'Ello Poppets!!! Happy New Year!!! Nothing like bashing into 2012 with a provocative, juicy, brian-bleeder blog, eh? (I can see you rolling your eyes from here) Well, without further ado...
Let me take you to a place you may have been countless times in your life--I know I have. Your telling someone--your best friend, significant other, parent, teacher or whatever--a story. It's a great story, rife with vivid imagery and catchy dialogue and suspense and all the hallmarks of a great story. And then, you get to the best part, the juiciest detail, the apex of this recount that is going to knock your listener right on his or her butt, and you are trying to describe this one moment...and you can't think of the word to give that moment its due justice. You are literally stumped for a word and you end up going with some lame synonym that pops into your head (probably from Bunje's damn SAT Vocab list) but you know that your story falls flat because that was SO not the word you wanted. Ever happen to you? Why, do you think?
Well, I have a theory. It's in its nascent stages (see what I did there?), but a theory nonetheless. I have procured said theory by perusing ( a word that does not mean what many of you think it means, incidentally) The Global Language Monitor. This site is dedicated to tracking trends in language, specifically the English language, and it is chock full of all kinds of fascinating facts about word etymologies, global trends, colloquialisms etc. It's really cool, especially if you're a geek like me (and many of you are--don't even try to front).
Anyway, it was while I was on this site today that my theory began to crystallize about why we, at the worst possible moments, are suddenly at a loss for words.
According to the GLM, English passed the 1,000,000 threshold on June 10, 2009 at 10:22 am. Know what the millionth word was?? "Octomom." Which is just one more posit to the idea that popular culture is the crux of societal knowledge. Let's hear it for Perez Hilton! But, as usual, I digress.
Anyway, 1,000,000 is a pretty impressive number by any standard, especially when you consider that the French Language has fewer than 100,000 words total. The average human has approximately 14,000 words in his or her repertoire. Shakespeare had 24,000--1,700 of which he made up--floating around his brilliant brain. Man, I love that guy.
So, all this to say..what? Well, even with all of those words zooming through the ether, the bottom line is there is sometimes no word to describe, define, pinpoint or whatever, the "undefinable." That's why we can't finish the story in the scenario I mentioned earlier. Undefinable words usually fall into one of three categories: feelings, abstract concepts and phenomena.
When I say feelings, I mean like, that sensation that washes over you the first warm day after a long, cold winter when you are driving in a car with all the windows down and radio tuned into your favorite song. Or, the feeling you get when you just get your crush's phone number and you're staring at your cell phone, sweating, pacing, wondering if you should start to dial.
Occasionally, mixed in with feelings are some abstract concepts, like the idea of strength, character, courage etc.
And I know we have all experiences some weird phenomena-type occurences that we write off as "coincidence" which is a catch-all word that doesn't really encapsulate the notion that, for example, when someone you know gets pregnant suddenly all you see are pregnant women or maternity stores or baby paraphenalia. Or, when you buy a new car you begin to notice that there are 4 of that same car within a mile of your house.
All of these things and so many more, despite the much-vaunted number the GLM is broadcasting about the English Language, simply do not have a word that really captures the essence of their true meaning.
That is, until this blog.
Your task this week, Langers, is to put a word to those notions, concepts, feelings and/or phenomena. So, first I want you to think of one of those moments--the feelings, concepts or phenomena that you personally have experienced. Then, I would like you to talk about the "synonym" that would closely describe it, even though you know in your heart that synonym doesn't do it justice. Then, in a whimsical fit of language acquisition, I want you to MAKE UP a word that would better describe what you're talking about. Hell, if Mary Poppins can do it, why can't we?
Think to yourself. Don’t tell me what you’re thinking! Oh dear lord, do NOT tell me what you’re thinking! Just… think to yourself. Think about being in a classroom… A classroom full of your peers and acquaintances… A classroom with a teacher, droning on and on about Le’Chatelier—Newton—Einstein Theory of Quantum Mathematical Mumble Jumble of the Universe. You have no idea what the hell they are talking about. You just know that you are slowing reverting back to the thumb-twiddling and you are rolling your eyes into the back of your head and you are tapping your feet and you are getting more and more soporific by the second. Needless to say, you are bored, yes? You are tired from all the words that the teacher is throwing at you all at once without a single break. Then, after an hour of class, the halfway bell rings, leaving the despair of having another period and a half left to suffer through to wash over you. As the teacher blathers on, ignoring the middle bell, you think to yourself, “What is this teacher doing to me? I’ve always paid attention in every class before. Even Health class is more interesting than this! Why can’t I pay attention if I am trying to go into this field in college?” The more you ask yourself questions, the more it dawns on you: there are no words to describe what the teacher is doing. There is no way to tell your comrades about the horrors of living in a time-frozen wasteland of gobbledygook-ridden orators. There is no way to tell your comrades within a four-minute break in between classes. There is no way to tell your comrades within a 120-character Tweet. There is no way to… well, you get my point. There is no efficient way to describe the mind-numbing action that the teacher maliciously inflicts on you to encourage you to sleep so they can take your soul.
ReplyDeleteThat is, until now.
I have created a word, just for you, my friends, that accurately describes what teachers do to you that makes you so bored. The closest synonym in existence is ‘bore,’ but this word is extremely simplistic compared to the mentally-degrading effects that this thing teachers do can have on a student. Using simple etymological studies, this word I have created makes perfect sense in the English language, even though it is very peculiar sounding. This word is CONTRAPENSALATE.
Contrapensalate: (Verb)—To prevent learning; To block out useful information; To make another thing unable to perform to its potential. Conjugations: Contrapensalates, Contrapensalated, Contrapensalating, Contrapensalator.
Example Sentences—These teachers were not based off of real-life people, I swear:
Mr. Matlok opens the windows so he does not contrapensalate his students.
Mrs. Williems contrapensalates her students by giving mundane slideshows, causing her students to ignore all of the information and learn from their textbooks.
Oh my god, Mrs. Bard’s voice is so contrapensalating because my brain cannot work when I listen to her.
Gosh golly gee, I can’t think straight because my brain has been contrapensalated.
Right now, the world to me seems like a black hole. Not just any black hole. But a super massive black hole, with a gravitational force so huge, it’s freaking mind blowing. A place where life is sucked in, without a choice. It is a point of no return. Every day it seems as if the world is getting darker and viler. And being a cynical and pessimistic individual doesn’t help. It’s hard to stray away from the notion that Earth is full of people and things that aren’t worth anything. It’s hard not to think that life is a waste of time. There are countless times when I ask myself, why am I even here? What’s the point of walking and breathing on this Earth, when in about 50+ years, I’ll be decaying under the Earth, or cremated and spread across all seven continents. (I prefer the second one.) It doesn’t help that I feel alienated every time something comes out of my mouth. There are a few people that can kind of catch the gist of what I mean, but even those people, can’t seem to grasp the words that I spew. As a result, I’ve felt it’s better to just not release the thoughts, ideas, and concepts that float within my mind. This plan however, often seems to backfire. I often find myself, searching for ways to explain to people what I mean. In my head, I know what I mean and what I’m trying to say; but to others my views and actions are so confusing that they can’t even clasp onto what I’m trying to say. Needless to say, frustration washes over me.
ReplyDeleteOften times, I’m not really sure what I feel. Half the time it’s a myriad of anger, annoyance and confusion. But recently, I’ve been overcome with a feeling of relief. I’m not really sure many of you can relate, but I’ll try to encompass what I’m feeling. Imagine a person, not anyone important, particularly a person that if you walked passed them in a crowded room; you probably wouldn’t even notice them. Most people glaze over them. They’re just that insignificant. Except they aren’t.
Their intellectual thought process seems akin to yours. They understand where you’re coming from; and even what you mean. They appreciate how the sun reflects off of the ocean in the summer just as much as I do. They appreciate stale Cheetos almost as much as me. They love how fast ice cream cones melt in the summer. They meticulously mix slurpee flavors in a 2:1:1:1 ratio, to get the perfect taste. They understand the breathtaking beauty I find when looking at the colors of the sky, just before the sun awakens for another day. They love the sound of crickets, just before drifting to sleep in the summertime. They are fascinated by genetics just as much as I. They understand the feeling of having so much to say, but never saying it. Of feeling alienated amongst your friends. The feeling of wanting to be someone, but not quite sure knowing where to start. It seems as if that person gets you. As simple as it sounds. And in this deceitful and harsh life, it’s great to feel that simple happiness.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess the synonym for this feeling would be happy. Happy that someone appreciates things just as much as you do. Happy that, maybe you aren’t so crazy when you start your dumb rants about life, and this world, and humanity. Unfortunately, happy doesn’t encompass the entire feeling. Happy, just isn’t enough….oomph to truly relate the feeling. And so, I’ve replaced it with DALLIFORTUOUS.
Dallifortuous: (dal-e-fawr-choo-us)
Adj: A feeling of extreme happiness, combined with content and relief. This feeling washes away all doubts, and leaves behind feelings of gratefulness for having this person with you
With this word in my arsenal, I feel better equipped when trying to describe the feeling of having someone who understands you. Needless to say, I’m sure this world will soon begin to crop up in my everyday vocabulary, and hopefully will begin to catch on.
To Mimi: I like your word :). The idea of knowing someone that can completely understand me seems somewhat fictitious, but worth looking for. I guess there isn't much else to say other than that...
ReplyDeleteLast summer I found myself at Schuyler’s house, where I usually found myself when I had free time. Nick Murphy also happened to be there, too. Usually, when I’m over there, I’m up for the majority of the night. For example, last weekend happened to be a 4:30-in-the-morning kind of night. Or morning. Or both, if you don’t like the cup half empty or half full. Anyways, on that one particular summer night (and morning) I stayed up until 7:30 AM. I’ve stayed up for longer amounts of time, but those happened to be not fun at all. But this time, at around six, I was walking around his house and found my legs feeling close to jelly. The legs have been mashed, but not made sandwich-worthy. And then I happened to remember a kind of funny joke from earlier that morning, or the night before, and burst out laughing. There was this weird feeling in my chest, as if my heart had put up with enough of my early-in-the-morning antics. And I felt kind of bad, but not too bad, for staying up so long. This is the feeling my friends. Tired doesn’t cut it when describing the close-to-jelly legs, the joke recall, or the strange my-heart-is-planning-for-a-permanent-vacation feeling.
ReplyDeleteI suppose there are a few words that could come close to describing it. Sleep deprived is possible, but also against the rules, because it’s two words. But fatigued comes close. Fatigued just has that weight to it. While tired is about as heavy as an average person, fatigued could be considered morbidly obese, who takes extra portions of a tired-sized person during second breakfast. Of course, the other stuff I mentioned may be considered with fatigued, but aren’t explicitly mentioned in the definition. Sometimes I’m just too tired and skip the awesome tired stage, and go straight to the begging-for-forgiveness-from-whatever-divine-being stage, where I just want to go to sleep. That would probably be the closest I’ve felt to fatigued, but fatigued is an okay word for what I’m talking about.
As for a made up word, how about exhaustrophy. I would use fatigue to make a word but most of the time the “g” makes it sound stupid. So, just to make things clear, exhaustrophy is the state of fatigue that involves almost jelly legs, laughing at remembered jokes, and having strange feelings in your chest that may or may not be indicative of death.
