tedtalk

Definition: Toska (Russian)

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Toska

[ pronounced TOSka ]

Russian word for a longing with nothing to long for. A feeling of maddening dissatisfaction, said to blow in from the great plains.

  • From the TEDTalk below (at about 5:30), by Tiffany Watt Smith, which includes a bunch of emotions where there are no words in English, but which you may well have experienced, but never had one single word to describe them! Or which you may go out and try to see if you can conjure up the feeling from hints in its definition for where and/or under what conditions one might experience it.

 

Under Communism and/or those long and cold Russian winters, I can see from where this most depressing of words might have originated! Might qualify for the most depressing word I know, at least to describe feelings of sadness.

Definition: Accidie (Ancient)

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Accidie

[ pronounced Assidee or aCEEdia ]
Word from early days of Christianity among those living in the desert, describing a feeling of lethargy and despair (like after lunch sluggishness), caused by demons who came out to infect them at lunch time.

  • From the TEDTalk below (at about 4:50), by Tiffany Watt Smith, which includes a bunch of emotions where there are no words in English, but which you may well have experienced, but never had one single word to describe them! Or which you may go out and try to see if you can conjure up the feeling from hints in its definition for where and/or under what conditions one might experience it.

 

This one is also common enough to use in everyday life to describe how you’re feeling, after lunch on work days probably, to remember easily through repetition.

Definition: Basorexia

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Basorexia

[ pronounced BAsoREXia ]
The sudden urge to kiss someone.

  • From the TEDTalk below (at about 2:28), by Tiffany Watt Smith, which includes a bunch of emotions where there are no words in English, but which you may well have experienced, but never had one single word to describe them! Or which you may go out and try to see if you can conjure up the feeling from hints in its definition for where and/or under what conditions one might experience it.

 

In today’s culture with sexual assault, this isn’t a light-hearted word it once was. However, it does exist for some, mischief or seriously wrong, or potentially abused as an excuse.

Definition: Gezellegheid (Dutch)

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Gezellegheid

[ pronounced geZELeHed ]
Dutch word to describe a feeling of snug in a homely place with friends.

  • From the TEDTalk below (at about 2:13), by Tiffany Watt Smith, which includes a bunch of emotions where there are no words in English, but which you may well have experienced, but never had one single word to describe them! Or which you may go out and try to see if you can conjure up the feeling from hints in its definition for where and/or under what conditions one might experience it.

Definition: Ilinx (French)

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Ilinx

[ pronounced IL-links ]
French word to describe a feeling of strange excitement from destruction, especially minor acts of chaos caused by you out of mischief rather than anything destructive, big or small, caused by others.

  • From the TEDTalk below (about 2:00 in), by Tiffany Watt Smith, which includes a bunch of emotions where there are no words in English, but which you may well have experienced, but never had one single word to describe them! Or which you may go out and try to see if you can conjure up the feeling from hints in its definition for where and/or under what conditions one might experience it.

 

This feeling is a fun one to create any time you need a little spark in life! 🙂