Epistrix

several doors standing in a dark room

Epistrix

n.
a disconcerting cluster of endings that all seem to happen at once; a random barrage of departures and closures and divorces and series finales and celebrity deaths, which leaves you anxiously aware that the author of your story seems to be wrapping up an awful lot of loose ends.

Ancient Greek ἐπὶ- (epi-), on top of + ὕστριξ (hystrix), a porcupine. To sit on a porcupine is to feel the pain of too many endings all at once. Pronounced “ih-pis-triks.”

Midsummer

a person standing in a garden holding a clock

Tirosy

a close-up of a young child's face

Halfwise

a train coming towards the camera shot from the tracks

Alpha Exposure

a close-up of a baby with diffusion filter

Lap Year

several people racing bicycles uphill in a forest

Yeorie

a woman with tendrils of smoke moving across her face

Aftersome

rows of opaque and clear marbles

Etterath

a graduation cap and gown on a chair

Ecury

a close-up of cave drawings and symbols

Heart Of Aces

a person covering their eyes with their hands

Lisolia

a bookcase containing objects

Keta

a hand reaching through paper with a flower drawing

Anchorage

a person's arm extended over river rapids

Clockwise

a close-up of flower along with polaroid pictures

Walloway

water faucet that seems to emanate from the ground

Emorries

a magnifying glass over photos and books

Keir

a snowy landscape with trees and a fence

Kerisl

piles of old books scattered in an abandoned room

Aponemia

a group of people standing together

Echthesia

blurry image of two clocks

Covalent Bond

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

Clockwise

a close-up of flower along with polaroid pictures

Ecsis

a hand holding a fossil

La Cuna

Cover image for the La Cuna word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Emorries

a magnifying glass over photos and books

Vicarous

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

Zverism

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