insensitive

insensitive (comparative more insensitive, superlative most insensitive)

more insensitive (comparative)
most insensitive (superlative)

Expressing or feeling little or no concern, care, compassion, or consideration for the feelings, emotions, sentiments, or concerns of other people; inconsiderate or incompassionate

It is something like the way dame Nature gathers round a foreign body an envelope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm by contact.

1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, New York, N.Y.: Modern Library, →OCLC:

1895, Grant Allen, The British Barbarians
Somehow, when Bertram Ingledew let it once be felt he did not wish to be questioned on any particular point, even women managed to restrain their curiosity: and he would have been either a very bold or a very insensitive man who would have ventured to continue questioning him any further.

Oh I really should have known by the time you drove me home, / By the vagueness in your eyes, your casual good-byes, / By the chill in your embrace and the expression on your face, / That told me you might have some advice to give / On how to be insensitive.

Not expressing normal emotional feelings; cold; tactless; undiplomatic

безчувствен

not having normal emotional feelings, cold, tactless, undiplomatic


limerence

en-noun

limerence (countable and uncountable, plural limerences)

From arbitrary first element + -ence. Coined by American psychologist Dorothy Tennov in 1979 as an arbitrary euphonious replacement or alteration of amorance.

coin

I first used the term ‘amorance’ then changed it back to ‘limerence’ […]. It has no roots whatsoever. It looks nice. It works well in French. Take it from me it has no etymology whatsoever.

1977 September 11, Dorothy Tennov, The Observer:

When someone is under the spell of limerence, not even being rejected dampens down the madness.

2003 December 14, Andrew G Marshall, The Observer:

But limerence, lovely as it feels, is a time-limited event—it lasts about five years for most couples.

2010, Alyson Schafer, Breaking the Good mom Myth:

Limerence is a state of overwhelming and unexpected longing for emotional reciprocation from another human, known as a limerent object (LO), who is often perceived as perfect but unavailable.

2024 January 27, Amanda McCracken, The New York Times:

(psychology) An involuntary romantic infatuation with another person, especially combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated.


abasiophilia

From abasia (“inability to walk”) + -philia.

An overpowering sexual attraction to people who use orthopaedic appliances such as leg-braces, spinal braces, plaster or fibreglass orthopedic casts, or wheelchairs.


sweet nothings

en-noun

sweet nothings pl (normally plural, singular sweet nothing)

Hearing such words as these, in the sweetest, tenderest voice that ever caressed a lover's senses, Basil knew not how to word all that was in his heart. . . . Side by side, forgetful of all but their recovered peace, they talked sweet nothings.

1904, George Gissing, chapter 28, in Veranilda:

[T]he facts, to make matters worse, were made public with the usual affectionate letters that passed between them, full of sweet nothings.

1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 16]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

It is difficult to know how accurate this portrait is, and how much of it consists of sweet nothings whispered into the author's ear by loyal retainers.

2004 April 25, Joe Klein, “Does Bush Really Get Us?”, in Time, archived from the original on 2010-11-03:

(idiomatic) Insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo, or seduce.

甜蜜情話

insubstantial or romantic words that are only meant to flatter, woo or seduce


androphilia

A love of or sexual attraction to men or masculinity.


androphile

One who is attracted to masculinity or to men.


unenthusiastic

en-adj

unenthusiastic (comparative more unenthusiastic, superlative most unenthusiastic)

more unenthusiastic (comparative)
most unenthusiastic (superlative)


acedia

Boredom; a melancholy leading to desperation.


pissy

pissy (comparative pissier, superlative pissiest)

pissier (comparative)
pissiest (superlative)

Stop being pissy: you knew what I meant when I said "Don't touch the dial", but you prodded the dial with a fork.

Anal retentive, whinging and pernickety.

Annoyed; angry; in a bad mood; pissed off.


Plutonian

Plutonian (comparative more Plutonian, superlative most Plutonian)

more Plutonian (comparative)
most Plutonian (superlative)

The adjective is derived from Latin Plūtōnius (“of or relating to Pluto, Greek and Roman god of the underworld”) + -an (suffix forming adjectives). Plūtōnius is from Ancient Greek Πλουτώνιος (Ploutṓnios, “of or relating to Pluto”), from Πλούτων (Ploútōn, “Pluto”) (from πλοῦτος (ploûtos, “riches, wealth”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *plew- (“to fly; to flow; to run”)) + -ων (-ōn)) + -ιος (-ios, suffix forming adjectives). The English word is cognate with Middle French plutonien (modern French plutonien). The noun is derived from the adjective.

plutonien

of, pertaining to, or supporting plutonism — see also Plutonic

[…] he through the midſt unmarkt, / In ſhew Plebeian Angel militant / Of loweſt order, paſt; and from the dore / Of that Plutonian Hall, inviſible / Aſcended his high Throne, […]

1674, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Simmons […], →OCLC, page 264:

["]Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore— / Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" / Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

1845 February, — Quarles [pseudonym; Edgar Allan Poe], “The Raven”, in The American Review, volume I, number II, New York, N.Y., London: Wiley & Putnam, […], →OCLC, page 144:

You rise by candle-light or gaslight, swearing / There never was a climate made like ours; / If rashly you go out to take an airing, / The soot-flakes come in black Plutonian show'rs.

1882 December 30, “A London Fog”, in Punch, or The London Charivari, volume 83, London: Published at the office, 85, Fleet Street, →OCLC, page 301, column 1:

Cotopaxi is striking not only because it looks like a science fiction conception of another planet; it also is the least realistic among [Frederic Edwin] Church's paintings of the area. […] Below the fiery sun is a lake with a barren shore. As such, the sun hangs over a Plutonian landscape.

2008, Rodrigo Lazo, “The Ends of Enchantment: Douglass, Melville, and U.S. Expansionism in the Americas”, in Robert S[teven] Levine, Samuel Otter, editors, Frederick Douglass & Herman Melville: Essays in Relation, Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, →ISBN, part I (Literary and Cultural Geographies), page 210:

(Greek mythology, Roman mythology) Of or relating to Pluto, the Greek and Roman god of the underworld; demonic, infernal.

