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The Phrontistery 

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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

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Bravura

a display of daring, brilliant performance

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Velleity

a wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action

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Oenomel

something combining strength with sweetness

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Aliferous

having wings

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Psithurism

the sound of the wind through trees

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Kairos

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

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Querencia

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

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Anemoia

nostalgia for a time you’ve never known

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Metanoia

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

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Scintilla

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

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Mizpah

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

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Yugen

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

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Orenda

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

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Zemblanity

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

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Chrysalism

the amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm

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Adronitis

frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone

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Atelophobia

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

Rcherche

carefully chosen, rare or exotic

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Ukiyo

living in the moment; detached from the bothers of life

Woolgather

indulge in aimless thoughts or daydream

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French Word:
d'occasion

secondhand

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French Word:
etudier

to study

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French Word:
isoler 

to insulate

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French Word:
l'aube 

dawn

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French Word
le terroir

region

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German Word
Gluck

happiness

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German Word
benutzen

use

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German Word
schwierig;
sehr schwierig

difficult;

very difficult

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German Word
Ausdruck

 

expression

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Italian Word
guadagnare

 

to earn

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Italian Word
L'opera

 

work

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Sympatric

occurring in the same geographical area

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Enouement

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

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Ellipsism

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

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Liberosis

the desire to care less about things

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Ennui

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

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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”

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felix culpa

an error or disaster that has fortunate consequences

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French Word:  les frites

Fries

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French Word:
rapprochement

an establishment or reestablishment  of harmonious relations

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French Word:
autrement

otherwise

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French Word:
le brevet de colleges 

high school diploma

French Word
le-faux semblant

pretender

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French Word
ringard

old fashioned

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German Word
morgen

tomorrow

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German Word
lachen

laugh

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German Word
einfach

easy

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German Word
wenigstens

 

at least

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Italian Word
risparmiare

 

to save

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Italian Word
superare

 

to pass 

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Sinisterity

Left-handedness; 

skillfulness in the use of the left hand;

awkwardness or clumsiness; 

evilness; unluckiness

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Kenopsia

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

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Kuebiko

a state of exhaustion brought about by acts of senseless violence

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Stravage

to wander aimlessly

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Quixotic

extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

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Toska

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

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janus-faced

looking in two different directions;

hypocritical or deceitful 

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French Word:  rêvasser

to daydream

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French Word:
maussade

gloomy

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French Word:
se la couler douce 

to take it easy

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French Word:
montrer 

to show

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French Word
faire semblant

to fake

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French Word
le balbutiement

muttering

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German Word
gestern

yesterday

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German Word
klein

small

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German Word
Guten Tag

good afternoon

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Italian Word
II tramonto

 

sunset

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Italian Word
L'uccello

bird

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Fernweh

an ache for distant places; the craving for travel

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Jouska

a hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head

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Exulansis

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

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Sangfroid

composure or coolness shown under trying circumstances

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Yonderly

mentally or emotionally distant; absent-minded

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Viridity

naïve innocence

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Sweven

a vision; a dream

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French Word:
parlementer

to negotiate

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French Word:
salutaire

beneficial

French Word:
cheveux en bataille 

messy hair

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French Word:
faire l'école buissonnière 

to play hooky

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French Word
affronter

confront

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German Word
danke

thank you

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German Word
sekunde

second

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German Word
schon

beautiful

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German Word
die Abwesenheit

 

absence

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German Word
heimlich

 

secretly

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Italian Word
mulatto

ill

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Educational Words

Italian Word
svegliare

to wake up

Italian Word
tirare

to pull

Italian Word
questione

matter

Italian Word
nuovo

new

Italian Word
polvere

dust

Italian Word
Il pomeriggio

the afternoon

Italian Word
brevemente

briefly

Italian Word
Il guaio

trouble

Italian Word
piangere

to cry

Italian Word
mondiale

worldwide

Italian Phrase
Buona mattina

Good Morning

Italian Word
dappertutto

everywhere

Italian Phrase
Sono stanco

I'm tired

Italian Word
la tassa di

the fee of 
or 
tax

Italian Phrase
ci vediamo dopo

see you later

Italian Phrase
Ho fame

I'm hungry

Italian Phrase
Ciao, buona notte, ci vediamo, domani!

Bye, goodnight, see you tomorrow

Italian Phrase
piacere di conoscerti

nice to meet you

Italian Phrase
ho bisogno di aiuto

need help

Italian Phrase
Ciao, mi chiamo Matteo

Hello, my name is Matteo

Italian Phrase
non mi sento bene

I don't feel well

French Phrase
je ne me sens pas bien

I don't feel well

French Phrase
comment allez vous

How are you doing?

French Phrase
pouvez-vous m'aider avec les directions

Can you help me with directions?

French Phrase
J'ai faim

I'm hungry

French Phrase
Je' m'appelle

My name is

French Phrase
ou est la gare

Where is the train station?

French Phrase
je te verrai demain

I'll see you tomorrow

French Phrase
ou est l'hopital les plus proche

Where is the nearest hospital?

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