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.”

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

Present-Tense

a close-up of a stopwatch

Ioia

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

Austice

a leaf imprint in the mud

Hemeisis

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

Addleworth

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

Aoyaoia

a person holding a guitar

Mottleheaded

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

Spinning Playback Head

silhouette of a person looking out a window

Hem-Jawed

an abstract image of someone touching their face