Nodrophobia

close-up of a stained shirt

Nodrophobia

n.
the fear of irrevocable actions and irreversible processes—knowing that a colorful shirt will fade a little more with every wash, that your tooth enamel is wearing away molecule by molecule, never to grow back.

Greek μονόδρομος (monódromos), one-way street + -φοβία (-phobía), fear. Pronounced “noh-droh-foh-bee-uh.”

O’Erpine

a person looking at a grave

Hanker Sore

Cover image for the Hanker Sore word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Addleworth

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

Manusia

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

Star-Stuck

a man walking towards a door with a large question mark

Daguerreologue

Daguer-reologue

a man sitting in blurred silhouette at a desk