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the shock of meeting back up with someone and learning that your mental image of them had fallen wildly out of date—having grown up or gotten old, fallen apart or pulled themselves together—which shakes your faith in the accuracy of the social puppet show that runs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

Suerza

a tunnel with a light emanating from the end

Aftersome

rows of opaque and clear marbles

Inerrata

a hand holding a broken cup

Deep Gut

Cover image for the Deep Gut word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Tirosy

a close-up of a young child's face

Querinous

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