‘nobodaddy’ is a person (most likely a man) who is deemed no longer worthy of respect
Coined by William Blake as blend of nobody and daddy.
Coined by William Blake as blend of nobody and daddy.
June 19, 2023 at 7:56 AM
‘nobodaddy’ is a person (most likely a man) who is deemed no longer worthy of respect
Coined by William Blake as blend of nobody and daddy.
Coined by William Blake as blend of nobody and daddy.
‘groking’ is a Scottish word for gazing at someone while they’re eating in the hope they might share their food with you.
June 1, 2023 at 6:50 AM
‘groking’ is a Scottish word for gazing at someone while they’re eating in the hope they might share their food with you.
‘gökotta‘ is Swedish and means waking up at the crack of dawn to go out and hear the first bird song
May 31, 2023 at 7:51 AM
‘gökotta‘ is Swedish and means waking up at the crack of dawn to go out and hear the first bird song
‘Hurkle-durkling’ is Scottish for staying in bed long after you have to get up. 👀
May 30, 2023 at 8:01 AM
‘Hurkle-durkling’ is Scottish for staying in bed long after you have to get up. 👀
Pairing of ‘ mondegreen’ - a mishearing or misinterpretation of a word or phrase in a way that gives it a new meaning. And ‘mumpsimus’ - someone who obstinately clings to an prejudice, error or bad habit even after they have been exposed and humiliated.
May 29, 2023 at 11:10 AM
Pairing of ‘ mondegreen’ - a mishearing or misinterpretation of a word or phrase in a way that gives it a new meaning. And ‘mumpsimus’ - someone who obstinately clings to an prejudice, error or bad habit even after they have been exposed and humiliated.
‘Mumble-fumbles’ is a despondent feeling. Pairing today with ‘L’appel du vide’, a French expression for the uncanny call of the void.
Aka happy long weekend!
Aka happy long weekend!
May 28, 2023 at 4:23 PM
‘Mumble-fumbles’ is a despondent feeling. Pairing today with ‘L’appel du vide’, a French expression for the uncanny call of the void.
Aka happy long weekend!
Aka happy long weekend!
‘Ramfeezled’ is a Scottish word to mean knackered!
May 27, 2023 at 9:48 AM
‘Ramfeezled’ is a Scottish word to mean knackered!
‘Quiddling’ is a old English word which describes the act of going on incessantly about trivial things, possibly as a means to avoid more important matters.
May 26, 2023 at 4:50 PM
‘Quiddling’ is a old English word which describes the act of going on incessantly about trivial things, possibly as a means to avoid more important matters.
A pairing : ‘tsundoko’ & ‘antilibrary’.
Tsundoko is Japanese for piling up books ready to read at some later date.
An antilibrary is Umberto Eco’s notion that one should curate a personal collection of resources around themes you’re curious about; not shelves of read books. He kept 30000 of them!
Tsundoko is Japanese for piling up books ready to read at some later date.
An antilibrary is Umberto Eco’s notion that one should curate a personal collection of resources around themes you’re curious about; not shelves of read books. He kept 30000 of them!
May 24, 2023 at 9:23 AM
A pairing : ‘tsundoko’ & ‘antilibrary’.
Tsundoko is Japanese for piling up books ready to read at some later date.
An antilibrary is Umberto Eco’s notion that one should curate a personal collection of resources around themes you’re curious about; not shelves of read books. He kept 30000 of them!
Tsundoko is Japanese for piling up books ready to read at some later date.
An antilibrary is Umberto Eco’s notion that one should curate a personal collection of resources around themes you’re curious about; not shelves of read books. He kept 30000 of them!
‘Accismus’ is a form of irony where a person feigns lack of interest in something and refuses it while secretly wanting it. Like Julius Caesar refusing the crown in Shakespeare’s play
May 23, 2023 at 10:23 AM
‘Accismus’ is a form of irony where a person feigns lack of interest in something and refuses it while secretly wanting it. Like Julius Caesar refusing the crown in Shakespeare’s play
A ‘flibbertigibbet’ is a delightfully contemptuous word from Shakespeare’s Lear meant to denote the devilish aspect of a gossipy person. He coined this from the Middle English word ‘flepergebet’ for gossip. So a flibbertigibbet is a frivolous, flighty person who talks excessively.
May 22, 2023 at 7:18 AM
A ‘flibbertigibbet’ is a delightfully contemptuous word from Shakespeare’s Lear meant to denote the devilish aspect of a gossipy person. He coined this from the Middle English word ‘flepergebet’ for gossip. So a flibbertigibbet is a frivolous, flighty person who talks excessively.
‘wabi-sabi’ is on my mind today. A Japanese concept that encourages us towards authentic beauty which is by its nature impermanent, imperfect and unfinished.
May 21, 2023 at 11:27 AM
‘wabi-sabi’ is on my mind today. A Japanese concept that encourages us towards authentic beauty which is by its nature impermanent, imperfect and unfinished.
