Galagog is a neologism (an invented word) coined by John Koenig for his project, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.

Definition

• Part of speech: Noun (n.)
• Pronunciation: "gal-uh-gawg"
• Meaning: The state of being simultaneously entranced and unsettled by…

The word is ÉNOUEMENT, from Maria Popova's The Marginalian, featuring John Koenig's The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.

And it's a rather beautiful word.

Definition:

The bittersweetness of having arrived here in the future, finally learning the answers to how things…

Refulgent: shining brightly; radiant or brilliantly luminous.

The refulgent light from the kitchen window woke me up.

Agentic: Able to act independently toward a goal rather than simply waiting for a human to give it every individual instruction.

The word comes from agency — the capacity to make choices and take action.

In a sentence:

“We’ve spent…

Mahpiohanzia is a coined word from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows that describes the deep disappointment of being unable to fly or float into the air.

Meaning and Origin

Pronunciation: "Mah-pee-oh-han-zee-uh"

The Feeling: It is the heavy letdown…

suerza = a feeling of quiet amazement that you exist at all — gratitude that you somehow made it into being, despite the almost unimaginable chain of events required for you to be here.

The idea is actually pretty profound…

"My tsundoku is a waiting room for all…

SHITSTINCT

(n.) That deep gut feeling that tells you something is absolute bullshit before you even have proof. No screenshots, no evidence, no full story yet, just your body simply whispering, "Babe, this smells wrong." And somehow, your shitstinct is…

Vitruvius refers to Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, a Roman architect and engineer who lived in the 1st century BCE.

in a sentence
He spent twenty minutes aligning his coffee mug with the desk lamp, insisting it was “a Vitruvius thing”—meanwhile the…

Vellichor
Definition: The strange, wistful nostalgia evoked by old bookstores—especially the sense of time, memory, and lives contained within worn books.

Sentence:
In the hush of the shop, vellichor settled in—the quiet understanding that every spine on the shelf had…

Querencia is a place where one instinctively returns for refuge or strength — a quiet axis of belonging that doesn’t ask permission.

In a sentence:

“At the far end of the railyard, beyond the reach of the sodium lights, the…

1. A boastful but cowardly buffoon.
2. A ruffian, a scoundrel

Meliorism (noun)

The belief that the world can be made better through human effort, progress, and reform—especially through gradual, practical improvement rather than sudden transformation.

Meliorism possessed him so completely that after repairing a leaky toilet, he stood back, nodded…

Askance (adverb) means:

• to look sideways, or
• to look with distrust, suspicion, or disapproval

It’s not just the angle of the eyes—it’s the attitude in the glance.

The cat looked askance at the expensive new toy, clearly suspecting humans…

Words, at times, randomly strike me as interesting, captivating or curious. Sometimes I pin them here if I am so inclined.

Lollygag: To waste time idly; to loaf about or dilly dally

Photo by Pixabay

Words, at times, randomly strike me as interesting, captivating or curious. Sometimes I pin them here if I am so inclined, which I was, as I sit here on a waning Tuesday evening with a cup of green tea in…

Oneiric means relating to dreams or dreamlike states.

It comes from the Greek word “oneiros,” meaning “dream.”

In usage:

“The film had an oneiric quality, as if the scenes were unfolding inside someone’s mind.”

“Her music drifts between the real…

Words, at times, randomly strike me as interesting, captivating or curious. Sometimes I pin them here if I am so inclined, which I was, as I sit here on a late Sunday evening in mid October with a cup of…

Word: Halcyon

Definition:

Adjective – denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy, peaceful, or prosperous.

Noun – in Greek mythology, a legendary bird (often associated with the kingfisher) said to calm the sea during…

Word of the Day: Ineffable

Meaning:
Something so great, overwhelming, or beyond expression that it cannot be adequately described in words.

Sentence:
The moment the chorus finally locked in with the strings was ineffable—no theory, no words, just pure sound…

Words, at times, randomly strike me as interesting, captivating or curious. Sometimes I pin them here if I am so inclined

Susurrus: 
suh-sur-uhs

The soft murmuring or rustling sound of leaves,
wind, or a gentle stream,

Photo by Kennst du…

Querencia comes from the verb querer (“to desire, to love”).

It refers to a place where one feels safe, at home, or rooted — a spot where you draw strength and feel most like yourself.

“After long days in the…

Petrichor refers to the pleasant, earthy scent that rises when rain falls on dry soil or ground. The word comes from the Greek roots:

petra (πέτρα) meaning "stone"

ichor (ἰχώρ) meaning the fluid that flows in the veins of the…

Words, at times, randomly strike me as interesting, captivating or curious. Sometimes I pin them here if I am so inclined, which I was, as I sit here on a very hot, humid morning with a cup of coffee in…

Words, at times, randomly strike me as interesting, captivating or curious. Sometimes I pin them here if I am so inclined

Definition of "peregrinations":
Peregrinations refers to long, meandering journeys or travels, especially those that are made on foot and…