Nementia

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

Nementia

n.
the post-distraction effort to recall the reason you’re feeling particularly anxious or angry or excited, trying to retrace your sequence of thoughts like a kid gathering the string of a downed kite.

Ancient Greek νέμειν (némein), to give what is due + Latin dementia, without mind. Pronounced “ne-men-shuh.”

Flashover

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

Occhiolism

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

Boorance

a group of objects on a table

Latigo

aerial view of a city at night

Mottleheaded

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

Karanoia

a neat stack of white paper