Plutoniin liittyvä

of or relating to Pluto, the Greek and Roman god of the underworld


Plutonian

From Pluto (“dwarf planet in the Solar System”) + -n- + -ian (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘from, related to, or like’, or nouns meaning ‘one belonging to, relating to, or like’), probably influenced by Plutonian (“of or relating to Pluto, Greek and Roman god of the underworld”) (see etymology 1).

affix

Another and perhaps more Plutonian view of this would be that David's bondage to his mother and the codes of behaviour which she set for him had extended throughout his life, in both profes[s]ional and personal spheres; and that bondage now had an opportunity of loosening, with all the attendant consequences.

1985, Liz Greene, “Fate and Synchronicity”, in The Astrology of Fate, Boston, Mass.: Weiser Books, Red Wheel/Weiser, →ISBN, page 293:

The notion of toxicity is a useful one in our effort to understand the further implications of Pluto in the USA chart. [...] Factor in what we have learned about the second house and we get another meaning of waste, related but distinctly more Plutonian: debris that poses an elimination problem once its value has been used up.

2006 October 6, Jessica Murray, “Power Madness: Pluto and American Hegemony”, in Soul-sick Nation: An Astrologer’s View of America, Bloomington, Ind., Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 41:

(astrology) Pertaining to the astrological influence of Pluto, formerly regarded as a planet.

Plutoon liittyvä

pertaining to the astrological influence of Pluto, formerly regarded as a planet

Burl studied the captured Plutonian hand weapons, and was pleased to have one of the Neptunian soldiers pick one up and demonstrate how it was fired. It had apparently simpler controls than most Plutonian products, for it easily blazed forth a bolt of electronic fire that blasted a tall, crystalline tree to shards.

1959, Donald A[llen] Wollheim, “The Museum of Galactic Life”, in Cecile Matschat, editor, The Secret of the Ninth Planet (A Science Fiction Novel), Philadelphia, Pa.: John C. Winston Co., →OCLC; republished in The Tom Corbett, Space Cadet Megapack, [Rockville, Md.]: Wildside Press, 2012, →ISBN:

Roure did not carry his work to completion. He derived only four intermediate orbits of Pluto for the combinations of Pluto and the four outer planets, and determined the inequalities in the Plutonian motion under the effect of Neptune which are dependent on the first degree of Plutonian eccentricity and inclination.

1969 January, Sh. G. Sharaf, “Introduction”, in Theory of Motion of the Planet Pluto: Part One. Plutonian Perturbations of the First Order with Respect to Perturbing Masses: […] (NASA Technical Translations; NASA TT F-490), Washington, D.C.: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, →OCLC, page 4:

[Gerard] Kuiper (1944) searched for spectroscopic evidence of an atmosphere around Pluto as part of the same program that discovered CH₄ on Titan. Because of the difficulty of observing an object as faint as Pluto, no useful results were obtained; however, Kuiper presented arguments in favor of a Plutonian atmosphere based on the stability of the atmosphere against loss to space.

1997, Roger V. Yelle, James L[udlow] Elliot, “Atmospheric Structure and Composition: Pluto and Charon”, in S[ol] Alan Stern, David J[ames] Tholen, editors, Pluto and Charon (Space Science series), Tucson, Ariz.: University of Arizona Press, →ISBN, part IV (Atmospheres), page 347:

[James Walter] Christy also knew that 6.39 days is the exact period of time that it takes Pluto to make one complete turn around its axis—the length of a Plutonian day.

2010, Kristi Lew, “Pluto’s Structure and Features”, in Karen Ang, editor, The Dwarf Planet Pluto (Space!), Tarrytown, N.Y.: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, →ISBN, page 31:

(astronomy) Of or relating to the dwarf planet Pluto.

plutondar

of or relating to the dwarf planet Pluto


Plutonian

If you are a Plutonian and some of these traits emphatically do not fit you, just let them go and take what is helpful and descriptive of you personally. What will be given is a composite picture, based on working with a great many Plutonians over the years. Plutonians who are negatively inclined are often very guarded and rigid, afraid to let others get close. [...] There are Plutonians who operate predominantly on the positive level—healing, transforming, transmuting themselves and those around them.

1986, Donna Cunningham, “The Personality and Character of the Plutonian”, in Healing Pluto Problems, Boston, Mass.: Weiser Books, Red Wheel/Weiser, →ISBN, page 28:

(astrology) A person under the astrological influence of Pluto, formerly regarded as a planet.

The Plutonians, who are almost extinct, once held a superscience that they have largely lost. Early Plutonian visits to Earth survived in folk memory as the devil, since Plutonians are gigantic, with horns, hooves, and tail.

1998, Everett F[ranklin] Bleiler, Richard Bleiler, “[Story Descriptions.] 1423. THE EARTHMAN’S BURDEN. Astounding Stories, June 1931, Ill. Paul.”, in Science-Fiction: The Gernsback Years: A Complete Coverage of the Genre Magazines Amazing, Astounding, Wonder, and Others from 1926 through 1936, Kent, Oh., London: Kent State University Press, →ISBN, page 409, column 1:

(chiefly science fiction) An inhabitant of the dwarf planet Pluto.


gutless

No, you lied to me. You lied to me because you're gutless. You're a gutless drunken loser.

1996, Eric Bogosian, SubUrbia (motion picture), spoken by Jeff (Giovanni Ribisi):

(informal) Cowardly; lacking courage or morals.


uplifting

en-adj

uplifting (comparative more uplifting, superlative most uplifting)

more uplifting (comparative)
most uplifting (superlative)

Listening to whalesong can be very uplifting.

Improving the mood; causing cheerfulness.


sele

en-noun

sele (countable and uncountable, plural seles)

From Middle English sele (“happiness, good fortune, bliss; an occasion, period of time”), from Old English sǣl (“time, occasion, an opportune time, opportunity, happiness, prosperity, good times”), from Proto-West Germanic *sālī, from Proto-Germanic *sēliz. Related to silly.

inh

(obsolete or dialectal) Happiness, fortune.


aviophobia

Possibly from French avion (“airplane”) + -phobia

I'd love to come and visit you but aviophobia means that it'd have to be by boat, and that just takes too long!


ornithophobia

/ˌɔɹnɪθəˈfoʊbiə/

/ˌɔːnɪθəˈfəʊbɪə/


soulmate

From soul + mate. First attested as soul-mate in a 1822 letter by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Not in common usage before the 1980s.

Finding your wonderful soulmate is very similar to the process of sowing a seed and nurturing it into a beautiful blossoming plant.

2012, Ulli Springett, Tara Springett, Soulmate Relationships: How to find, keep and understand your perfect partner, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

I'm all over the place, I can't sit in one place / I'm not ashamed at all / Still findin' myself, let alone a soulmate, I'm just sayin'

2015, “Jungle”, in If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, performed by Drake:

Someone, especially a romantic partner, with whom one is exceptionally or uniquely compatible or has a special, almost spiritual connection.

сродна душа

Someone with whom one has a special connection

運命の人 (unmei no hito, literally “person of fate”)

赤い糸で結ばれた相手 (akai ito de musubareta aite, literally “partner bound by the red string (of fate)”)


enamored

en-adj

enamored (comparative more enamored, superlative most enamored)

more enamored (comparative)
most enamored (superlative)

Inherited from Middle English enamoured, a partial calque of Old French enamore, past participle of enamorer, enamourer; compare amour and enamor, enamour.

She's enamored of [or with] her new boyfriend.

During the 1980s, its vivid streetlife became a symbol of the “consumer socialism” that distinguished Hungary from other Eastern Bloc states, but Budapesters today are rather less enamoured of Váci: dressed-to-kill babes and their sugar daddies would rather pose in malls, and teenagers can find McDonald's anywhere, leaving Váci utterly dependent on tourists for its livelihood and bustle.

2002, Charles Hebbert, Dan Richardson, The Rough Guide to Budapest, 2nd edition, London: Rough Guides, →ISBN, page 73:


bubble bath

en-noun

bubble bath (countable and uncountable, plural bubble baths)

A bath in which an additive is poured directly into the water that creates bubbles; a foam bath.

泡泡浴

bath in which an additive is poured into the water to create bubbles

A soap-based product to be added to a bath to create bubbles.

Are you having a bubble bath?!

Cockney rhyming slang
Cockney rhyming slang


cower

en-verb

cower (third-person singular simple present cowers, present participle cowering, simple past and past participle cowered)

cowers (present singular third-person)
cowering (participle present)
cowered (participle past)
cowered (past)

From Middle English couren, cowre, from Middle Low German kûren (“to lie in wait; linger”) or from North Germanic (Icelandic kúra (“to doze”)). Cognate with German kauern (“to squat”), Dutch koeren (“to keep watch (in a cowered position)”), Serbo-Croatian kutriti (“to lie in a bent position”), Swedish kura (“huddle, cower”). Unrelated to coward, which is of Latin origin.

cog

He'd be useless in war. He'd just cower in his bunker until the enemy came in and shot him, or until the war was over.

Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire.

1700, John Dryden, "The Cock and the Fox", in Fables, Ancient and Modern, published March 1700

(intransitive) To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.


loveless

en-adj

loveless (comparative more loveless, superlative most loveless)

more loveless (comparative)
most loveless (superlative)

From Middle English loveles; equivalent to love + -less.

Theirs was a loveless marriage: they stayed together even though they didn't care for each other.


Islamophilia

(sometimes derogatory) Love or admiration of (the values of) Islam or of Islamic civilization.


gutless wonder

What in the hell was wrong with him, anyway. Just a gutless wonder - nothing more or less.

1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XII, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 125:

Yer can't even fight unless you've got a knife or picket or broken bottle, yer gutless wonder.

(slang, derogatory, idiomatic) One who lacks guts or courage; a coward.


schadenfreude

en-noun

schadenfreude (usually uncountable, plural schadenfreudes)

/ˈʃɑː.dən.fɹɔɪ.də/

/ˈʃɑː.dən.fɹɔɪd/

Unadapted borrowing from German Schadenfreude (“joy in the misfortune of others”), from Schaden (“damage, misfortune”) + Freude (“joy”). The word gained popularity in English in the late 20th c. and likely entered mainstream usage through an episode of The Simpsons (more in citations).

ubor

But it is Schadenfreude, a mischievous delight in the misfortunes of others, which remains the worst trait in human nature.

1897, “Human Nature”, in Thomas Bailey Saunders, transl., The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer, translation of original by Arthur Schopenhauer:

Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune.

leedvermaak

malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune


nosophilia

Sexual arousal from knowing that a partner has a terminal illness


gallow

en-verb

gallow (third-person singular simple present gallows, present participle gallowing, simple past and past participle gallowed)

gallows (present singular third-person)
gallowing (participle present)
gallowed (participle past)
gallowed (past)

From Middle English *galowen (attested in begalewen (“to begallow”)), from Old English *gælwian (attested in āgælwed (“astonished; disconcerted”)).

The wrathful skies / Gallow the very wanderers of the dark / And make them keep their caves.

c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:


red mist

the red mists of the morning

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see red, mist.

What was that tackle about? The red mist still descends on Beckham occasionally.

On the face of it, this appears to have fit into a pattern that seems familiar with Vettel's errors in recent times. In stressed moments, a sort of red mist seems to descend that reduces his capacity for rational thinking.

2019 September 8, Andrew Benson, BBC Sport:

In that little office, seated before that wretched Do No Bend envelope, the red mist came down, and it wasn't a mist, it was a torrent.

2023, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Spare, Penguin Random House, →ISBN:

(figurative) Uncontrollable rage, anger sufficient to stop clear thinking.


heartbroken

en-adj

heartbroken (comparative more heartbroken, superlative most heartbroken)

more heartbroken (comparative)
most heartbroken (superlative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-heartbroken.wav

When he told me he didn't want to see me anymore, I was heartbroken.

Suffering from grief, especially after a failed romance.


cackle

en-verb

cackle (third-person singular simple present cackles, present participle cackling, simple past and past participle cackled)

cackles (present singular third-person)
cackling (participle present)
cackled (participle past)
cackled (past)

From Middle English caclen, cakelen, perhaps from Old English *caclian, *cacolian, from Proto-West Germanic *kakulōn, *kakilōn (“to cackle, gaggle, yelp, snarl”), perhaps of imitative origin.
Compare Dutch kakelen (“to cackle”), German Low German kakeln (“to cackle”), German kakeln (“to blather”), Danish kagle (“to cackle”), Swedish kackla (“to cackle”). Compare also Old English cahhetan, ċeahhettan (“to laugh loudly; cackle”), German gackern (“to cackle”).

onomatopoeic

imitative

When every goose is cackling.

c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

I heard a grey hen cackling among the ling; I called and thought, "If I could get a sight of you now, it would be your last cackle;" just then I heard something moving behind me on the path.

1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 28:

(intransitive) To make a sharp, broken noise or cry, as a hen or goose does.

крякам

to make a sharp, broken noise or cry, as a hen or goose does


menophobia

Until her courageous effort, Sheehy suggests, menopause was a word seldom uttered aloud, certainly not in mixed company. She attributes this silence to "menophobia," fear of menopause.

1992 May 14, Bettyann Kevles, book review, Los Angeles Times:

Therefore, in this book, we have chosen to talk not just about menopause, but about independent, intelligent, menophobia-free aging — aging with dignity.

1995, Patricia J. Richter, Roger Duvivier, Midlife, Madness, or Menopause: Does Anyone Know What's Normal?, Chronimed Publishing, →ISBN, page 1:

Though some women fall prey to "menophobia" and shun any female over thirty, most women enjoy increased sisterhood in midlife and are nourished by being comrades in the passage through perimenopause.

2000, Kathleen J. Greider, “Perimenopause and Other Midlife Opportunities”, in In Her Own Time: Women and Developmental Issues in Pastoral Care, Augsburg Fortress, →ISBN, page 204:


chirpy

en-adj

chirpy (comparative chirpier, superlative chirpiest)

chirpier (comparative)
chirpiest (superlative)

He's surprisingly chirpy for someone who just lost his father.

Judging by the new voice over the PA, we've had a crew change in Plymouth - the warning about masks and the apology for lack of catering is made in a chirpy Cockney twang rather than a West Country burr.

2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 65:


chirpy

An electronic device which uses a piezoelectric transducer to make chirping noise, often designed to be hidden and function as an annoyance

Specifically, a version of the above designed to be thrown for placement. Similar to a throwie.


doleful

doleful (comparative more doleful or dolefuller or dolefuler, superlative most doleful or dolefullest or dolefulest)

more doleful (comparative)
dolefuller (comparative)
dolefuler (comparative)
most doleful (superlative)
dolefullest (superlative)
dolefulest (superlative)

From Middle English doleful, doolful, deolful, equivalent to dole + -ful.

The doleful peal of the bell indicated another funeral was being held.

A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, / As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames / No light; but rather darkness visible / Served only to discover sights of woe, / Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace / And rest can never dwell, hope never comes / That comes to all, but torture without end / Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed / With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed.

1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 61–69:

O King this is very doleful. It is told that that traveller came at last to the utter End and there was a mighty gulf, and in the darkness at the bottom of the gulf one small god crept, no bigger than a hare, whose voice came crying in the cold: “I know not.” And beyond the gulf was nought, only the small god crying.

1906, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], Time and the Gods, London: William Heineman, →OCLC, page 55:

“We face a doleful future,” said Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, a former president of the National Academy of Medicine.

2020 April 18, Donald G. McNeil Jr., “The Coronavirus in America: The Year Ahead”, in New York Times:

Filled with grief, mournful, bringing feelings of sadness.


mulligrubs

From 16th century. Origin unknown. Perhaps based on mull (“dirt”) + grub.

(regional) low spirits, mild depression, the blues


hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

/hɛks.ə.ˌkəʊ.si.ɔɪ.hɛks.ˌɛk.ən.tə.ˌhɛks.ə.ˈfəʊ.bi.ə/

Ancient Greek ἑξακόσιοι (hexakósioi, “six hundred”) + ἑξήκοντα (hexḗkonta, “sixty”) + ἕξ (héx, “six”) + -phobia

uder

You'll see “lucky” 666 in many shop windows across China, which may come as a shock to believers in the Beast and those with hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.

2008 May 6, Deborah Aaronson with Kevin Kwan, Luck: The Essential Guide, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, page 132:

Fear of certain numbers will not help you. Just ask someone who suffers from triskaidekaphobia, tetraphobia, or hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.

2009 November 3, Patricia Kirkman with Katherine A. Gleason, The Complete Idiot's Guide: Numerology Workbook, →ISBN, →OL:

(chiefly Christianity) Fear of the number 666.


trepidatious

en-adj

trepidatious (comparative more trepidatious, superlative most trepidatious)

more trepidatious (comparative)
most trepidatious (superlative)

From, or as if, trepidate + -ious; see trepidation for more.

He looks a little trepidatious too, and we both laugh awkwardly as he nears me.

2020, Sophie Kinsella, Love Your Life, Dial Press, →ISBN:

Factor in Grammer’s outspoken Trumpism, which complicates the legacy of his defining role, and fans may be forgiven for feeling trepidatious.

2023 February 27, Elle Hunt, “‘Don’t make Frasier best friends with Elon Musk!’ Writers and comics offer their reboot tips”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:


taphophobia

/tæfəˈfəʊbɪə/

From Ancient Greek τάφος (táphos, “grave”), + -phobia.


on cloud nine

(idiomatic) In a state of elation; very happy; blissful.


halcyon days

From halcyon, from Latin Alcyone, from Ancient Greek Ἀλκυόνη (Alkuónē), daughter of Aeolus and wife of Ceyx. When her husband died in a shipwreck, Alcyone threw herself into the sea whereupon the gods transformed them both into halcyon birds (kingfishers). When Alcyone made her nest on the beach, waves threatened to destroy it. Aeolus restrained his winds and kept them calm during seven days in each year, so she could lay her eggs. These became known as the "halcyon days," when storms do not occur. Today, the term is used to denote a past period that is being remembered for being happy and/or successful.

halcyon days of yore

halcyon days of youth

Expect Saint Martins summer, Halcyon dayes, / Since I haue entred into theſe Warres.

1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 98:

And, by the way, during those halcyon days (the halcyon was there, too, chattering above every creek, as he is all over the world) we fought another battle.

Then for the teeming quietest, happiest days of all! / The brooding and blissful halcyon days!

1891, Walt Whitman, “Halcyon Days”, in Leaves of Grass:

It was a halcyon day, and as they neared the shore and the salt breezes scurried by, he began to picture the ocean and long, level stretches of sand and red roofs over blue sea.

1920, F. Scott Fitzgerald, chapter 2, in This Side of Paradise, book 1:

And the ragged rock in the restless waters, / Waves wash over it, fogs conceal it; / On a halcyon day it is merely a monument, / In navigable weather is always a seamark / to lay a course by: but in the sombre season / Or the sudden fury, is what it always was.

1941, Thomas S. Eliot, “The Dry Salvages”, in Four Quartets:

(idiomatic) A period of calm, usually in the past and often nostalgic.


in love

I think John is in love.

Isn't it nice to see two people in love?

Romeo was in love with Juliet.

So she said "What's the problem, baby?" / What's the problem? I don't know / Well, maybe I'm in love (love) / Think about it every time / I think about it / Can't stop thinking 'bout it

2004 May 3, Adam Duritz, Dan Vickrey, David Bryson, Matt Malley, David Immerglück, “Accidentally in Love”, in Shrek 2: Motion Picture Soundtrack, performed by Counting Crows:

Enamored (of a person, etc.) [with with]


haughtiness

en-noun

haughtiness (countable and uncountable, plural haughtinesses)

From Middle English hauteynesse, hautenesse, from Middle English hautein (“proud, haughty”), from Old French hautain + Middle English -nesse. Reanalysed in Modern English as haughty + -ness.

der

The state or property of being haughty; arrogance, snobbery.


lovesick

en-adj

lovesick (comparative more lovesick, superlative most lovesick)

more lovesick (comparative)
most lovesick (superlative)

And she looked to Mr. –––– / And leered like a love-sick pigeon.

1834 [1799], Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey, “The Devil's Thoughts”, in The Poetical Works of S. T. Coleridge, volume II, London: W. Pickering, page 86:

I'm sick of love / I hear the clock tick / This kind of love / I'm lovesick

1997, Bob Dylan (lyrics and music), “Love Sick”, in Time Out of Mind:

Behaving oddly, or as though in distress, due to being overcome by feelings of love.

Having an aching desire for one's beloved.

vlinders in je buik

having an aching desire for one's beloved

but preferably use a construction with the noun Liebeskummer


hit it off

en-verb

hit it off (third-person singular simple present hits it off, present participle hitting it off, simple past and past participle hit it off)

hits it off (present singular third-person)
hitting it off (participle present)
hit it off (participle past)
hit it off (past)

I really hit it off with Jack, and hired him without needing an interview.

Those two are really hitting it off. I wouldn't be surprised if they started dating soon.

“My profile said ‘Australian tennis player’ so I think Savannah had visions of me at Wimbledon,” he laughs. “In reality, I was paying for the opportunity to play at an academy.” Even so, they soon hit it off.

2023 February 6, Lizzie Cernik, “How we met: ‘He sent 40 Valentine’s cards with all the different things he loved about me’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(informal) To develop an amicable relationship (with), especially in a sudden manner during an initial encounter.


hot under the collar

en-adj

hot under the collar (comparative hotter under the collar, superlative hottest under the collar)

hotter under the collar (comparative)
hottest under the collar (superlative)

(idiomatic, colloquial, slang, of a person) Sexually aroused.


ethnophobia

en-noun

ethnophobia (countable and uncountable, plural ethnophobias)

The irrational fear and hatred of one's own nation


alarming

en-adj

alarming (comparative more alarming, superlative most alarming)

more alarming (comparative)
most alarming (superlative)

/ə.ˈlɑːm.ɪŋ/

/ə.ˈlɑɹm.ɪŋ/

Another stop at the 731-yard Sharpthorne Tunnel allowed the apprentices to see how a combination of water and a "chemical soup" is destroying the rails at an alarming rate.

2024 March 20, Richard Foster, “Vital experience in an open-air classroom”, in RAIL, number 1005, page 60:

Causing apprehension, fear or alarm; frightening.


blow a kiss

en-verb

blow a kiss (third-person singular simple present blows a kiss, present participle blowing a kiss, simple past blew a kiss, past participle blown a kiss)

blows a kiss (present singular third-person)
blowing a kiss (participle present)
blew a kiss (past)
blown a kiss (participle past)

We haven't yet kissed, but she blew me a kiss as the train pulled out of the station. That meant a lot to me.

(idiomatic) To kiss one's hand, then blow on it in a direction towards the recipient.

給某人飛吻

kiss one's hand and blow towards the recipient


merriment

en-noun

merriment (countable and uncountable, plural merriments)

Alas poore Yorick […] VVhere be your Jibes now? Your Gambals? Your Songs? Your flaſhes of Merriment that were wont to ſet the Table on a Rore?

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 278, column 1:

For to what purpose were it to clog our stomachs with dainties, junkets, and the like stuff, unless our eyes and ears, nay whole mind, were likewise entertained with jests, merriments, and laughter?

1668, John Wilson, The Praise of Folly, translation of original by Desiderius Erasmus, published 1509:


hysterics

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-hysterics.wav

Her hysterics are uncontrollable.

The jokes had me in hysterics.

But when they went to tread down the earth, it seemed to her like sacrilege; and, forgetting every thing in one strong emotion, she sprang forward to prevent it. The effort was too much; and, for the first time, she sank back in the arms of the servants in strong hysterics!

1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Last Night with the Dead”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 317:


cheer up

en-verb

cheer up (third-person singular simple present cheers up, present participle cheering up, simple past and past participle cheered up)

cheers up (present singular third-person)
cheering up (participle present)
cheered up (participle past)
cheered up (past)

I cheered up after seeing the results.

(intransitive, idiomatic) To become happier or less downcast.

The arrival of the unexpected letter cheered him up almost immediately.

Therefore cheere vp your mindes, prepare to fight,
He that can take or ſlaughter Tamburlaine,
Shall rule the Prouince of Albania.

c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii:

(transitive, idiomatic) To make someone happier or less downcast.


cheer up

Cheer up! Things could be worse.

An encouragement to somebody who seems unhappy.


downy

en-adj

downy (comparative downier, superlative downiest)

downier (comparative)
downiest (superlative)

The right hon. Gentleman has much more claim to the adjective downy than I have, but he really cannot catch me with that one.

1947, Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, Speech in UK House of Commons, 10th November 1947

I’m not clever, p’raps: but I am rather downy; and partial friends say I know what’s o’clock tolerably well.

1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 10, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:

(slang, dated) Sharp-witted, perceptive.

(UK, Norfolk) Low-spirited; down in the mouth.


ophidiophobia

From Ancient Greek ὄφις (óphis, “serpent”) + -phobia.

His father had a severe case of ophidiophobia, but to his credit he allowed his non-ophidiophobic 12-year-old son to keep a small colony of the Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) in a large box pen in a far corner of their Wisconsin backyard.

2012 August 5, Robert C. Stebbins, Samuel M. McGinnis, Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of California, Revised edition, Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, →ISBN, page 349:

The second-most-common phobia is ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes. Ophidiophobia is one of the most debilitating fears in humans; even the picture of a snake in a magazine or image of one on TV can invoke intense fear in some people.

2010 October 18, Matthew Murrie, Steve Murrie, The First Book of Seconds: 220 of the Most Random, Remarkable, Respectable (and Regrettable) Runners-Up and Their Almost Claim to Fame, Avon, MA: Adams Media, →ISBN, page 11:


hot and bothered

hot and bothered (comparative more hot and bothered, superlative most hot and bothered)

more hot and bothered (comparative)
most hot and bothered (superlative)

(idiomatic, colloquial) Aggravated or irritated.


mortification

en-noun

mortification (countable and uncountable, plural mortifications)

honor

antonym(s) of “a sensation of extreme shame”

/ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

From Middle French mortification, from Old French, from Latin mortificatio.

A bringing under of the passions and appetites by a severe or strict manner of living.


covetousness

covetousness (usually uncountable, plural covetousnesses)

From Middle English covatusnes, covetousnes, coveytousnesse; equivalent to covetous + -ness.

He which will yield to Fear. muſt neceſſarily yield to Covetouſneſs or any inordinate Deſire.

1588, Jean La Placette, Of the Incurable Scepticism of the Church of Rome:

Covetouſneſs is the yelow Jaundice of the foul, which ariſes from the over-flowing of the heart with love to yellow gold, by which a Chriſtian is dull'd and deadned.

1661, J. Johnson, The morning-exercise at Cripple-gate:

Covetousness prevents all good, and is and inlet and encouragement to evil.

1815, Samuel Lavington, Sermons and other discourses, Volume 1:

In obvious compensation and opposition the fear of nothingness becomes the source of covetousness...

1976, Jacques Ellul, The Ethics of Freedom, page 134:

Immoderate desire for the possession of something, especially for wealth.


mortify

en-verb

mortify (third-person singular simple present mortifies, present participle mortifying, simple past and past participle mortified)

mortifies (present singular third-person)
mortifying (participle present)
mortified (participle past)
mortified (past)

From Anglo-Norman mortifier, Middle French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificō (“cause death”), from Latin mors (“death”) + -ficō (“-fy”).

I was so mortified I could have died right there; instead I fainted, but I swore I'd never let that happen to me again.

Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

(transitive, usually used passively) To embarrass, to humiliate. To injure one's dignity.

Servius the Grammarian being troubled with the gowt, found no better meanes to be rid of it, than to apply poison to mortifie [translating tuer] his legs.

1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 3, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

(obsolete, transitive) To kill off (living tissue etc.); to make necrotic.

22 September 1651 (date in diary), 1818 (first published), John Evelyn, John Evelyn's Diary
the news of the fatal battle of Worcester, which exceedingly mortified our expectations

How often is [the ambitious man] mortified with the very praises he receives, if they do not rise so high as he thinks they ought!

1712 January 4 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “MONDAY, December 24, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 257; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:

(obsolete, transitive) To affect with vexation, chagrin, or humiliation; to humble; to depress.


exult

exult (third-person singular simple present exults, present participle exulting, simple past and past participle exulted)

exults (present singular third-person)
exulting (participle present)
exulted (participle past)
exulted (past)

From Middle French exulter, from Latin exsultō, frequentative of exsiliō (“jump up”), from ex- + saliō (“jump, leap”).

I took a deep breath; a locomotive howled across-the darkness, Mobile-bound. So were we. I took off my shirt and exulted.

1957, Jack Kerouac, On the Road, Viking Press, →OCLC:

(intransitive) To rejoice; to be very happy, especially in triumph; to triumph (over).


flirter

From flirt + -er. Compare Old English fleardere (“one who acts wantonly or with folly”).

noncog

I just ended a relationship with a compulsive flirter, after realizing that no one deserved to be treated as I was.

1988, Glamour, volume 86, numbers 7-9, page 26:


discontented

en-adj

discontented (comparative more discontented, superlative most discontented)

more discontented (comparative)
most discontented (superlative)

After her injury, Alice was a discontented woman.

He lived a discontented life.

Clara, like many self-willed and discontented persons, was really very apt, without knowing it, to do as other people told her, and to let her destiny be decided for her by intelligences much below her own.


feeble-minded

feeble-minded (comparative feebler-minded, superlative feeblest-minded)

feebler-minded (comparative)
feeblest-minded (superlative)

Etymology tree
Anglo-Norman feblebor.
Middle English feble
English feeble
English mind
English -ed
English minded
English feeble-minded

etymon

Weak in intellectual power; lacking firmness or constancy; lacking intelligence


make someone's day

en-verb

make someone's day (third-person singular simple present makes someone's day, present participle making someone's day, simple past and past participle made someone's day)

makes someone's day (present singular third-person)
making someone's day (participle present)
made someone's day (participle past)
made someone's day (past)

Thank you for the unexpected gift. It really made my day.

Go ahead. Make my day.

1983, Joseph Stinson, Sudden Impact (motion picture), spoken by Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood):

(idiomatic) To make someone happy, or be a source of satisfaction, for the rest of the day.

rendre quelqu’un heureux (pour la journée)


hotheaded

en-adj

hotheaded (comparative more hotheaded, superlative most hotheaded)

more hotheaded (comparative)
most hotheaded (superlative)

Such an opportunity can hardly again occur to an ancient and grey-haired man; and to see it lost by the madcap spleen of a hot-headed boy!

1816, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 1, in The Antiquary—Volume II:

"But I am!" flashed the young man, as if he had been misunderstood.
"Listen. You're like all boys—hot-headed an' hasty. Let me talk a little," resumed Anderson.

1919, Zane Grey, chapter 18, in The Desert of Wheat:

Hungry for fame and the approval of rare-animal collector Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton), Darwin deceives the Captain and his crew into believing they can get enough booty to win the pirate competition by entering Polly in a science fair. So the pirates journey to London in cheerful, blinkered defiance of the Queen, a hotheaded schemer whose royal crest reads simply “I hate pirates.”

2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, in The Onion AV Club:

Pertaining to or characteristic of a hothead or hotheadedness; (of a person) easily excited or angered.

буен

pertaining to or characteristic of a hothead; easily excited or angered


autogynephilia

/ˌɔːtəʊˌɡaɪnəˈfɪli.ə/

/ˌɔtoʊˌɡaɪnəˈfɪli.ə/

/ˌɑtoʊˌɡaɪnəˈfɪli.ə/

Coordinate term: autoandrophilia

Charles Moser (2010) “Blanchard’s Autogynephilia Theory: A Critique”, in Journal of Homosexuality, volume 57, number 6, →DOI, pages 790–809: “If autogynephilia were a paraphilia, we would expect that MTFs would want estrogens to feminize themselves, but decline anti-androgens or report that they disliked the effect. This is contrary to the observation that MTFs request and like the effects of anti-androgens.”

gender identity disorder
gender identity disorder

transvestic fetishism
transvestic fetishism

In Ray Blanchard's transsexualism typology, the proposed paraphilic tendency of someone who is anatomically male to be sexually aroused by the thought of being a female, sometimes framed as a form of gender identity disorder or transvestic fetishism.


doxophobia

Ancient Greek δόξα (dóxa, “opinion”) + -phobia


selachophobia

From Ancient Greek σέλαχος (sélakhos, “shark”) + -phobia.


chipper

en-adj

chipper (comparative chipperer, superlative chipperest)

chipperer (comparative)
chipperest (superlative)

From English dialectal kipper (“nimble; frisky”), of obscure origin. Perhaps akin to Old Norse kjapt (“briskly; impetuously”), kippa ("to snatch; pull; jerk" > Middle English kippen (“to seize”)), kipra (“to wrinkle; draw tightly”), Norwegian kjapp (“fast; brisk”), Dutch kippen (“to seize; catch; grip”). More at kip.

gloss

"to snatch; pull; jerk" > Middle English <i class="Latn mention" lang="enm">kippen</i> (“to seize”)

Van Halen orders garlic strewn about Lucy's bedroom. she feels a bit chipperer the next morning, so Mina heads off to help poor Harker in Budapest.

2013, Michelle Witte, Faker's Guide to the Classics, page 66:

The idea of a merchant selling both totems of pure evil and frozen yogurt (he calls it frogurt!) is amusing in itself, as is the idea that frogurt could be cursed, but it’s really the Shopkeeper’s quicksilver shift from ominous doomsaying to chipper salesmanship that sells the sequence.

2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”, in AV Club:

"Sure, but she's not saying." Imrich kicked his feet up on the coffee table, dislodging a pile of research papers — hers, of course — onto the floor. She tried not to twitch. Laiken twitched a lot, and it was irritating. "Personally I think she has the magical ability to not notice she's working for an arguably evil worldwide truth suppression conspiracy. Nobody at the SCP Foundation ought to be that goddamn chipper."

2022 September 15, HarryBlank, “The Mourning After”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 2024-06-14:

Exhibiting a lively optimism; in high spirits, cheerful.


chipper

Someone who or something which chips (e.g. wood).

(in particular, US) A machine that reduces organic matter to compost; depending on size, whole tree trunks are reduced to sawdust; a woodchipper.

štěpkovač

(Ireland, slang) A fish and chip shop, or more generally a cheap fast food outlet, typically selling chips and other deep-fried foods.

Bichel asked chippers several thought-provoking questions about potato procurement, storage and handling.

1974, Potato Chipper, volume 33, numbers 16-27, page 25:

Pet Inc.'s Laura Scudder division, a West Coast region chipper, has revamped its Dittos brand stack chips.

1978, Joan Dye Gussow, The Feeding Web: Issues in Nutritional Ecology, page 151:

A company that manufactures potato chips/potato crisps.

(golf) A golf club for making chip shots.

(US, smoking) An occasional tobacco user, or more generally drug user.


memory lane

This is Memory Lane—lonely and drear to some, pleasant and gay to others. ... It was New Year's day in the old town, the most hallowed of holidays on Memory Lane; the day when the wharf was deserted, for everyone, great and small, walked over the Lane, many even to the very end.

1894 December, B[urton] M. Balch, “Memory Lane. A New Year’s Study.”, in Burton M. Balch, editor, Hamilton Literary Monthly, volume 29, number 3, Clinton, N.Y.: Published by the students, Hamilton College, →OCLC, page 101,102:

"How about a stroll down Memory Lane. Remember this?" He thrust a picture at me.

1954 May, Peter De Vries, chapter 3, in The Tunnel of Love, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, published July 1954, →OCLC, page 25:

My "memory lane" is splotched with recollections that have not dimmed or faded in the last seventy-five years. They stand out clear and sharp, but they are splotches just the same. They have no beginning, nor do they trail off to an ending. They are just there like ink splotches on a white wall.

1987, Eva Antonia Wilbur-Cruce, “My Earliest Recollections”, in A Beautiful, Cruel Country, Tucson, Ariz.: University of Arizona Press, →ISBN, page 42:

Sigrid took a bittersweet trip down memory lane when Anne opened the carton of ornaments and lifted out a crumpled tinsel star. All at once she was three years old again and her father was holding her up in his strong arms to place that same star on the very top of their Christmas tree.

1989, Margaret Maron, Corpus Christmas (A Crime Club Book), Warner Books edition, New York, N.Y.: Mysterious Press, published 2001, →ISBN, page 255:

Molly sleeps this morning as her parents, per their promise, travel down memory lane from their just-delivered leather sofa. Tim and I have memory-goaders galore, including our album of wedding photos, two separate videotapes of the marriage ceremony, and some random 35-millimeter slides one or the other of us somehow managed to squeeze off that strange and signal day exactly one year and four days ago.

1989, Larry L. Meyer, “August 16: An Irish Wedding Revisited”, in My Summer with Molly: The Journal of a Second Generation Father, Huntington Beach, Calif.: Calafia Press, →ISBN, page 146:

A more straightforwardly nostalgic use of the family album is in oral history, which has used them as a device for family reconstitution and opening up memory lanes.

1994, Raphael Samuel, “Dreamscapes”, in Theatres of Memory, volumes 1 (Past and Present in Contemporary Culture), London, New York, N.Y.: Verso Books, →ISBN, part V (Old Photographs), page 351:

I decide to take in one last trip for the day - and one very much down memory lane. Changing trains at Central, I board a Class 150 bound for Barry Island, where I have not been for 46 years.

