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.”

Ellipsism

a hand clawing at a wall

Knellish

a blurry image of a person lying on a bed

Rialtoscuro

a blurry image of a light source

Rookish

a stone tower with a person seated on top

Blinkback

a wall full of pictures and objects

Keep

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

Manusia

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

Redesis

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

The Whipgraft Delusion

Cover image for the The Whipgraft Delusion word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Caucic

a close-up of a stone walking path

Insoucism

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

Nilous

a person standing at a bus terminal

Covalent Bond

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