‘Iktsuarpok’ is an Inuit word for the feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up, which leads to you going outside repeatedly to check if they’re here yet
May 20, 2023 at 8:35 AM
‘Iktsuarpok’ is an Inuit word for the feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up, which leads to you going outside repeatedly to check if they’re here yet
‘Chalant’, if it existed, would be French for the opposite of ‘nonchalant’, and it would mean ‘concerned’.
In a sentence, ‘I am chalant to make a case for unpaired words contained in their opposites.’
‘chalant’ can be found chilling with ‘plussed’ ‘bunked’ and ‘whelmed’.
In a sentence, ‘I am chalant to make a case for unpaired words contained in their opposites.’
‘chalant’ can be found chilling with ‘plussed’ ‘bunked’ and ‘whelmed’.
May 19, 2023 at 6:24 AM
‘Chalant’, if it existed, would be French for the opposite of ‘nonchalant’, and it would mean ‘concerned’.
In a sentence, ‘I am chalant to make a case for unpaired words contained in their opposites.’
‘chalant’ can be found chilling with ‘plussed’ ‘bunked’ and ‘whelmed’.
In a sentence, ‘I am chalant to make a case for unpaired words contained in their opposites.’
‘chalant’ can be found chilling with ‘plussed’ ‘bunked’ and ‘whelmed’.
‘Ataraxy’ means serene calmness. This state of tranquility comes to us courtesy of Greek philosophers; and I chanced upon it last night reading the fine short stories of Clarice Lispector.
May 18, 2023 at 7:09 AM
‘Ataraxy’ means serene calmness. This state of tranquility comes to us courtesy of Greek philosophers; and I chanced upon it last night reading the fine short stories of Clarice Lispector.
A ‘tidsoptimist’ is Swedish for a person who has a habit of being late because they tend to think they have more time than they do. A ‘time optimist’
May 17, 2023 at 12:47 AM
A ‘tidsoptimist’ is Swedish for a person who has a habit of being late because they tend to think they have more time than they do. A ‘time optimist’
‘Uitwaaien’ is a Dutch word for walking in the wind in order to clear one’s mind. Literally translated as ‘blowing out’
May 16, 2023 at 6:26 AM
‘Uitwaaien’ is a Dutch word for walking in the wind in order to clear one’s mind. Literally translated as ‘blowing out’
‘Mononymous’ describes a person who has reached such fame or indeed, infamy, that they are known by a single name; derived from ‘mononym’ which is a single word name.
(Eg Elon)
(Eg Elon)
May 15, 2023 at 6:09 PM
‘Mononymous’ describes a person who has reached such fame or indeed, infamy, that they are known by a single name; derived from ‘mononym’ which is a single word name.
(Eg Elon)
(Eg Elon)
‘boketto’ is the Japanese word for the act of vacant gazing into the distance without a thought in your head.
May 14, 2023 at 11:36 AM
‘boketto’ is the Japanese word for the act of vacant gazing into the distance without a thought in your head.
The ‘growlery’ is that place you retreat to when you need to be alone with your foul mood.
From Dicken’s ‘Bleak House’
From Dicken’s ‘Bleak House’
May 13, 2023 at 8:58 AM
The ‘growlery’ is that place you retreat to when you need to be alone with your foul mood.
From Dicken’s ‘Bleak House’
From Dicken’s ‘Bleak House’
‘Hisheekatha’ is a Kashmiri retort that means ‘it doesn’t matter one way or the other; nothing really matters’
May 12, 2023 at 7:50 AM
‘Hisheekatha’ is a Kashmiri retort that means ‘it doesn’t matter one way or the other; nothing really matters’
‘lagom’ (pronounced law-gom) is a Swedish word to describe ‘just the right amount, not too much, not too little’. Think Goldilocks.
May 11, 2023 at 8:06 AM
‘lagom’ (pronounced law-gom) is a Swedish word to describe ‘just the right amount, not too much, not too little’. Think Goldilocks.
‘pell-mell’ describes rushing about in a chaotic manner, from French ‘pêle-mêle’
May 10, 2023 at 7:46 AM
‘pell-mell’ describes rushing about in a chaotic manner, from French ‘pêle-mêle’
‘Parea’ is a Greek word for a group of friends who come together habitually to share their experiences, ideas, values, philosophies and so on.
aka your squad!
aka your squad!
May 9, 2023 at 8:43 AM
‘Parea’ is a Greek word for a group of friends who come together habitually to share their experiences, ideas, values, philosophies and so on.
aka your squad!
aka your squad!
‘Frühjahrsmüdigkeit’ is the German word for reverse seasonal affective disorder! A combination of ‘springtime’ and ‘tiredness’, it describes lethargy or depression caused by the onset of spring.
May 7, 2023 at 4:08 AM
‘Frühjahrsmüdigkeit’ is the German word for reverse seasonal affective disorder! A combination of ‘springtime’ and ‘tiredness’, it describes lethargy or depression caused by the onset of spring.