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The Phrontistery 

The Phrontistery
Uncommonly Used & Foreign Words

Zenosyne

The sense that time appears to be moving faster and faster--especially as one grows older--speeding towards the inevitable conclusion that will arrive unexpectedly soon.

Selcouth

unfamiliar, rare, strange yet marvelous

Duende

the mysterious power of art to deeply move a person (pronounced dwen-day)

Brontide

the low rumble of a distant thunder

Astrophilia

rare love of or obsession with planets, stars, and outer space

Akrasia

lack of self control

Whelve

to bury something deep; to hide

Monachopsis

the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place

Philocalist

a lover of beauty; someone who finds and appreciates beauty in all things.

Vorfreude

the joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures

Novaturient

desiring or seeking powerful change in one’s life, behavior or situation

Chthonic

of or relating to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth. 

Solivagant

one who wanders alone

Orphic

mysterious and entrancing beyond ordinary understanding.

Moonglade

the track of moonlight on water

Redamancy

the act of loving the one who loves you; a love returned in full

Arcadian

idyllically innocent; simple and untroubled by fear or worry

Sturmfrei

the freedom of being alone; the ability to do what you want

Apodyopsis

the act of mentally undressing someone

Nekama

a very good friend or comrade that one considers as family even if they’re not necessarily related

Cynefin

a place where a person or animal feels it ought to live and belong; it is where nature around you feels right and welcoming

Lorn

lost, ruined and undone

Sciamachy

a battle against imaginary enemies; fighting your shadow

Gainsay

to deny, dispute, or contradict

Belle ame

a beautiful soul

Ataraxia

a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; tranquility

Munificence

the quality of being very generous

Paralipsis

the suggestion, by deliberately concise treatment of a topic, that much of significance is being omitted, as in “not to mention other faults”

Beamish

bright, cheerful and optimistic

Peripeteia

a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances; the point of no return

Peiskos

the feeling you get when you sit in from of a fireplace and enjoy its warmth

Bravura

a display of daring, brilliant performance

Velleity

a wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action

Oenomel

something combining strength with sweetness

Aliferous

having wings

Psithurism

the sound of the wind through trees

Kairos

the perfect, delicate, crucial moment; the fleeting rightness of time and place that creates the opportune atmosphere for action, words or movement

Querencia

a place where one feels safe, a place from which one’s strength of character is drawn

Anemoia

nostalgia for a time you’ve never known

Metanoia

the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self and way of life; spiritual concersion

Scintilla

a tiny brilliant flash or spark; a small thing – barely visible

Mizpah

the deep emotional bond between people, esp. those separated by distance or death

Yugen

a profound awareness of the universe that triggers feelings too deep and mysterious for words

Orenda

a mystical force present in all people that empowers them to affect the world or to effect changes in their own lives

Zemblanity

the inevitable discovery of what we would rather not know; the opposite of serendipity

Chrysalism

the amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm

Adronitis

frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone

Atelophobia

the fear of imperfection. The fear of never being good enough

Rcherche

carefully chosen, rare or exotic

Ukiyo

living in the moment; detached from the bothers of life

Woolgather

indulge in aimless thoughts or daydream

French Word:
d'occasion

secondhand

French Word:
etudier

to study

French Word:
isoler 

to insulate

French Word:
l'aube 

dawn

French Word
le terroir

region

German Word
Gluck

happiness

German Word
benutzen

use

German Word
schwierig;
sehr schwierig

difficult;

very difficult

German Word
Ausdruck

 

expression

Italian Word
guadagnare

 

to earn

Italian Word
L'opera

 

work

Sympatric

occurring in the same geographical area

Enouement

the bittersweetness of having arrived in the future, seeing how things turned out, but not being able to tell your past self

Ellipsism

a sadness that you’ll never be able to know how history turned out

Liberosis

the desire to care less about things

Ennui

feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement

Saudade

a nostalgic longing to be near again to someone or something that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost “the love that remains”

felix culpa

an error or disaster that has fortunate consequences

French Word:  les frites

Fries

French Word:
rapprochement

an establishment or reestablishment  of harmonious relations

French Word:
autrement

otherwise

French Word:
le brevet de colleges 

high school diploma

French Word
le-faux semblant

pretender

French Word
ringard

old fashioned

German Word
morgen

tomorrow

German Word
lachen

laugh

German Word
einfach

easy

German Word
wenigstens

 

at least

Italian Word
risparmiare

 

to save

Italian Word
superare

 

to pass 

Sinisterity

Left-handedness; 

skillfulness in the use of the left hand;

awkwardness or clumsiness; 

evilness; unluckiness

Kenopsia

the eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that is usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet

Kuebiko

a state of exhaustion brought about by acts of senseless violence

Stravage

to wander aimlessly

Quixotic

extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

Toska

a dull ache of the soul; a sick pining; a spiritual anguish

janus-faced

looking in two different directions;

hypocritical or deceitful 

French Word:  rêvasser

to daydream

French Word:
maussade

gloomy

French Word:
se la couler douce 

to take it easy

French Word:
montrer 

to show

French Word
faire semblant

to fake

French Word
le balbutiement

muttering

German Word
gestern

yesterday

German Word
klein

small

German Word
Guten Tag

good afternoon

Italian Word
II tramonto

 

sunset

Italian Word
L'uccello

bird

Fernweh

an ache for distant places; the craving for travel

Jouska

a hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head

Exulansis

the tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because you know people cannot relate to it

Sangfroid

composure or coolness shown under trying circumstances

Yonderly

mentally or emotionally distant; absent-minded

Viridity

naïve innocence

Sweven

a vision; a dream

French Word:
parlementer

to negotiate

French Word:
salutaire

beneficial

French Word:
cheveux en bataille 

messy hair

French Word:
faire l'école buissonnière 

to play hooky

French Word
affronter

confront

German Word
danke

thank you

German Word
sekunde

second

German Word
schon

beautiful

German Word
die Abwesenheit

 

absence

German Word
heimlich

 

secretly

Italian Word
mulatto

ill

Educational Words

Italian Word
svegliare