Rialtoscuro

a blurry image of a light source

Rialtoscuro

n.
the disorientation of stepping outside a movie theater into unexpected darkness—a twinge of jet lag after letting your mind escape to some other world for a while, only to be thrown abruptly back into reality.

Italian rialto, a theater district + oscuro, dark, obscure. Compare chiaroscuro, which describes a quality of visual art that emphasizes the contrast between deep shade and bright light. Pronounced “ree-al-toh-skyoor-oh.”

Caucic

a close-up of a stone walking path

Nachlophobia

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

Beloiter

a person sitting at a slot machine

Lilo

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

Heartmoor

a campfire with a kettle many small logs

Keep

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