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.”

Covalent Bond

Cover image for the Covalent Bond word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Siso

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

Tirosy

a close-up of a young child's face

Altschmerz

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

Cullaways

a lone sand castle on a beach at low tide

Hubilance

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