Lookaback

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

Lookaback

n.
the shock of meeting back up with someone and learning that your mental image of them had fallen wildly out of date—having grown up or gotten old, fallen apart or pulled themselves together—which shakes your faith in the accuracy of the social puppet show that runs continuously inside your head.

From look back + taken aback, taken by surprise.

Ironsick

a group of random devices

Merrenness

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

Beloiter

a person sitting at a slot machine

Nighthawk

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

Falesia

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

Looseleft

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