Cole:
ReplyDeleteI think your word is way better than "tired" or "sleep deprivation." There are times when I'm so tired that I'm too tired to sleep. I find myself appearing "hyper" when in reality, my body is probably trying to release some type of sedative hormone.
Tom:
I absolutely LOVE your word. This comment seems is a little enthusiastic for me, so I'm going to tone it down. But honestly, I think your word encompasses an emotion that washes over me almost everyday in school. The things I go through in the day just can't be described as a feeling of boredom. It's a much stronger word, a feeling that is probably one of my greatest weaknesses. Your word perfectly sums up what I'm feeling. Good job!
Over the course of my life I would often find myself easily subjected to illness. The cause of illness isn’t necessarily due to a poor immune system; I feel as though the culprit behind these moments of weakness is stress. I am inclined to believe that most everyone here could relate to extreme cases of stress given the nature of our schedules. However, stress and I are quite the familiar foes. We often duke it out on the pinnacle of Mt. Homework from time to time. We’ve also been known to clash between the pages of countless textbooks. Regardless of the situation, stress is not afraid to challenge me or anyone really. After countless ambushes, stress really gets under one’s skin. It becomes somewhat of a disease hiding in our bodies; it lay dormant until the slightest bit of overwhelming work presents itself to us. At that time it wakes from its tremendous slumber fully rested and strikes with tremendous fury. But stress is most dangerous when we are the weakest, and it will often stay in solitude until the best possible situation presents itself. Take for instance the weeks leading up to midterms. It’s just after winter break, and we are still riddled and plagued by the aftereffects of what I refer to as LAS or “Lazy-Ass-Syndrome”. We are forced to quickly accommodate our bodies and minds back to regular form for the surefire onslaught of work and studying that is to come. Without much avail, we waywardly trudge through the first week of school back from break. Simply put we are just “out of it”. Just about a week before midterms, reality slugs us right in the face without relenting any of its strength. We rush hectically and nervously through that week preparing for the worst and in the midst of it all we simply crash.
ReplyDeleteThis is how I feel right now. I’ve actually felt this way quite a few times before. I’m sick and fatigued. Stress has frightened my immune system into hiding. It simply packed up and left town. The only thing it left behind was a troublesome cold and a goodbye letter stating “Good luck asshole”. You can see my frustration. Mix together these sickening feelings with the amount of work facing us all and my winter break symptoms and we have one hell of a knockout potion. I can’t get any sound sleep at night, my chest is sporadically in pain from the cold that has decided to camp out in my lungs, and my brain feels like it has been tossed into frying pan. Overall this is a debilitating feeling. But the worst part is that it is an on and off experience. Some days are not as bad as others, while some are completely miserable. I guess I’m just “sick and tired of being sick and tired” as Mr. Stewart (my old and lively middle school gym teacher) would often express.
In light of this occasion I have come to realize that there is no adequate word to satisfy the magnitude of dread and stress these moments bring. I guess a few words to come to mind would be fatigued, drained, exhausted, or devitalized. The feeling is probably closest to “devitalized”; which could most accurately mean “sapped and drained of vigor”. The word I have forged from my knowledge is “Dysmenticated”. I’ve come to know that “dys” relates to illness as a Greek root and “ment” refers to the mind in Latin. What I was going for is a word that describes a great deal of confusion, sickness, and chaos within the mind and even body; a word that could be defined as being “sick and tired of being sick and tired”. A word that truly describes the distress one can feel when greatly overwhelmed at times. Because I know we all feel a bit “Dysmenticated” at times.
To Ted: I concur with the notion that the majority of those that read your blog post would be familiar with the feeling that you have described. I, for one, have a feeling identical to the one you have brought to our attention as I write this response. Familiarity with this feeling has almost become part of who I am, what I have become in the past few months. It is peculiar that going through life this way would affect one's character to the point that it has affected mine. "Dysmenticated" is how I feel every day, and it has become me as well.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo I’m sure everyone has lost someone close to them that they deeply care about. I’m not talking about losing them to a death or anything drastic like that. I’m talking about when someone has a really close friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc. and he/she loses them because time and differences have torn them apart.
ReplyDeleteI’m no exception. I’ve gone through this enough in my life to know what it’s like to be replaced. There are some specific times that jump out in my mind when I think of the feeling of replacement. It’s when I can taste the distance in a relationship and watch the space between the both of us grow. It’s when I feel this dull aching in the pit of my stomach, or when I can feel the uneasy pounding of my heart. It’s when I look at that person I used to be so close with and realize I have no idea who he/she is anymore. At that point, I get angry and annoyed that the person I care so much about doesn’t seem to want me in their life anymore. Then I get frustrated because I want to turn back time to who he/she used to be. I want to remind that person that he/she cared about me a good deal at one point. I want to remind him/her that we had a close relationship and got along so well. Then comes the feeling of sadness. It’s the terrible feeling of being replaced. It’s when the person I still care about has filled the position I used to hold in his/her life. That person doesn’t listen to what I say. That person doesn’t put any effort into salvaging the relationship, and that upsets me even more because it only proves that life is leading him/her in a different direction, but that person doesn’t have any desire to include me in that new direction. Next, I pretty much feel alone. I feel as though the person I care so much has completely rejected me and picked someone new and better to replace me. Like I was fired from being in their life because I wasn’t doing it any good. Usually this is the time when I try to have a break through with that person and express how much I want to connect with him/her again. I usually just find myself being rejected, angry, and gloomy once again because that person feels no need to return my effort of mending a fractured relationship. Then comes irritation once again because I find myself asking, “Why the hell aren’t I good enough?” Then, for me at least, comes the feeling that no one understands what I’m going through. It’s like I could scream at the top of my lungs, but no one hears me. I know this is unrealistic, because I’m sure a lot of people have felt someone he/she loves slipping away. However, I’m not sure anyone else feels the same abundant excess of emotions I’m deluged with when this happens. The best synonym I could come up with is miserable. However, it is nowhere near what I’m really feeling at that point. And the emotions I’ve noted don’t happen in a nice structural pattern like my list, they happen as a mob of negative emotions attacking my heart from all sides. They don’t come step-by-step, they assault me all at once. Therefore, there is not one perfect adjective to describe what it feels like to go through these emotions.
So here it is - the word to replace this stormy plethora of emotions…
Dekiltable –
1. the overwhelming, frustrating, wretched feeling when one can feel some he/she loves slipping away
2. the dismal, angry feeling one gets when feeling replaced
Anger has always been a big problem in my life. When people dish out on me I tend to take and take and take and then just take some more. I am not very big on l talking about my feelings, so I keep them bottled up until I explode on my sister for our monthly session of “What’s really bothering you, Hira?” Usually I can keep my anger hidden but lately keeping my anger under wraps has been a very difficult challenge that I have not been able to overcome. Instead of ignoring the little annoying quirks about people, I show others exactly how I feel about them. Earlier this week I came to the realization that my anger is beyond control now. I hate too many things about my life and the people around me. You might think to yourself, “She’s just being dramatic, everyone gets angry sometimes.” But no, this is not like the average, anger that people feel. A great example of it would be my family. Even though I love my family beyond words, sometimes I find myself looking at them and just being disgusted by them. I’m sure you have all experienced that feeling, so I know you know what I’m talking about. Every little quirk about them bothers me. Whether it is how my mom talks or how my sister chews like a cow when she eats an apple. I feel horrible for thinking it, but I honestly just want to slap the living crap out of them and make them realize how ridiculous they look and sound. Then comes my friends at and the people I encounter in school. I just don’t like them. Plain and simple. The way they talk, the rude looks, and the snarky comments, everything about the people I see bothers me! Crazy, right? I know.
ReplyDeleteHowever, these feelings have now sent me into a state of confusion now, I don’t know what it is I am feeling. I can’t tell whether I am crazy, annoyed, or just plain angry. I have so many mixed emotions about everything around me. I cannot find a word for this problem of mine. No word could possibly cover how I feel when I wake up in the morning and feel the way I do. So trying to explain it to you guys is a very arduous task. But thank god we don’t have to use real words. Bcause angry just doesn’t cut it anymore, the word that best fits my situation is Aggrassipolpy. Aggrassipolpy- The extreme anger of a person towards someone or something else. Yes, it is a disease and yes I am a victim of it. Yeah, I think that is the best word for it.
Tom: I seriously loved your story, that was super funny. I think that the word you picked really does show how we feel in those boring, mind numbing situations. Oh and i loved the names of those teachers
ReplyDeleteNyamekye: That word will definitely catch on! It's super catchy! haha But anyways I feel like i could really relate to this blog. Finding that one person that understands you and everything about you would just be...Dallifortuous. :) I do think that out of all the people that i have encountered, you are the one who understands me most.
Dominique: That is a horrible feeling, girl. I know what you mean losing someone that way would feel terrible. I honestly don't know what i would do if i was put into that situation. But i do think your word fits it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteTom: I can TOTALLY relate to your word. It sounds pretty cool when you say it outloud too. Almost like it should be a real word already. In school I often feel contrapensalated too. I feel as if your style really came through especially this week in your blog.
ReplyDeleteNyamekye: DALLIFORTUOUS! Feeling dallifortuous is an amazing, overwhelming feeling. There's nothing like feeling so alone and all of a sudden you find someone who totally gets what you're saying. Like that person really understands. It's like they know exactly what you're saying. It's a very amazing, happy feeling of relief. But you're right, happy isn't just the emotion you're feeling because it's so many more things than that. You feel dallifortuous. I think I might actually start using that in my vocabulary.
ReplyDelete**I'd also like to add to my post since I realized a typo in my first definition after I posted it. Then I decided to change a few words too. It should say...
Dekiltable
1. the overwhelming, frustrating, wretched feeling one suffers from when someone he or she loves is slipping away
Ted: I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!! Yes, it deserves multiple puncuation marks and capital letters. I can relate so much to this. Actually, I feel as dysmenticated right now. It's like I'm suffering from dysmentication. The work pile in front of me only seems to keep growing instead of getting smaller and my sleep patterns are becoming more sporadic. I've also been a victim of stress sickness, so I know what you mean there. Also, I liked how you structured your blog and added humor to it. It was a very nice touch and if you can't tell by now or if you have forgotten, I really liked your blog. (:
ReplyDeleteEvery once in a while we see a really good movie. There was just something about it that really hit us or really did a great job entertaining or interacting with us. But for a few moments (or longer for people like me who get really into movies) after your in this mind set like your a character in the movie and the main problem is something that you are directly tied to. That the lessons or attitudes of the characters stay with you just a little while longer.
ReplyDeleteThis happend to me once after watching this television show that i was really into a while ago and the characters have a certain tone and attitude thats unique to the show. And i was texting someone right after watching it and I i had started like acting and talking like one of the characters. Well i said something completely unnecessary and nosy just like one of the characters and the person was so confused they almost stopped talking to me and got a little mad. Needless to say the conversation afterward was a little awkward.
A similar situation happened to me after seeing RENT for the first time, I felt really compelled to start using heroine and being broke living the life of a washed out performer in NYC. The feeling always passes but it happens to me kind of a lot especially after seeing good musicals.
I guess this feeling could be considered delusional but its not really as serious as having delusions is. "Just really into it" i guess is ok but it thats not really one synonym.
A good word to describe this feeling is synthcinemality.
Synthcinemality (sinth-sin-a-mal-itee) noun- In the mind, the synthesis of reality and cinema post experiencing a truly pleasurable movie, play, dance, show, etc.
