Elosy

a blurry image of a person in a subway car

Elosy

n.
the fear of major life changes, even ones you’ve been anticipating for years; the dread of leaving behind the bright and ordinary world you know, stepping out into that liminal space before the next stage of life begins, like the dark and rattling void between adjoining metro cars.

Malagasy lelosy, snail, which is a creature that carries many twists and turns wherever it goes, trying in vain to outrun them. Pronounced “ehl-uh-see.”

Foreclearing

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

Adomania

a person riding a horse

Ameneurosis

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

Attriage

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

Archimony

a person looking at broken furniture

Hanker Sore

Cover image for the Hanker Sore word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows