Anchorage

a person's arm extended over river rapids

Anchorage

n.
the desire to hold on to time as it passes, like trying to keep your grip on a rock in the middle of a river, feeling the weight of the current against your chest while your elders float on downstream, calling over the roar of the rapids, “Just let go—it’s okay—let go.”

From anchorage, a port at which ships may anchor. Pronounced “ang-ker-ij.”

Vellichor

shelves with many books stacked and organized

Harke

a dreamlike image of a person's face over water

Amentalio

a person in a white dress, facing away

Mithenness

a person standing on the side of a road

Thwit

close-up of a person with forehead wrinkled and holding their head

Keyframe

a large rock in the water with emanating ripples

Austice

a leaf imprint in the mud

Aftersome

rows of opaque and clear marbles

Clockwise

a close-up of flower along with polaroid pictures

Rasque

close-up of the shards of a broken vase

Aulasy

a blurry image of a house on the road

Keir

a snowy landscape with trees and a fence

Nemotia

a city with clouds of smoke

Ioia

Cover image for the Ioia word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Aftersome

rows of opaque and clear marbles

Inerrata

a hand holding a broken cup

Blinkback

a wall full of pictures and objects

Lap Year

several people racing bicycles uphill in a forest

Justing

Cover image for the Justing word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Looseleft

Cover image for the Looseleft word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Heartworm

Cover image for the Heartworm word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows