Irrition

a close up of a dandelion

Irrition

n.
regret at having cracked the code of something, which leaves you wishing you could forget the pattern—longing to unsee an optical illusion, to unlearn the formula behind your favorite songs and shows and movies, or re-canonize a role model you made the mistake of meeting in person.

Tahitian iriti, to translate + iriti, to be convulsed. Pronounced “ih-ri-shun.”

Winnewaw

a person wearing a party hat

Wollah

a person with shapes raining on them

Nilous

a person standing at a bus terminal

Ironsick

a group of random devices

Craxis

a tall house of cards

Kadot

a person looking at an abstract spiral

Knellish

a blurry image of a person lying on a bed

Offtides

close-up of a chromed metal object

Caucic

a close-up of a stone walking path

Furosha

a storm raging in the sky over a building

Rialtoscuro

a blurry image of a light source

Dystoria

close up of water drops on a window

Arroia

people standing on a stage

Evertheless

a person floating in water

Aimonomia

close-up of a plant with lights glowing in background

Beloiter

a person sitting at a slot machine

Hem-Jawed

an abstract image of someone touching their face

Suerza

a tunnel with a light emanating from the end

Epistrix

several doors standing in a dark room

Idlewild

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

Nowlings

a pile of black and white puzzle pieces

Povism

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

Candling

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

Hem-Jawed

an abstract image of someone touching their face

Fata Organa

Cover image for the Fata Organa word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Achenia

a close-up of a bottle with an organic object inside

Falesia

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