I’ve always had an interest in words, and particularly relish neologisms, regularly visiting the wonderful Word Spy site. So when I came across a reference – on Facebook of all things! – to The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, it was love at first sight.
The Dictionary is the brainchild of John Koenig who has invented neologisms for emotions that are otherwise undefined. His blog expands on these words, using videos to illustrate the definitions.
The words at the beginning of this post are taken from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. They posssess a haunting quality that almost need a word to express the feelings they evoke.
Then again you feel delighted to recognize the emotions as being pertinent to your own experience.
Perhaps he should develop a Dictionary of Obscure Joys, such as the soothing and warm feeling evoked when thinking of familiar things that interest you, in my case horse racing, which I find pleasant to contemplate.
1 comment:
Love this Anne and very sorry I didn't comment before. My blog commenting has been woeful this year - working on my aunt's complicated estate in a city different to mine plus raging parents have kept me busy. I've barely managed to write my own blog let alone keep up with others!
However, like you I love neologisms. And these are great - such as recognising that others have as vivid lives as our own!! Good one. I still love one I heard many years ago - anticiparcelate, which is watching out for the postman but not letting him/her know her are. This isn't quite as existential as yours!
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