Holiette

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

Holiette

n.
a place that seems to hold profound significance to everyone else but you—the sacred temple of some other faith, a random fence post festooned with flowers, a crowd cheering for a team you’ve never heard of—which leaves you trying to coax yourself into feeling something anyway, like inserting your house key into a random lock just to feel if something clicks.

From holy, sacred or religiously revered + -ette, denoting an imitation of the real thing. Pronounced “hoh-lee-et.”

Fygophobia

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Pâro

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Holiette

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

Wytai

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

Kenaway

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Anechosis

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The Unsharp Mask

a mirror with a reflection of a person

Lockheartedness

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Latigo

aerial view of a city at night

Scrough

a person working on the sidewalk

Kinchy

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

Mal De Coucou

a blurry image of several men

Star-Stuck

a man walking towards a door with a large question mark

Gaudia Civis

a close-up of a gear

Catoptric Tristesse

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Aftergloom

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Tillid

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

Xeno

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Appriesse

a blurry image of a person looking at mounted images

La Cuna

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Occhiolism

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

O’Erpine

a person looking at a grave

Solla, Solla, Solla

a hand reaching out for plant tendril

Echthesia

blurry image of two clocks

Wytai

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

Aoyaoia

a person holding a guitar

Covalent Bond

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