | Origin: Latin
jung (n.) a special feeling, stronger than love, proven by having survived a huge argument with someone
kintsukuroi (n.) (v. phr.) “to repair with gold”; the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken.
Photo by Gavin Mills
komorebi (n.) sunlight that filters through the leaves of the trees. Japanese
koyaanisqatsi (n.) nature out of balance; a way of life so unbalanced that you need a new way.
kummerspeck (n.) excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, grief bacon. German
la douleur exquise (n.) the exquisite pain of wanting the affection of someone you know you can never have. French
lalochezia (n.) the emotional relief gained from using abusive or profane language.
lethologica (n.) when you think of something but the word for it escapes you.
liefdesverdriet (n.) the sadness, depression or pain one feels about a love unanswered or love that is gone. Dutch
mencolek (v.) to tap lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to fool someone. Indonesian
mutterseelenallein (adj.) to be so utterly and extremely alone and lonely that no one could even find you or reach for you, physically and mentally; lit. “mother-soul-alone” German
Photo by Mateusz Stachowski
nakama (n.) a very good friend or comrade that one considers as family, even if they’er not necessarily related. Japanese
neologize (v.) to make or use new words or create new meanings for existing words.
nyctophilia (n.) love of darkness or night; finding relaxation or comfort in the darkness.
obdurate (adj.) (1) unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn. (2) stubbornly resistant to moral influence; refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.
oeillade (n.) an amorous glance; ogle
ostranenie (n.) encouraging people to see common things as strange, wild, or unfamiliar; defamiliarizing what is known in order to know it differently or more deeply.
pelinti (v.) moving very hot food around in your mouth. Ghanaian
petrichor (n.) the scent of rain on dry earth.
pluviophile (n.) a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.
Photo by Shirley B
quaintrelle (n.) a woman who emphasizes a life of passion, expressed through personal style, leisurely pastimes, charm and cultivationof life’s pleasures.
resfeber (n.) the restless race of the traveller’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together; a ‘travel fever’ that can manifest as an illness. Swedish
sankofa (phr.) lit. “to go back and fetch it”; we must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward, and we can understand why and how we came to be who we are today. Akan
saudade (n.) a strong feeling of missing someone you love. Portuguese
sehnsucht (n.) “the inconsolable longing inthe human heart for we know not what”; a yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one’s home.
serein (n.) the fine, light rain that falls from a clear sky at sunset or in the early hours of night; evening serenity. French
shemomedjamo (n.) the act of continuing to eat, though full, because of the delicious taste of the food. Georgian
solivagant (adj.) wandering alone.
sophrosyne (n.) a healthy state of mind, characterized by self-control, moderation, and a deep awareness of one’s true self, and resulting in true happiness. Greek
Photo by Dan Wenger
tükörsima (adj.) lit. “as smooth as the surface of the mirror”; describes a still water which has unbroken surface, neither by wind nor by some object or animal. Hungarian
vemod (n.) a tender sadness or pensive melancholy; the calm feeling that something emotionally significant is over and never will be back. Swedish
wabi-sabi (n.) a way of living that emphasizes finding beauty in imperfection and accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. Japanese
yakamoz (n.) the reflection of the moon as it shines upon the water. Turkish
zweisamkeit (n.) the harmonious, often romantic togetherness of two people; a feeling of closeness or affection from being together with someone. German
Word Nerd Tidbits
abstemious and facetious
The two most commonly used English words that have all the vowels in the correct order.
Carolyn Dekat 