Example: After seeing Wicked for the first time I was immersed with such synthcinemality that i was in a musical inebriation for the rest of the night.
Nyamekye: its so weird that this is your word because iveliterally been thinking about this feeling for like a week and a half now and have decided that that feeling is just what i want in a relationship/
ReplyDeleteDominique: i hate that feeling its like helplessnes but more. Ive had this feeling before and it usually accompanies a lot of what did i do thoughts. Overall it just sucks though
Ted: I felt like that alot at the beginning of the year, but have been managing it since so that i dont loose it.
ReplyDeleteTo Dominique: Sadly, I have experienced what dekiltable describes. It seems like ever since I entered high school, my siblings (both of them) have drifted away from me like a log in a raging river. Maybe it was the age gap- my brother was a junior, my sister was a freshman in college. Either way, they have been slowly but surely floating away from me. Sometimes, I don't even know who they are because they are so different. Then again, I might be the one that is different. I could have changed and left what little relationship I had with them behind, even if I didn't want to. Perhaps if I were one year older, or they were one year younger, maybe I would still know them. But I guess I will just have to deal with living with familiar strangers and hope to get to know them again.
ReplyDeleteI often find myself lost for words. There are just so many that I could choose from. But rarely can I find one word; that specific word that would be appropriate for the given situation situation. Words such as interweb, mikroxtics, phligs, minkles and hlups are words that I’ve created all to myself. I actually created my own language that I sometime find myself speaking to… well myself in this forum. My sister catches me sometimes. She looks at me blank-faced like I’m crazy or something. I just tell her I was practicing my Latin or quickly change the subject and that is that. It’s this moment full of fear, abandonment and anxiety of being caught, not only talking to myself, but talking in a tongue unknown to any man. It’s this moment of sweaty palms and heart-wrenching, I-don’t-know-what’s that I have created a special word. This word is chnib.
ReplyDeleteChnib (ch-eh-nib) – A moment of unspeakable angst that can’t be described as otherwise
Synonyms: dread, fear, angst, anxiety, scare
Antonyms: calmness, comfort, relaxation
Example: When I am found speaking random foreign words to the wall in my kitchen, I get so chniby… I just can’t help myself.
Now that everyone is convinced that I am INSANE, I feel a slight chnib creeping up on me. (That isn’t an example!! Just Sayin’) Oh and I have all of the above words saved on my laptop!! Ahh the beauty of vocal chords...
As a deeply opinionated person, I often find myself in the middle of heated debates/controversies/arguments and the like. Whether the argument is with my mother or a fellow classmate, it is an ingrained aspect of my persona to voice my passionate beliefs and, when arguing, activate this writhing fervor to get my point across.
ReplyDeleteThough I know that the extent of my interest in debate isn’t too common among other people (good or bad), I know that we have ALL been exposed to a particular scenario of argumentation that truly has no words to define it.
I’ll speak of it generally because it doesn’t include any specific setting. Imagine an argument in which you are absolutely and utterly correct but your opposition does nothing except deflate your defense. You’ve laid out every possible fact, statistic, and worthy ounce of proof to validate your argument and couldn’t possibly be logically denied yet the person whom you are arguing with still does not budge from their convictions. I am not referring to disagreements on the basis of opinion nor am I referring to the graded debates in which we must fruitlessly reiterate our hopeless and sunken scripts no matter how wrong we are. These are the kinds that grant you a feeling of such confined frustration in your own efforts that it’s the distracted effort in restraining your screams that keep you from resorting to shouting all kinds of vulgarities at your opposition. It’s like no matter what you do, it’s impossible to achieve a reasonable resolution from the conflict and you are left being so severely disgruntled. The argument doesn’t even include the other person anymore; it’s your own inability to sway them.
As I type this, I’m beginning to see this word (or lack thereof) fit in many scenarios. Its versatility makes it a very specific strain of ‘anger’, and a cousin of ‘frustration’. For example, think of every time you’ve ever put effort into something, and got nothing in return. Invested time, sweat, and tears, into a cause, but received no benefit. Perhaps I’ll use swimming as an example for myself. It seems that no matter how much time I practice, and how strenuously I do, I can never seem to improve except by pathetic increments. When people expect my athleticism to reflect in this sport, I shamefully prove them wrong. And even if I didn’t portray that annoyance in my O.P, the thought reverberates through my mind every day and every night. It seems that every unexplainable, unsuccessful result from a long sought-out effort incorporates this feeling and I have never been able to place a word to the definition that it begs to define!
Without moving too far off topic, I have obviously broadened yet necessitated the importance of this word. It is too strong for frustration, yet any level of ‘anger’ or ‘unsettlement’ do not include other key emotions.
disgainment - extreme frustration caused by the inability to be satisfied by one’s own efforts.
Ex: Jack was filled with disgainment when after at least a thousand tries he could not perfect the swing of his bat.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty universal feeling, and I was surprised no one posted it yet, so it's highly likely I'm stealing this idea from under someone's nose.
ReplyDeleteOh well, I think. Natural selection at work.
I know this isn't how natural selection works but we will, I think, ignore that for the moment so that my point might get across.
But it could be that I suffer from this feeling more than others do considering the ubiquity of its presence during the later stages of the night, stages of the night which, as an owl in a man's body, I am perhaps more exposed to than the common man.
But probably I'm making a big deal out of nothing. Anyway, the word.
Start with a scenario.
Imagine you suddenly have free time. I know this is a tall order, but bear with me.
Anyway, you're in the middle of an activity you enjoy, be it reading, video games, salsa dancing, what have you. Eventually a necessary break comes or, better yet, you finish this activity in its entirety, and you move on to whatever you were going to do next.
And yet, unfortunately, you've run out of energy. You haven't run out of things to do, no, but you HAVE run out of the will to try and do them. You are bored and perhaps more than a little disgruntled, but not because there is nothing left to turn your attention to but because, strangely, you have lost the will or ability to turn your attention at all, and so it is that you find yourself staring around the house, thinking about all the things that you COULD or SHOULD do and which would probably be pretty fun but which, ultimately, seem suddenly too much trouble to start.
You have been struck, sadly, with a case of what I name, rather unimaginitively, 'slackennui'. Slacken refers to the gradual winding down one undergoes in this situation before they are rendered completely dormant and unable to attempt anything at all, while ennui, the French term for boredom which I've always considered a little more severe than ours, being closer akin to maybe world weariness than the simple lack of interest most of us endure.
The main thing that set slackennui apart from more garden variety boredom is that in order for my word to have effect, you must experience the feeling of overwhelming, almost crushing boredom, all while having plenty of valid activity choices to partake in, all of which you just cannot seem to find the energy to start or continue, even if it would be fun.
So... So. Is there really anything else to say? Well, probably. But I don't know what it is.
ReplyDeleteEither way.
Usually if I run into this I try to binge on Wikipedia or chug down some bit of a nonfiction book, since I figure if I'm going to be bored and useless anyway I might try to learn something from it, right?
Well, that's all.
Slackennui - The feeling you get when you're surrounded by potentially fun activites and you're very bored, but you're too listless to actually attempt any of the activities.
To Dom: I don't know why but when I read your post it reminded me of German! I think it's the "k." Your word definately seems like a real word... to me at least. I like it! My words sound like alien space cadetish. Haha, well I understand the feeling you described and I myself have a word for that type of situation, but it's a secret!
ReplyDeleteTo Tom: Haha, "Just think to yourself... what is a limit!" Well that, to me pretty much describes a Contrapensalate. It seems... so... perfect. I started laughing when I read it and then I was like, "wow Tom just made a word for clac... nice!" This word should catch on, but that's just me!
To Mimi: The word Dallifortuous is beautiful. The way it sounds rolling swiftly off my tongue makes me feel the way your word is meant to describe, sort of... That's kind of scary! Well anyways, your word makes me happy!
Ted: I cannot tell you how much i agree with you, and how suitable your word is for me. And not just me, but everyone! I love how you dissected the meaning of your word to prove its validity instead of throwing together bits and pieces of other words (like i did :P) the descriptions of your all-too-common battles upon Mt. Homework were a flawless portrayal, and reminder of my own.
ReplyDeleteMy alarm clock rings again following the extra 5 minutes of sleep that my snooze button blessed me with, or the sounds my mom’s loud, resonant speech infiltrates my eardrums, despite her being no where near my room. Either way, I am awake now. I look at the time, and decide that I shouldn’t sleep any further. I must begin my day now, I think to myself. So what do I do next? Get out of bed? No, of course not! I lie sedentary in bed, awake, my eyes wide open. My mind is blank.
ReplyDeleteI can’t get out of bed. It’s not sleep paralysis, but a lack of willpower. My bed is warm and comfortable, while the world is cold and requires walking. It’s not that I don’t want to go on with my day. There are usually things I look forward to. I think about those things. But I do not get out of bed. Not yet.
I grab the remote to turn on the television, or I grab the book on my nearby desk and read a little. However, I am still frozen in my fantastically warm bed.
Ten, fifteen, or more minutes have passed, and I eventually drag myself out of bed. Well that took a while.
Now what could describe my dormant state when I wake up? The best synonyms I can think of are “laziness” and “inertia.” While “laziness” definitely has a lot to do with the situation, it’s too vague doesn’t describe it completely enough. “Inertia” is close, but just isn’t good enough.
The word I have come up with to define this phenomenon is “lectosis”:
lectosis
noun. Derived from “lectus,” the Latin word for “bed.” Contains the suffix “-osis,” which means “abnormal condition.”
The inability to get oneself out of bed upon waking up, usually a result of laziness and a lack of willpower.
“Emily, a common sufferer of lectosis, lied in her bed and did nothing despite her bus coming in 5 minutes.”
I find it very difficult to describe to others the feeling that results after a long, hard-fought swim race. I’ve had a lot of swim races over the years, and the ones I remember the most were the most difficult. When you come racing in, and you finally reach that pad with other swimmers to the left and right of you, that’s a feeling that you’ll never forget. When all of those hours finally pay off you get this feeling that’s indescribable. Once, I won a race by 0.01 seconds, needless to say, I worked my butt off. When I come racing in after a long, strenuous race, and I touch that pad knowing I did my best, the drained fatigued feelings become overshadowed by other feelings. But to describe this entire emotional process by words seem to be impossible.
ReplyDeleteSwimming is brutal, but don't get me wrong though, so are a lot of other sports. Yet, when you see someone finish a race of any type, don't they always look happy? Of course there are exceptions. Sore losers and the rest of the lazy, overpaid sports figured we see on TV always seem to be pissed off and ready to point the finger. But when someone really tries their best in a race, they always get this overwhelming feeling of joy. However, it's much more complicated then joy. Racing isn't fun. Racing is stressful, tiring, and arduous. To describe this feeling the best, I always reminisce of Michael Phelps' famous picture of him winning his 8th gold medal in Beijing from 2008. He looks so happy, but yet, think of how he must feel. After all, he did just break a world record! Imagine how hard he must have worked in that race. He was obviously exhausted, yet he looked happy.
Let's move a step back from racing, after all, most of us aren’t athletes. Everyday, we are competing. Sometimes you’re competing against yourself (acing that test you’ve been studying for) or others (coming out on top in a job interview). So what do you call it when we accomplish our everyday goals? “Accomplished”? I guess you could call it that, but the feeling I am attempting to describes is much more profound. When we finish our homework every night, that is feeling accomplished, but what do we call it when we finish the homework for an entire year?
The closest thing I’ve ever heard to the emotion I’m trying to describe is the “Runner’s high”. The runner’s high is the feeling marathon runners get after completing their unimaginably tough race. Like Michael Phelps mentioned earlier, they get this feeling of joy despite an overwhelming presence of pain and exhaust. But like Cole mentioned before, this phrase is against the rule because it’s two words. Besides, this word I’m looking for isn’t just applicable to sports related events.
Have you ever wondered what you will feel like when you sit down at graduation? Sad? Happy? Those words are much to broad and general. Relieved? Achieved? Fulfilled? I’d agree with you, but let’s be honest, high school isn’t all that challenging. Imagine you decide to go to medical school or law school (may God be with you). Now imagine THAT graduation. After spending nearly a decade locked in the libraries of universities and studying for years in preparation for tests 1,000,000x’s harder than the SAT, you pass and finally receive you’re degree. How does one describe THAT emotion. Or imagine being a mathematician, devoting you’re entire life to solving one math problem and finally, at the age of 95, solving it. Or imagine being an author, and finally completing an epic series you’ve been writing for decades (this must have been how JK Rowling felt when she finished the last Harry Potter book). I need a word that describes the emotion one feels after working tirelessly on a challenging goal that consumes large amounts of time and energy, and upon completion, feeling exhausted, yet being overwhelmed with joy and happiness.
ReplyDeleteAttomplitude (n) Ah-tom-pla-tued - a mixed emotion caused by the combination of exhaustion from arduous, time consuming labor and satisfaction from the fulfillment of a large and difficult task. Attomplitive (adj)
Dr. Marco felt attomplitive after successfully performing the world’s first 24 hour surgery.
Thank you very much for inventing the word “Contrapensalate” Tom. A word new synonym for “bored” was badly needed in the English language. I especially like your examples. Something about them… just seems so relatable.
Only once have I felt the extreme form of fatigue Cole has now described as “Exhaustrophy”. Once after surfing all day, I entered a state that was beyond tired, and I think Cole has appropriately made a word to describe it. As Cole described, entering exhaustrophy is almost like starting to hallucinate in a weird, disoriented world. Way to go Cole!
Schuyler, congrats on coining a much needed synonym for the word “Bored”. Sometimes I’ve just sat down convincing myself that there are things I should be doing, but I never wind up doing them. Now I have a word to describe times like these.
Olivia:
ReplyDeleteI love RENT! It's probably my liking for Mimi... Anyways, every time I see a movie I like, I start to place myself in the same world as the characters too. It's a little bit weird...but either way I think your word, "Synthcinemality" correctly defines the emotions that I feel. I also must congratulate you for bringing up such a different idea, that I'm sure most people didn't think about.
Emily:
I feel like I suffer from lectosis everyday. I took a nap today, and when I woke up, I stayed in bed for like 10 minutes. The weird thing is, I only think I suffer from lectosis in the winter. In the summer or spring, it's easier for me to spring up out of bed, usually because I feel hot from sleeping under my sheets, but during the winter, it's so hard to get up. Great job describing your word. And you get added bonus points for incorporating Latin! :)
Hira: I’ve been overcome by aggrassipolpy many times. Some days I am just angered by everyone and everything they do. Often this anger is directed to friends. I don’t really show it, but I’ll just be seriously pissed on the inside. It feels like my inner cynic has taken over my usual cheery self. I don’t really know why it happens, and it sucks. On the bright side, know that you’re not the only one who is like this!
ReplyDeleteTed: “Lazy-Ass Syndrome” is a very scathing thing.. I am still recovering from it. And I know the feeling of dysmentication oh so well, sadly. Also, I’d like the mention that I like how you included the etymology of your word. I was kind of inspired by that when I constructed my word.
Janel: “When I am found speaking random foreign words to the wall in my kitchen, I get so chniby...”
I laughed at this. I just imagined you having a full-out conversation consisting of gibberish with your kitchen wall... hah. I also like how you started talking about the lack of suitable words and then smoothly transitioned to your actual word. Your post was short, yet it managed to answer all the questions in a way that flowed.
I've always wanted to be on the road; driving in my own car. Whenever I pictured myself in the future I would picture myself driving people places, going all over creation to take my family and friends to wherever their hearts led them and I was OK with that because I would be driving. I'd always thought that driving would make me seem more mature and sophisticated and in addition, allow me to have more freedom than I had at that moment. I couldn't wait to drive. This thought of driving often led me to look for my perfect car, thus began my searching for hours on the Internet and through newspapers the hunt for this perfect car.
ReplyDeleteWhen I finally reached freshman year of high school, I had missed my chance to take the written driving test with my friends, which would have let me become one of the first to get their license before everyone else because I would be turning 16 that same year entering the beginning of sophomore year, all because i didn't think to take health my freshman year.(a decision I still regret to this day). I was disappointed for sometime because now I had to wait but when I reached the end of my sophomore year I took the test and passed. I was sooo....."insert word here". This is where my problem starts, I just couldn't find the right word to place in that sentence. Yes, I was glad, cheerful , gleeful, blissful,delighted, elated, captivated, chipper, ecstatic, content, convivial, and all the other words that mean happy but none of the words could put that feeling to justice. Those words seemed to pale in comparison toward the emotion I was feeling at that moment, and I believe now that this feeling truly deserves its own word. This emotion often acts as a juggernaut, taking complete control of me whenever I think about cars and driving. So I've decided to call this word...
Carkey (kar-key)(noun)- overcome with an extreme pleasant feeling that exudes throughout ones entire body now being a first time driver
(As you can see I'm not great at making my own words, I leave it to the professionals)
This word should be used by all the first time drivers who are just overcome with cark-iness that they can now drive. I wish I had an awesome word like this to describe my feelings back then, now i have to get it to catch on to get it added to the dictionary.
In addition I have my own theory as to why we sometimes can't find the right word to say. It's not simply because the right word doesn't exist, as a matter of fact, the right word could exist its just that the English language is so extensive, that there are just too many words too remember so we pick a select "set" of words that we use all our lives and don't really care for other words we are not accustom too. This is what makes vocab so important in school. Vocab gives us a chance to expand upon that set list of words. For example, lets say the words "to think, believe, or trust" are commonly used nowadays however, the the word "trow" also means the same thing but is a better word. People will most likely say "trust, believe, or think" because they are more accustom to those words rather than "trow" which most people probably don't have in their vocabulary because they didn't know it was a word or didn't know what it meant. So sometimes there is a right word we just don't know what it is unless we are ready to search really deep into the English language, even farther than the dictionary.
Emily D: I laughed when I read yours Emily. I am also a sufferer of lectosis. Sometimes this might make me throw my alarm clock (which I actually did once) into the wall and break because its disturbing me as I just lay upon the bed unwilling to get up. I actually think I'm going to start using this word now.
ReplyDeleteSchuyler D: A word for boredom was definitely needed but your type of boredom is unique. It involves having millions of things to do but just not wanting to do them, I know I have this feeling all the time on days when I have hw, and when I'm suppose to go over someones house. However, I end up not doing them and I end up saying "I'm bored" when like I have 5 million things I could be doing
Hira Z: So I decided to read yours after you told me you word in school and all I can say is wow. This word sounds powerful with the anger you are trying to describe, it definitely outshines "anger". Anyway as a piece of advice though you probably don't need it but the "Aggrassipolpy" will die down eventually and happiness will shine through. (P.s. you told me you spelled Aggrassipolpy two ways and when you used it in the blog they were spelled the same)
I would normally find this question to be a brain bleeder. Sorry Bunje, I would normally find this question to be a brain bleeder. Sorry Bunje, but I can't normally bring one of these strange occurrences to mind. This week was a bit different though. This year I was tackled by a montage of feelings that I personally couldn't handle. Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking... "That Giovinco kid who has managed to take on courses in elementary and middle school that people don't typically embark on until high school? The kid who managed to pull off organizing an award winning one act play last year with such little time to do it? The one who can survive just about any type of mental blow? How come he has been perplexed by the events of a single week?" Okay, so you probably aren't thinking any of those things. I can sure as Hell tell you that I was this whole week so far.
ReplyDeleteI've been overwhelmed this week by that Presidential election, Cabaret Night, different family issues, not to mention some B.S. that has been started up by a certain Mark Perkins and all the jammed together work I have to do with other clubs and classes. For once in my life I have learned that I needed to accept defeat against emotions, there were just too many to take on at once.
Some instances I could understand the emotion, with Cabaret Night it was stress that has spawned from the lack of preparing time I gave myself. Family issues it was guilt that came from my own conscious as my parents struggled to help me with all that I was doing this week though at the start of the week we couldn't even afford to get any food in the house. The Mark issue was pure anger and hatred that came not just from his diva self at drama, but also from the way that he treated someone that I still hold myself someone responsible for. The different clubs and class was more stress that came from lack of time (no it's not Lang or Chem, it's actually Drama class and other clubs).
The thing that messed with me the most was this election. Walking into it today I posed myself with a question of how I would feel if I won and couldn't think of a straight answer. I figured off the bat that if I lost I would probably feel a disappointed because that would mean that I could have done a better job. After losing though, I have another feeling that I can't describe inside of me, at least not in one word.
As I was listening to all the new board members being announced by their previous board member counter parts, I began to grow that awkward feeling inside where you know that you lost. It was by far the longest wait of my life as I listened to the President give her farewell speech, I wanted to know if I won or not. When she announced the other candidate's name I felt disappointed, no doubt. It was something more though, still a negative feeling, but it was more. I was angry because I lost over a half hour of campaigning time because of the bus ride, I was confused because everyone that I got the chance to meet really liked me and had wanted me to win, and I was disheartened because I had wasted so much of other's time and money to go through with this campaign and I blew it. The feelling that I had and I still have I can't put my finger on though. I know that if I were elected I would have been able to offer a lot more to the board than the current President. Everything I had planned for didn't go as I had expected though, the rug was pulled out from under me. The closest word I can find for this overwhelming feeling is disappointment, but that doesn't come anywhere close. My first word will be "Mistraught."
ReplyDeleteMistraught-n. A feeling in which occurs when you are just in reach of a goal that can change your life and the goal is pulled away from you, it is described by a longing to do something to make the situation better for yourself but not entirely through the feeling of defeat or sadness.
On the side of if I won, because this still puzzles me as to what my reaction would be. The closest word that I can think of would be shocked. It would have been a tight race, no doubt, and the job in front of me would definitely be an armful and a half. The general feeling would be some mixture of excitement, shock, being a bit scared, and a whole ton of yearn. Yearn, that is, for the satisfaction of doing great things for the position, the board, and students across the state. My word to describe this is Flankergasted.
Flankergasted-adj. A word that describes someone who knows that they now have the power to do great things yet is confused as to how they reached that point.
Though I didn't win the election I've learned a valueable lesson today, to always be prepared for the worst. From the bus being late to the order in which the positions gave their speeches, everything that I did toward my campaign was turned topsy turvy. I can only hope to take the knowledge I gained today and one day help out the next Oak candidate. I also hope that I can find another way to affect the students that I don't have an easily accessible way to affect now. As I said before on Facebook, no regrets.
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then, there comes a moment when you're listening to one of your favorite songs and all of a sudden there's this part of the song that plays - probably the bridge - that causes goosebumps to form on your back/cheeks/neck/et cetera. If you don't know what this feeling is like, then I strongly advise everyone in this thread to go to YouTube right now and listen to Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes. "If I had an orchaaaaaaard..." Holy crap.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, that experience is called frisson (yes, that's spelled correctly), and it's one of my favorite feelings. One night last summer, I was walking across the campus of Princeton University (where I attended a summer camp) when this song came up on my iPod. There were...feelings. The just-right combination of the cool breeze, the moonlight, the utter isolation, and Robin Pecknold and company's voices crooning harmonically - it was mesmerizing and wonderful. It made me want to run away to the countryside and buy an orchard, so I could spend the rest of my days tending to my oranges - the best oranges in the whole state of Virginia, by far - and and live the simple life we all truly wish we could have.
I'm sorry, what was I talking about?
Oh, right. There's no word in the dictionary that effectively combines the concepts of goosebumps on the back of your neck caused by a familiar, yet heart-wrenching piece of art, and the bliss of total isolation and peace. Blisson would just be a cop-out, so I'll take the liberty of going the extra mile with my definition:
PACIFICITMENT - puh-sif-ih-sight-ment (noun) a sudden, abrupt feeling of total peace and harmony, usually complemented by a feeling of frisson brought forth from, say, a verse of a song, such as the bridge from Helplessness Blues.
Take THAT, Daniel Webster!
Imagine yourself in a freezing cold environment with only five other people. Your sight is very restricted, you are having trouble breathing, your muscles are sore and your body is pushed to its limit. People are surrounding your environment screaming, but you can only make out noise; no words. You know 2 people in this environment, which means you don't know 3, and you can only see one of the people you don't know. Add the stress of a race, and a ton of water, and you are in a swim race. Now let's take it even a step farther. You are flipping at one end of the pool, one lap left, 7 are already finished. You were ahead of the person in front of you all 7 laps, at this point you've got him by about a head (yours actually). As you race to the other side with every ounce of energy you have you look over and see this person who happens to be six inches taller than you reaching out and pulling the water as hard as he can as well. You fight and you fight, but this person keeps getting closer. Finally the flags, you're still ahead, but only by about a hand. You hit the wall, knowing you gave all you got, you look at the person, he's obviously done as well. You look up at the clock to see who came out on top. You stare and you stare, not quite sure how to take the result. You didn't lose, but you didn't win. You and the person next to you, the person you were beating an entire race until the last five meters, have the same exact place; the same exact time. You just tied with the same time of a 23:17 in a 200 meter freestyle race. What are the chances that you would TIE someone in a swimming race?!
ReplyDeleteI was perplexed. "Is this really possible?" "This has to be a mistake" "I should have gone faster." Just a few of the thousands of thoughts going through my head while staring at the clock. But for some odd reason, the only thing I could do was turn to my opponent, smile, and shake his hand muttering out a "good race" through heavy breathing and mixed emotions. However, the funniest part of the entire thing was, we seemed to have the same idea. He did the same thing to me at nearly the same time except instead of "good race" he said "good job". I was utterly astounded by something so incredible. This kid that I've never met in my life just tied me in a swim race, and the same thoughts seem to have gone through his head as the thoughts that went through mine.
This moment still plays in my mind as if a movie that you missed something in. You keep turning it on because you know you missed something, but you can't pinpoint what it is. Rewind and rewind, but you see the same thing. I've done this rewinding for about a year now. My mind can't shake the incredible feeling of tying a race. When I was asked how I felt, I couldn't answer, and still to this day I cannot find the right word to describe this feeling. Astounded? I suppose. Perplexed? A little. Bewildered? Closer. But still, no words can truly come close to the feeling I felt. I had never even heard of a tie in a race before (except for the occasional tie in a backyard foot race judged by the naked eye) and then I was a part of one?
The closest word I can find to describe this feeling is bewilzed. (a combination of bewilderment and amazement). My mind just couldn't wrap around this idea, it refused to. This word still doesn't touch the feeling I had, but it's closer than any other word. If I were on twitter, I would tweet something like "kadhjfalsdfhaslfdjas;lfd" because of the frustration combined with every other feeling. If you can understand the feeling, you can understand my lack of words. Swim races are intense enough as is.
ReplyDeleteIn my heart of hearts I think our lives are defined by those
indefinable thoughts and feelings and events that fly through our minds and our
world. No matter what you do, there are just some things that can never be
described the exact way that they make you feel. It’s that whole
sounds-better-in-my-head. It is easier to have the idea of a concept, or a
feeling, than it is to define it. Therefore I feel that any word made up for
such an indescribable thing wouldn’t do it justice at all anyways. But here I go.
When I first hear the words “indescribable feeling” I think
of things like love and hate. However seeing as I don’t consider myself to
really have completely experienced either of these things, I’m going to go with
sadness. When something horrible happens, there is a feeling that flows through
me, starting somewhere near my heart or arms. The best way I can think to
describe it is a sort of burning or searing sensation. Almost like the feeling
you get in your face when you know you’re blushing, but a bit different. That
feeling that starts in my chest area spreads up my arms and up my throat then
settles in the trembling of my lips or the itching of my eyes. There is no
specific event that has to happen-just anything that is especially sad or
horrible. It doesn’t even have to be happening to me-it could be I feel so
badly for someone else or something from a book or movie. If I had to pick a
synonym to describe this feeling in me, I guess I’d go with horrible. That
doesn’t really describe it at all though. I guess if I had to make up a word
for this, it’d be putraforible.
Putraforible (Pew-tra-for-ible), ADJ: The feeling you get
when you hear something so sad or awful that it feels like it burns your
insides.
Ex: Finding out you have cancer, again, has made me
putraforible.
If I had to pick a word for this terrible feeling, I guess
it’d be this one. Excuse me while I go add this to the urban dictionary. Maybe
I can help some other people out with their wordage problems.
Tom: Oh my gosh. Thank you. I know exactly what you are
talking about, and I am so going to start using this word. Especially in Mr.
Matlok’s class ;) Entertaining as always Tom, and great choice of word!
Dom: I can relate really well to everything you said. At
this point in my life (high school) I think this has been happening more and
more and I feel powerless to stop it. If they don’t care about the relationship
why should I? And then, why don’t they care about fixing this the way I do?
It’s depressing. Everyone is changing so much and it sucks to get left behind
by the people you were once closest to. Great word for that feeling, it does a
great job of summing up those feelings.
Hira: There are some days that come along that I find myself
in this exact mood-everything and everyone bothers me or pisses me off. I don’t
really know what brings on these random times of aggrassipolpy, but I like the
word you use to describe it!
I am going to first describe a feeling. A feeling that I could never get enough of. It begins with severe stress (don't worry it gets magnificant). It then builds into anxiety. You have an incredible amount of work. You're usually good with keeping up on things but lately you just seem to be slipping, there was just too much going on. You're still pushing through though, as hard as it may be. Everyone knows this feeling. When you have multiple assignments, tests, and quizzes in every subject all due. However this idea of stress isn't what I find hard to describe. It comes after that. Right after you hit print on the computer, complete the last math problem, box in the final answer for Chem, and add the period to the last sentence of the given assignment. It's that feeling you obtain right after you've finally finished everything on you're to do list. Its amazing, it's satisfying, it's indescribable.
ReplyDeleteRelief may come as a close synonym for this word. So I looked it up, the exact definition of relief is, "alleviation, ease, or deliverance through the removal of pain, distress, oppression, etc.". I mean it does fall under some category of this feeling. When you take that first deep breathe after completing your work its a sigh of relief. You finally did it. However relief doesn't quite work. It isn't strong enough. Thus I've come up with Exstonerated, which contains some part of every joyfilled word. EXSTONERATED (sounds exactly how it is spelled): excessive fulfillment due to many accomplishments.
I am now going to describe an abstract concept. This came to my attention a couple nights ago. I was sitting on my bed doing homework while Kayla blasted the music and started dancing. We always do this. Its fun and we both are terrible dancers which makes it even more fun. But this particular night she was alone. I just stared in amusement. During her routine she blurted out, "This is my passion!" (Of course derisively for comic effect). And then I just began to think. What is passion? Dictionary.com says passion is "any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate." I guess a close synonym to describe this word is emotion. Passion is a great emotion. But this doesn't work for me. Passion is greater than this, you truly feel this. Passion is essential to life. Passion is Ecstounated. ECSTOUNATED(sounds exactly how it is spelled): an overly intensified expression, usually of something you love or absolutely live for.
To Mimi: I would just like to say that I hope that eventually you will find yourself in a state of absolute dallifortuousy. It's an amazing pursuit isn't it? To find the one thing in the world that truly understands you? Really, we ourselves should be assigned a word that means us because each and every person in incapable of being described by any pre-existing word as it stands.
ReplyDeleteTo Cole: I know exactly how you feel when you feel exhaustrophy. It is that state of mind that you get when you pull an all nighter and you know that you are tired yet your mind is at such bliss that you have no more need for sleep. It's quite an amazing feeling, though I don't get to feel it often.
To Olivia: Don't worry if you find that feeling to be weird. I think that just about every drama kid goes through that whether it be a movie or a play. The good news is that when you find the mindset of the character and it can stick with you, that's when you know that you can act.
If I had not already lived with this blog post, it would have baffled me to come up with a new word, I think, and remind me a lot of the book “Frindle.” My Dad made up a word, unbeknownst to me, called “Sheckless.” Now, I never had any reason to suspect that this word was made up, because then I would have to be suspicious of every word my parents have ever said. Sheckless was just like any other word to me. Its denotation was virtually shameless. Its connotation was more “skeevy” (also a made up word by my father). It was to do something solely for yourself, without any shame, degrading your morals to a dog. If a father goes to a casino on their son’s fifth birthday, he was so sheckless. It was like a combination of sheepish and shameless. I always pictured a sheep turning away with its shoulders slumped in forged self-disgust as it snickered greedily when I heard the word “sheckless.” Even the way my Dad said it, teeth gritted but smiling with a joking sneer embodied “sheckless.” To be sheckless involves doing skeevy things. Skeevy is almost self-explanatory. The word just sounds skeevy, but then again since I grew up with it that just might be the connotation rubbing off on me. Skeevy is an action that would equate to the Oakcrest floor. Dirty, grimy, sometimes slimy. It sends shivers with a grimace to hear the word. God, my Dad had the whole commission (where he worked) saying the words. I never had a chance. I found out the truth when I would be asked what it meant, or when Microsoft Word yelled at me.
ReplyDeleteSo, when I had to decide to make up a word, I decided if I was going to make one up, it should sound awesome. So, I thought of some of my favorite words (über & flabbergasted) and how I tend to pronounce words wrong because I make them sound fancier than they are, and I came up with Flooberlae, pronounced all fancy like the words “flu” “bear” and “lay” were all stuck together. It sounds like a rather sad word to me. I guess I can imagine a sick bear lounging around miserable, but I’m pretty sure the word sick already describes that. Now this word sounds utterly ridiculous, but so do a lot of words. Sometimes when the English part of my brain shuts down, and I can’t understand a word somebody is saying, I notice how weird some words sound. Just say the letter “H” aloud. Try to forget it has a meaning and just hear the sound of it. H, h, h, eich. It’s so unbelievably ugly. If you’re going to make up a new word, it should sound just as ridiculous but at least flow a little better.
Last night, I was talking to our very own Schuyler Devos about a very certain awful miserable feeling. Just his mentioning of it brought back a flood of times where I can remember feeling so lonely, so alone, so abandoned. Really, it’s for a ridiculous reason, but I just don’t know if there’s a word to aptly describe it.
Flooberlae (Flu-behr-lay): the feeling of extreme depression and despair when an extremely good book is finished.
Synonyms: Depression, despair, forlorn, abandoned, lost.
To elaborate, this is why I don’t read a lot. I’m a binge reader, and once I pick up a book I find it really hard to put it down. So for the day or two it takes to read it, my whole entire world is the book. Especially in first person point of view books, the main character takes up any thoughts I have. I’m not even sure I can think for myself during the time I read a book. When I’m not actively reading, my ever thought is devoted to contemplating the book. When I read The Hunger Games, I read the trilogy in three days. Even if it hadn’t been a depressing series to begin with, when it was over I was a wreck. The characters were done with. They had left me. It was worse than them dying. The world they lived on had ended, just like ours had in the series. There was nothing new to read; I’d read it all. I desperately reread the ending and obsessively skimmed over the last line. It hit me just as strong each time. Normally the only way to cure this flooberlae feeling is to move on to the next book (leaving me feeling like I’ve betrayed my characters) or to reread the series entirely. But I couldn’t! The world, the characters had changed so incredibly much over the course of the three books I couldn’t bear to imagine going back to the start. Even now it seems painful. For three weeks I passed around the books, a woman obsessed. To each person they went. I needed to talk about the books. I had to keep the characters alive. I needed to share my pain. I still regret telling my mother I wanted a book to read. I had no idea the effect the little black book she dropped on my lap would have on me. Still, I recommend reading the series. I crave for more people to read the series. I live off of talking about the books.
ReplyDeleteBut this is still the reason I hardly read. Each book I read hits me so hard that I spend more of my time reading books I’ve already read because each new book I read only adds onto the despair. God, Life of Pi. I think I’ve spent more of my life arguing and talking about that book than any other book. Even now, almost every other month I spend an hour or two ranting in my room about it. A really good movie can leave the same feeling, but because they take so much less time and the characters become so much less intimate, I don’t think it’s as strong. You can’t undermine a really great book.
Olivia: I do this ALL the time. Characters rub off on me so easily. I once watched ten minutes of “Sweet Home Alabama” and started talking with an accent. I’ve picked up certain writing styles from books. It’s really a neat thing, and I like it because it shows how important the arts are to culture. It makes you think about how the major movies and plays may have affected simply everything.
Mike G: I actually almost just cried reading your post. It goes without saying that we’re all really proud of you. I’m not so sure anybody has felt quite the degree of what you’re feeling. It’s certainly speaks of an accomplishment to feel the way you do. You can’t feel that way without caring and being ambitious. Makes you kind of feel bad for politicians, huh? I’m just proud that you weren’t afraid to do it because of this. Love you Mike <3
Dominique: Yours is like the real life, much worse, practical version of mine. It’s true that there really isn’t a kind of miserable that quite compares to this one. Oh God, I’m watching “Planet Earth” on Animal Planet and this poor bird just got rejected. His dance wasn’t good enough. The narrator said, “Who wouldn’t be depressed when your best isn’t good enough,” as the bird’s feathers deflated as the female hopped away. It’s not quite the same as somebody slipping away that you already knew, but I guess this is the bird equivalent. It’s nice to know people aren’t the only ones who have to go through this.
You know you’ve felt it before. You’re sitting in class, minding your own business when someone asks a question so dumb, you don’t know how to feel. Now, to clarify, it has been said that there are no “dumb questions,” however, the platitude is completely false. While most questions are completely valid and interesting, others are just flat out stupid. I know I’ve been a perpetrator of the dumb question before. The dumb question does not derive from simple ignorance, it stems from ignorance that is simply your fault. For example, if I’m in chem class with you, and you sleep through Matlack’s lecture on the Henderson-Hasselbach equation, it is almost unforgivable if you wake up and nonchalantly ask, “Who is Hasselbach?”If we’re in Italian class, don’t turn around and ask me what a word means during a test, you’re only going to get us both in trouble.
ReplyDeleteThis feeling boils down to one simple notion, the feeling that you’re always right and everyone else is always wrong. There is a massive amount of weight to this idea. It is the belief that you are better than others. It is the subconscious thought that someone else is stupid. Just as I have had this rash thought about others, I know others have had it about me.
There is no word yet assigned to this feeling of condescension, so this blog allowed me to put a name and definition to this strange phenomenon. If you’ve had this feeling before, you know it includes the urge to stand up, and punch the question asker in the face. It takes full restraint of oneself not to hurt anyone.
Fuortickation- The feeling of intense anger and disappointment that comes after a stupid or irrelevant question is asked.
Fuortickation is a dangerous and often unstable feeling. It leads to resentment of those who are habitual fuortickators. However, fuortickation can teach us much about ourselves and our interactions with others. I hope that fuortickating does not one day take over our very own class. Be wary of those who fuortickate, but always think, was their question truly stupid?
George - I know that feeling all too well. And though I suppose I always called it "euphoria" from the endorphins, perhaps that sounds a little too drug related. Besides, I like yours better. I mean, lets face it; proud is too bland, and happy is too weak.
ReplyDeleteSchuyler - I feel as if your word is a mixture of laziness and boredom, but hey I've never really considered that kind of feeling before! Probably because, like you said, even 'imagining' some amount of free-time is a tall order..
Nick: Yes. Yes yes yes. YEEEEEEESSSSS. FLEEEEEEEET FOOOOOOXES. Also, yes. Isn’t that the best feeling in the world? God, it really is. I love stumbling upon music that gives me the chills. It’s awesome finding new music like that. And it’s even better when, after listening to it nearly a gorillian times, it still gives you those beautiful feelings.
ReplyDeleteAmber. Yes. Yes yes yes. YEEEEEEEESSSS. I’ve read so many good books in my time, it’s hard to believe that I didn’t come up with this myself. At the end of Eight Skilled Gentlemen (third and unfortunately last of the Barry Hughart books) I was ready to kill myself because I knew there would be no more Master Li Kao and Number Ten Ox. UUGGGGHHH SO MAD. Also, the ending of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, that ending had a massive impact on me, even in Algebra 2 where I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. And I think Catch-22 may have did it for me, but I’m not sure because of the circumstances surrounding the ending and what I thought it was at first. That’s a good story. I’ll tell you about it some time.
Schuyler: Yeah. I hate that. I can browse through my steam games, go downstairs to play some more video games, or go do homework (HAHAHA NOPE) or even read a really good book you’ve been planning on reading for awhile. But, you can’t get up and do anything. It really sucks. But what can you do, besides sit there and do nothing?
George: I really liked how you took the race and broke it down into an every day occurrence. The relation made the point more understandable while still not losing the feeling that you, for lack of a better word, feel. I understand your feeling as well and I agree completely.
ReplyDeleteMatt: I think i understand what you are feeling because you make your emotions so evident as soon as I ask that dumb question. Let's face it, I'm the dumb questioner. I think by being that person, I can understand the feeling that you are feeling as well, because I'm on the other end of it. It's interesting to think that maybe i understand what you feel because I cause the feeling. Something to ponder.
Amber: For as much as I don't read (sorry Bunj) I understand that feeling. I think everyone can relate to the feeling of finishing a great book, one you love so much you couldn't put down for days. And am I the only person that would stop reading sooner as to prolong the book? Like instead of reading five chapters, force myself to stop at one so that the book would last longer. I think I'm going to start using your word.
As I type this, I am wearing the fuzziest socks ever. I am wrapped tightly in a blanket, curled up in my favorite half-sitting, half-lying down position, sipping hot raspberry apple tea, from which the most pleasing aroma I have ever experienced is dancing its way to my nose. Although I have only just begun to ascend the mountains of homework that lie before me, I sit here, typing away, feeling a sense of joy that no single word can encompass.
ReplyDeleteThe feeling I’m having trouble describing is one of complete and utter comfort. It’s that feeling you get when you change into sweatpants after a long and arduous day. But the feeling I mean to describe is deeper than just physical comfort. It is often so strong that it sinks beneath the skin and into the heart. Its paramount performances pop up in our relationships. This feeling strengthens the bonds we build with the people we’re closest to. It’s that feeling you get when someone takes care of you when you’re sick. When you’re wearing your dad’s oversized sweatshirt. When you pour your heart out to someone you deeply trust. When you hug a teddy bear just for the heck of it. When you play in the snow the way you did when you were five. When you hug someone who is much taller than you, and feel as though the whole world is hugging you back. Or when you snuggle up in a cozy blanket on a stormy night, engulfing yourself in a beautifully overwhelming sense of protection from the cold, dark world outside.
This feeling is characterized most distinctly by a sense of warmth. It’s hidden somewhere among feelings of fuzziness, comfort, and protection. Therefore, this feeling will henceforth be known as fuzzcomtection (fuhz-kum-TEC-shun).
Being fuzzcomtected seems to alleviate all of life’s worries, at least for a brief time. During this state, all seems right in the world. Momentarily, all of the cruelty, all of the stress, all of the disappointment of daily life evaporates. These are the moments we cling to because these are the moments that never last. Long after the fuzzy socks must come off and the strongest parts of our relationships are just distant memories, we try to carry that fuzzcomtection with us. But the magnificence of fuzzcomtection lies in its rarity. It isn’t often in this frigid world that we feel protected and warm, so when we finally find a source of fuzzcomtection, we hold on to it for dear life. This is the reason I own many, many pairs of fuzzy socks.
Nick: Yeah, pretty much. Good songs can do that. Lots of good things can do that. Lots of good things that make you think can do that.
ReplyDeleteCole: Like I don't get what your word means. It's a my house feeling, after all. I like it cause it's like a different way of looking at things, definitely. When you can find different ways of looking at things, that's something valuable.
Amber: Just thinking about that feeling makes me kind of sad. There's so many books I have to reread now. It's always a jarring transition when you have to change worlds, and it sucks even more if the one you come back to isn't as interesting as the one you left.
During freshman and sophomore year if you asked me what I wanted to do when I got older or what I wanted to major in, I probably would have avoided answering the question. The kids next to me will proudly say, “Biochemical engineering!” or “Broadway Star! ” And then there’s me. This leads to a feeling of worriedness and a hint embarrassment. I know that I probably shouldn’t be too embarrassed, but when people and my friends around me have practically got their whole career path planned out, how could I not feel insecure or embarrassed about myself?
ReplyDeleteThen junior year came. People say that by this time, you should know or have a slight idea of what you want to do. Earlier on in the year, I was doing college research. If you know what you want to do, you’re most likely going to pick a school that has whatever you desire to major in. I found out it’s not exactly easy researching for colleges when you don’t have the slightest idea about what you want to do. I felt lost among the sea of opportunities. As junior year progressed, I have slowly become more aware of who I am and what makes me happy. I started coming up with a few ideas for a career that I would probably enjoy. I shared a few ideas with friends and family. I started to get really excited about my ideas and a possible major. Last Friday, instead of going to see the devil inside like everyone else, I did college research. And it was actually quite productive. My ideas made it easier to do research on the career itself and the colleges that contain the major. I felt very excited at the possibility of getting into a good school and working towards happiness. That leads me to my word. It describes the feeling I got when I slowly figured out what I wanted to do. I guess it’s something along the lines of having a “revelation.” However, this word is a bit too strong. I’m still in the incipient stages of figuring out what I want to do. So my word is “Celetant.” Celetant – The feeling of excitement when you come up with an idea, but you still haven’t figured it completely out.
Today while on the bus home from a student council trip, i was sitting with our own neighborhood rapper, Bobby. It was a long day that started at roughly 6:15a.m and didn't really end until around 7p.m. It was inevitable that our phones would die, it was just a matter of time. Especially since we had been tweeting all day, not to mention we introduced Hearn to the world of tweeting. Our batteries were getting drained faster than a bottle of water in a desert filled with thirsty humans.
ReplyDeleteOn the way home, Bobby and I found our phones alerting us that your phone is done, it's dying, find a charger, go, run to the hills, save yourselves! You get the point. Then, Bobby's phone died and he described this feeling that we all get. He described this empty and deflating, almost lifeless feeling, you get when your phone dies. It's quite true though, once your phone dies, it's nothing, there is no use. A phone goes from one of the world's greatest inventions to a mere hunk of metal.
With all that being said, my word is entrangerment.
Entrangerment (in-trang-er-mint)- The feeling of anger and entrapment when one's phone dies.
Bobby felt pure entrangerment when his phone died today, he was angry and felt entrapped when he could no longer tweet nor text.
Every other year, my family and I go on a week and a half long vacation to the area around Bar Harbor, Maine. We stay at this little mom & pop place called the Seawall Motel where the owners are like family and each morning we wake up to a misty sunrise on the rock beach just across the road. The people we’ve met are some of the nicest in the world; everyone always seems to be in a good mood. There’s Speedbump, the owners’ cat, and George, the seagull who would always sit outside the office and greet us after we got our continental breakfast. Unfortunately, George passed away two weeks ago so we’ll never again be graced with his company. Luckily, we were able to visit him during the final summer of his short-lived life. It’s not just the motel that makes this trip what it is. It’s the cool breeze that assuages the brutality of the shining sun, it’s standing on a mountaintop and taking in the scenery below, it’s the simple beauty that very few are lucky enough to experience. Everything about this place makes you feel so…so… Ugh. I can’t think of the word. Free? Inspired? Relaxed? No…that’s not it.
ReplyDeleteSomeday, I plan on moving to Maine. Spending every second of my life breathing in that lovely, pure air is more than I could ever dream of for myself. I just wish I could find some word to describe this place accurately, something to do it justice. Hmm…
Quiphiminous (kwif-ihm-ih-nuss) adj. – unexpectedly contented, peaceful, liberated, joyful, or comfortable.
Example: Her daydreams took her to a place where, for once, she felt quiphiminous; no one could disrupt her.
To Tom: Ms. Bard sounds annoying, I’m glad that was just a dramatization. Anyway, we know this feeling all too well. Our minds and skill definitely suffer from the effects. If I had a nickel for every time I was contrapensalated…I swear I’d be about I don’t know, $10,000 richer. Regardless, I feel as though this feeling is without proper definition too, and I’m glad you made it happen with your word.
ReplyDeleteTo Olivia: I actually really enjoyed your word. It has a certain ring to it for me. Maybe because this movie immersion phenomenon occurs with me sometimes. It is just that sometimes; these movies and films captivate us on a whole different level. The characters become so vivid and relatable, and the plot just wraps itself up in our minds. There are the moments of weakness where we feel like we are a part of the movie. I never thought of describing that feeling for this blog, but I’m glad someone did.
To Matt: I don’t know If I’ve felt extreme Fuortickation before, but I’m sure it has penetrated my thoughts vaguely quite a few times. The thing is that people simply don’t care or lack interest in what is happening around them. This causes said “ignorance” and there is no way to prevent those people from feeling that way. But I do agree that it becomes annoying sometimes. But what can you do? I’m sure I’ve been so out of it that I’ve asked some stupid questions before, and I’m sure everyone has too. Such is life I guess.
Mike G- As much as I understand and get your word, you have no reason to feel that way. Knowing you gave everything you got is more than enough. What you got out of the entire experience is worth way more a title. Good job again.
ReplyDeleteBobby- Weird that you were telling me this exact story earlier and you happened to mention the exact word i was thinking of...
Matt- I am so glad that you've come up with a word for that scenario. I believe I have a perfect time that I can use it for now on.
Patrick
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely in love with the feeling behind “carkey.” I recently got my driver’s license, and it’s honestly the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I think we both share that overwhelming desire to be on the road. There’s nothing like stepping into a car, cranking up the radio, rolling down the windows, and just…driving. “Going all over creation” is exactly what I’ve always wanted to do, and having the ability to take friends and family along for the ride makes it even more satisfying.
Emily
I hate lectosis! I’m plagued with it almost every morning before school and often when I’m trying to start my homework. It’s comforting to know that I’m not the only one who often becomes so overcome with this feeling that it becomes difficult to even move. By the way, nice Latin connection!
Mimi:
Dallifortuousness is probably the only reason I haven’t become a hermit yet. People, as a whole, are immeasurably frustrating. That’s what makes finding those few people who just seem to “get” you so satisfying and relieving. I wish every person could feel a sense of dallifortuousness with every other person, but unfortunately, people (often, but not always) are narrow-minded. We can’t seem to step into each other’s shoes and appreciate the world through another person’s eyes. Life would be so much more beautiful if people just took the time to truly understand one another.
Tom: Your post made me laugh. Sometimes teachers make it too easy to contrapensalate their students. I really can't help it when I block out teachers in class, especially when I have something on my mind more interesting than limits or derivatives. Shocking right? Your word is something I'm sure all of us could relate to.
ReplyDeleteEmily: Every. Single. Freaking. Morning. Lectosis is suffered by most of the human population that has to get up early in the morning. Especially this year, it has taken me so much longer to get up in the mornings. I have to get up almost 10 minutes earlier this year which accounts for
the time it actually takes me to get up.
Ted: Your post describes everything that I'm going through right now. Dysmenticated is the perfect word. Right now, I'm feeling it. I'm overwhelmed by the homework we get and the pressure that's put on us to do well. The way I'm living right now, running on less than 6 hours of sleep a night sometimes is sickening unhealthy. I was really enjoying life without school during winter break. It took me the whole first week back to get into the swing of things again. I had become dysmenticated once again.
So, as this blog may have been extremely easy for most of you, I've had the most difficult time coming up with a word. I couldn't connect any past feelings with a made up word. My best idea was, the feeling when you drink too much (nonalcoholic :P). No word though.. I was then talking to a friend on skype about somebody, and I was saying how much I disliked them. I suddenly felt something. I couldn't think of the word I wanted to say. Instead of describing what I want to say, I stayed thinking about it. This word had to come out!! I cringed my face and put my hands on my face. I felt like I was giving birth to a child. I was giving birth to a word. I had word constipation. Wordstipation!! Hey look, another word. Twins!! So anyway, onto my real word. As my friend was thinking I finally lost it, five minutes later after shutting her up so I could think, I spit it out. Hotred. No, it's not the hatred of hoes. It's the extreme dislike of somebody that you wouldn't care if you never saw them again. The kind of people that can say one word to somebody and rip out their heart and tear it to pieces. The people that make my fingers cringe as I write this. Have anyone in mind? Can't put a word to it?
ReplyDeleteHotred.
As an overly analytical teenage boy with raging hormones and no real formula for talking to girls (despite having written an essay about it) things can get pretty disastrous when I develop a crush on a girl with whom I believe I have a chance. I stare. I stare a lot. It's bad, and it's not like I even stare at the girl, I stare through them. Then she'll notice I'm staring, my eyes will dart off to something else, she'll look away, and the phenomenon will recommence. This staring occurs as a byproduct of my lack of any sort of approach, I'm like the worlds most cautious chess player, to a fault. I will stare and stare, developing and turning down plan after plan for what to say, what to do, how to even begin. This planning stage will probably outlast my actual interest in the girl, it usually does.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm not alone (or at least I hope not), so for me and others like me, this phenomenon needs a name. Most obvious of the attempts to name it is staring, but staring carries a stigma that I think is unfair for this class of gaze which has nothing to do with the source of this stigma, and everything to do with wallowing in self-pity and fear of failure. Staring will never do. Another attempt to name this phenomenon was by the author of the webcomic Questionable Content, Jeph Jacques. He coined the phrase indie ogling to describe the actions of the main character, Marten. However indie ogling just doesn't roll of the tongue, and could therefore never become part of anyone's vernacular.
Strategaze (n) - the look a guy gives a girl when he's trying, and failing, to come up with a way to talk to her.
Strategaze is a portmanteau of strategy and gazing, strategazing captures the planning component of this phenomenon in a way indie ogling never could, and in a way that staring could never approach. Next time someone asks me what I'm staring at, I'll respond, “Not staring, strategazing” and it will be awesome, probably.
Nick- You've got the wrong Webster, sorry for being that guy who has to correct things, but the creator of Webster's dictionary was Noah Webster. Daniel Webster was a Whig party politician. Unless you were meant Daniel Webster, in which case, please carry on. As for you actual post, I'm glad I know have a word for that feeling I get when I hear the refrain of “I Can Change” by LCD Soundsystem.
ReplyDeleteAmber- I hit ctrl+F and searched for Frindle in the comments after reading the prompt, and I was not disappointed. Nostalgia and all that. Anyway, call me a nerd, but I had a bad case of flooberlae (I was flooberlaed?) when I finished the Harry Potter books. If I could hazard a guess as to the source of this feeling, I think it comes from our attachment to the characters, and the fact that when the book ends, they end too. In a way, everyone dies at the end of a book or series, because the lives that they have after the requisite “THE END” are forever unknown. They live on only in our memories.
Becca- Every mention of Bar Harbor should be required to come with a pronunciation guide, because the world needs to know that it's properly pronounced Bah Hahbah. Maine is just beautiful, some of my best memories are on visits to my cousins up there. Enough about me, more about quiphiminous. Sometimes strange things can bring about this feeling, but I think that these little moments are what keep us sane. Little things that just set off little bouts of momentary happiness keep us all from turning into maniacs and tearing the world apart.
Matt: OH MY GOODNESS I WANT TO RANT ABOUT YOUR POST SO BADLY IN ALL CAPS, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'D OFFEND SOME PEOPLE IF I DID THAT. Basically, I agree with your post like, infinity percent. I'm pretty sure Amber and Rachel have been witnesses to my ranting on this subject because people like this have a way of creeping under my skin and annoying me to the point where I want to burst. Ugh. I mean, it's half the ignorance and half the irresponsibility that bugs me to no end, I wish people would just grow up and learn how to be self-reliant. But I digress.
ReplyDeleteTom: As I was reading your first paragraph, I just kept thinking, "Mrs. Baird, Mrs. Baird, MRS. BAIRD." Your examples at the end were just icing on the cake. Oh man. I mean, is it bad that I LOVE Calc, but I cannot focus because she just drones on..? Argh. Anywho, your word is very applicable in basically every students' life because we all have one Mrs. Baird - I mean...Mrs. Bard - we have to deal with during the day.
Schuyler: I think you just described my whole entire winter break... Creepy. I hate that feeling. I feel so unproductive. I get all twitchy when I feel that way. It's the same feeling I get when I turn an assignment in late or, God forbid, not at all. *Gasp!* It's the worst, seriously. You just go into this unbreakable trance and you can't seem to snap yourself out of it...
Nick M.: IF I HAD AN ORCHAAAAAAARD, I'D WORK TILL I'M SORE. Anyway, now that that's out of the way, I'd like to say that I have felt pacificitment (hope I didn't spell that wrong) on many occasions. Modest Mouse's "Spitting Venom" tends to give me such feelings. But, I love this feeling and I thoroughly enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteCole: My exhaustrophy is often referred to as "tired high" and involves the hunger for doritos and Quentin Tarantino movies.
George: You don't get exhaustrophy because you go to sleep at 8:30 every night. Either way, I love your word because I can relate to it so well. I can't really explain it, but during those winter break swim practices I knew exactly what you mean.
So as the days go by and the drooling anxiety and colorless of this world linger on, I get the feeling that this is truly not it. We as humans, based on human nature (something I have argued with myself several times if it actually does exist) tend to, well make this castrated world happier, more blissful and more life fulfilling. However, we sometimes do antipodal tours de force. It's particularly unorthodox to me, but it never falls flat, this atmosphere is detrimental to the world. This atmosphere, let me be specific, is like that rainy colorless day in which you stand by looking out your window in the midst of a chastisement in a Stoke-on-Trent boarding school. Or the way in which you are stuck in an elevator without no one to call for help, the lingering of this lifelessness atmosphere claws at you very fiber until you forfeit, and are entranced into this monotonous complexity. This stench lingers on in your head, everything is just too doleful. From the sanity of the situation and from the temperate mood, you eventually become insane, you're traumatized for ever, or until you do some lively activity that will diverge you from this horrible situation. I hate these situations, I hate living them. They eat at your very soul, they test your limits of sanity, until you know that sanity is brunch for this animal, it will never subside, it will never retreat, it’s always there, right there, behind you, waiting for one of those days, and then insanity arrives.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I usually have to deal with these situations every weekend. During this time I'm stuck in an fallible place called home, yes home! A place I abhor so much, that every single second last a millennium due to its, and my families, jejuneness. In overall I never have a word that describes this situation. I use words like monotonous, jejune, devitalization, lackadaisical...etc to signify this strong atmosphere, however their asthenic definitions, could never wholesomely grasp the intensity in which this atmosphere/emotion holds. Thus I made a new word, which has strong Latin roots (by Latin I mean the language), CHROMEPENIA. One abstract fact about this word is that it holds no true pronunciation. Its definition is: strong deficiency in color, motion, life, vividness, vivacity and all aspects that show a lively emotion or spirit...hopelessness can also be associated with this word.
Sadly I have grown accustomed to this feeling, to this atmosphere, and now I have recently taken up the activity to take this meaningless time with more extol, hence my recent custom to dwell in the past and sometimes find a good novel or two to read. Either way, it's been a nice time, for my official first post.
"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they are okay, then it's you."
ReplyDeleteRita Mae Brown
"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity!"
Edgar Allan Poe
To Michael, I am well sad for what has happened to you today, plus I like your word. You tried your best, and that's all that matters, oh and watch this video on YouTube NOW, it's called never regret regret, I think in some way it will sooth your mind.
To Nick M, I thanks to Schuyler I have started to like American indie rock and bands like fleet fox. I used to, I still do like, British or European bands. Either way, I found your post rather amusing, and it made me laugh. I like your word, while in my opinion I think all of us have had one of those pacificitment times.
To amber, growing up as a kid with a weird accent I usually pronounce every single word wrong, that's one reason I shy away from talking a lot. Either way, I pronounce words fancy also, and without even an ounce of thought I said fluberlae the exact same way you said it. I will also like to say, that books, unlike you, do not influence me. Well not that many things influence me, for example to Cole, The ending did not affect me at all, however I'm still an emotional person but either way ehhh, good post.
We as humans tend to be incredibly selfish. We tend to put ourselves in front of others. An opinion is the first thing that came to mind while I was writing this. Recently, I'm starting to realize that I do it quite often, while not actually knowing it until the statement is said. Not exactly a good trait to have. I'm very easily irritated; when someone says something that I disagree with, I tend to immediately dislike that person or become rather annoyed by him/her. My sister falls under this category. There is not a moment in her life that she doesn't stop talking. She does anything to get under my skin. She is the most irritating person in my life and I strongly dislike her/refuse to talk to her. She drives me insane; that's an understatement.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has that sibling they dislike, but when you get pushed to the point where you're feeling...
Insazy (adj.) - A combination of "crazy" and "insane", beyond each word's singular usage.
Everyday I get this feeling of being pushed to my limit by a stupid comment, or stupid person. There are stupid people, who also ask stupid questions.
Olivia: Your word made me laugh a little bit. It reminded me of Inception, that is, unless I completely misunderstood/misread your definition. I wish I could "feel" this word.
Matt: I've noticed that whenever someone says/asks a ridiculous statement/question, you're the first one to reply with, "Uhhh, Ehhh, I'm confused." You say it in a weird voice. It's happened a few times in History. When someone does do this, no one really knows what to say. You kind of break-the-ice by saying your funny comment.
Connie: You tend to show that feeling even when you're not "utterly correct". I've noticed that you get mad in any argument. Speaking of which, you're probably going to say something to me when you realize I wrote this.
I often find myself becoming completely captured in the writing, and therefore the words, of someone else. Well, maybe it isn't the words so much as the ideas, but that's not what's important. What is, is the aching feeling consuming my body afterwards. It's me coming to terms with the fact that I will never get to interact with the author on a personal level. It's me realizing this person is always at least 30 years older than me, or, in a lot of cases, dead. It's knowing that these thoughts that I relate so well to, are unique to a single person. A person who I have no connection with. And this is it. No one in our current world is capable of having these same thoughts. I can't imagine anyone in our generation having something so substantial to say. how could they? Our society propagates de-sensitivity and stupidity and just a detachment from feelings in general. No one has the opportunity to create ideas and stories and emotions that mirror those that I find myself experiencing within myself despite my surroundings. It's in this moment, that I feel so abandoned, so lost, so forlorn and forsaken. The only people I seem to be able to relate to are worlds away from me, their words wandering ghosts I try to give life to through my own, but no one will listen. Once ignored by those I try to communicate these treasures of ideas with, the aching becomes unbearable. The aching is defined, in a single word. Ready for it? ... Extinct.
ReplyDeleteI feel Extinct. I feel as though anybody like me has been wiped out by age or conforming to modern standards of living or life in general. A prime example of natural selection. The written words fossils of these great beings. And here I am, living amongst the remains, at times questioning whether or not I'm even capable of actually living in such a way.
I am technically still living though, and so extinct doesn't seem to cut it. Foursent,is the closest I can come. It's comprised of forlorn,translucent, soul, and the feeling of being alone and wistful thinking and of not really belonging. It establishes the idea of distance. The distance between people and the even farther length between our words and even farther again, our thoughts.
ReplyDeleteMatt: I feel like I spend a majority of my time fuming with fuortickation. I probably say at least 5 times a day how much I want to punch somebody in the face, and it is usually due to them asking some completely ridiculous question that should have just stayed in their heads. The fact that it was brought into existence through thought is bad enough.
Michael: I remember running for student council president in eighth grade, and feeling what you have dubbed as “mistraught”. I haven’t thought about it in awhile, but after reading your blog I did, and the feeling was still there. My anger was more due to the fact that I really did deserve that position compared to the other candidates, especially considering all the time and effort I had put into Davies’ student council. Yeah, I think after that I wasn’t so much sad and defeated, but there was disappointment.
Patrick: I am regretful in saying that I’m not sure if I will ever experience Carkiness. I was relieved I passed the written test, only because it would have been embarrassing to fail. Other than that, the only thing that motivates me to get a license is finally being able to rely on myself for rides. Driving scares me, I don’t like the idea of being responsible for some many lives of people I don’t know. Do you know how easily I could kill someone? Just like that? In the time it took me to write this comment I could have ran into a minivan and destroyed some happy family. That would suck.
I attend the largest paintball game in the world every year in July. It lasts for about a day and a half and over three thousand players attend the seven-hundred acre territory. The game is called the Invasion of Normandy because it is a loose reenactment of D-Day, the first and one of the bloodiest battles that America initiated in Europe. I’ve gone every summer since 2009, and I much prefer playing as the Americans than the Germans. The reenactment does not take place on an actual beach, but the beach landings of Higgins boats are recreated.
ReplyDeleteWhen the ramp of the Higgins boat drops, run. Just run. There are thousands of paintballs flying in your direction at almost three hundred feet-per-second, and you have no cover in front of you. Run like you’re being chased by a hungry tiger that is engulfed in flames. Unlike the actual battle of D-Day, there are some pieces of cover on the beach for refuge, so you have a better chance of living than what is historically accurate. Also, you can reinsert after death so you can keep playing.
I’ve experienced the beach battle from the Americans’ perspective twice now, because I played as a German my first year. I had a feeling that I could not quite describe. Waiting in the boat for the ramp to drop, and then actually fighting on the beach with limited cover was indescribable. I could probably piece together several words to get my point across, but I couldn’t think of just one good one. Thanks to this blog topic, I now have a word to affiliate with my experience.
The word is petrundulation. I had experienced petrundulation both times I sped out of the mock Higgins boat. I formed this word from the roots of three different words, giving the resulting word its own special meaning. The prefix is from “petri-,” which means “fear,” and it comes from the word “petrification.” The center of the word “und” means “wave” and comes from the word “inundation.” The suffix “-ulation” I simply took from the word “stimulation.” With all of these roots I can clearly define what my creation means:
Petrundulation (noun) – The combined feelings of fear, inundation, and adrenaline-inducing excitement.
Other conjugations include: petrundulate, petrundulated, and petrundulating.
Yes, I did click on the “add to dictionary” option every time I typed a new form of the word. Since I am the creator of the word and it has not yet been used in the public, a connotation has yet to be established. I’m hoping for a mainly positive connotation, because the word “excited” in the definition can be either positive or negative, but I’m sure a negative connotation will catch on almost immediately. My experience of petrundulation was a positive one, but most cases will probably end up negative. If you’ve ever experienced stage fright, for instance, but the phrase “stage fright” didn’t quite describe its profoundness, then petrundulation may be the word you were looking for. Or if you wake up tied to a chair and the television in front of you begins to play a tape of the Jigsaw Killer, then you may have the feeling of petrundulation. I guess “petrundulate” could also be an adjective form that means afraid, overwhelmed, and excited. And just for good measure, a “petrundulator” is one who petrundulates.
To Tom: I’m glad you’ve created the word “contrapensalate” because it describes the thoughts of anyone who has class with “Mrs. Bard.” I think your word is most useful and we should probably use that word from now on. I’m up for it. I thought it was cool how you “didn’t” use names based on real people. No, not cool… I meant awesome. Well, it was great. DAMN.
ReplyDeleteTo Cole: I have also had those moments where I felt exhaustrophy. Unfortunately those moments were not fun moments of hanging out with friends. Exhaustrophy sounds like a combination of exhaustion and atrophy, which is a pretty funny yet sobering combination. I like staying up late with friends, but that feeling isn’t worth it for me.
To Mikey Black: I think your word “hotred” is creative, but I’m slightly dismayed by its close association to the word “hatred.” Such a nasty word, it is. You post overall was decent but it was sort of lacking length. I don’t think Bunje will show you mercy, even if you had a difficult time thinking of a word.