2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 67:

(idiomatic, sometimes capitalized) A nostalgic or sentimental journey through one's memories of an experience or other time in the past.

muistojen polku

set of recollections available to be reviewed


waspish

en-adj

waspish (comparative more waspish, superlative most waspish)

more waspish (comparative)
most waspish (superlative)

Svveet Hony-Comb, don't be ſo VVaſpiſh: […]

1702, [Colley] Cibber, She Wou’d, and She Wou’d Not, or The Kind Impostor. A Comedy. […], London: […] William Turner […], and John Nutt, […], published 1703, →OCLC, Act III, page 30:

Always, he radiated an air of soigné self-confidence: he could be amiable in his opinions or waspish, but he never betrayed a flicker of doubt about what he thought.

1997, Henry Louis Gates Jr., “The Passing of Anatole Broyard”, in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Man, New York: Random House, page 181:


impetuously

en-adv

impetuously (comparative more impetuously, superlative most impetuously)

more impetuously (comparative)
most impetuously (superlative)

In an impetuous manner; with sudden force


dispassionate

en-adj

dispassionate (comparative more dispassionate, superlative most dispassionate)

more dispassionate (comparative)
most dispassionate (superlative)

Not showing, and not affected by, emotion, bias, or prejudice.

безстрастен

not showing, and not affected by, emotion, bias, or prejudice


fatigued

fatigued (comparative more fatigued, superlative most fatigued)

more fatigued (comparative)
most fatigued (superlative)


wearisomeness

en-noun

wearisomeness (usually uncountable, plural wearisomenesses)

The quality or state of being wearisome; tiresomeness; tediousness.


tiresomeness

tiresomeness (usually uncountable, plural tiresomenesses)

the state or quality of being tiresome; wearisomeness; tediousness.


Anglophobia

The hatred or fear of England and anything English (or British).

anglophobie

hatred or fear of England or anything English


look forward to

en-verb

look forward to (third-person singular simple present looks forward to, present participle looking forward to, simple past and past participle looked forward to)

looks forward to (present singular third-person)
looking forward to (participle present)
looked forward to (participle past)
looked forward to (past)

He was not looking forward to having to repair the downed power lines after the wind storm.

1794 November 19, George Washington, speech, George Washington's Sixth State of the Union Address,
When we call to mind the gracious indulgence of Heaven by which the American people became a nation; when we survey the general prosperity of our country, and look forward to the riches, power, and happiness to which it seems destined, with the deepest regret do I announce to you that during your recess some of the citizens of the United States have been found capable of insurrection.

I love Elizabeth and look forward to our union with delight.

1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter V, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume III, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 106:

Then a passionate celibacy is all that any of us can look forward to.

1895, Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest […] , [Act III]:

To such verification, however, we may look forward with reasonable confidence, for Einstein has deduced from the principle of relativity, together with the electromagnetic theory, a number of striking consequences which are remarkably self-consistent.

1909 May 18, Gilbert Newton Lewis, Richard Chace Tolman, “The Principle of Relativity, and Non-Newtonian Mechanics”, in Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 44: 709-726:

1961 January 17, Dwight D. Eisenhower, speech, Eisenhower's farewell address,
Now, on Friday noon, I am to become a private citizen. I am proud to do so. I look forward to it.

I look forward to seeing 3417 running under its own power on the main line, and carrying passengers too. That needs central door locking, which will be no mean feat on a 4-VEP with 60 passenger doors.

2024 February 7, Philip Haigh, “Railway's fragile resilience”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 3:

(transitive, idiomatic) To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to.


back in the day

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-back in the day.wav

I wanted to do a song that epitomizes the feeling and vibe from back in the day while still being current.

1995 April 8, Havelock Nelson, quoting Jemini, “Mercury Debut Rapper Jemini Proudly Displays All His ‘Scars’”, in Billboard, volume 107, number 14, Nielsen Business Media, →ISSN, page 18:

Sean May played like they did back in the day, kind of like 29 long years ago, when his father led Indiana to a national championship in 1976.

2005 April 5, Joe Lapointe, “COLLEGE BASKETBALL; North Carolina's Leader Does His Father Proud”, in The New York Times, retrieved 2010-06-27:

Ah, back in the day. After stumbling out of the service entrance, and wandering to the beach to swim off our buzz, we would barefoot it down the beach to the Outrigger, where Mr. Don would sometimes do a cameo at the microphone.

2009, Everett Peacock, The Parrot Talks in Chocolate, Everett Peacock, →ISBN, page 31:

(temporal location, idiomatic, informal) In the distant past; especially, at a time fondly remembered (the good old days).


cheery

en-adj

cheery (comparative cheerier, superlative cheeriest)

cheerier (comparative)
cheeriest (superlative)

From Middle English cheri, equivalent to cheer + -y.

The air, too, was heavy with perfume, and a nightingale, high in the heavens, gave out a cheery song of welcome.

1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XXII, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 222:


fretful

fretful (comparative more fretful, superlative most fretful)

more fretful (comparative)
most fretful (superlative)

I could a Tale vnfold, vvhoſe lighteſt vvord / VVould harrovv vp thy ſoule, freeze thy young blood, / Make thy tvvo eyes like Starres, ſtart from their Spheres, / Thy knotty and combined locks to part, / And each particular haire to ſtand an end, / Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine: […]

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 257, column 2:

It was another cry, but not quite like the one she had heard last night; it was only a short one, a fretful, childish whine muffled by passing through walls.

1910 November – 1911 August, Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, New York, N.Y.: Frederick A[bbott] Stokes Company, published 1911, →OCLC:

Irritable, bad-tempered, grumpy or peevish.


hot-tempered

hot-tempered (comparative more hot-tempered, superlative most hot-tempered)

more hot-tempered (comparative)
most hot-tempered (superlative)

Becoming very vocal or even violent when angered or frustrated.


oenophobia

You open it randomly, hit several pages devoted to "Cote de Nuits" alone, and go into advanced hypertensive oenophobia (wine-sticker shock).

1997 February 17, Tony Hendra, “Best Cellars”, in New York, page 48:

A new wine club called 600 Grapes asks us if we suffer from "oenophobia" -- a fear of wine.

2006 October 3, Larry Lipson, “Wineline For The Republic Of Sauvignon Blanc Fanciers”, in Daily News, Los Angeles:

Even avid wine lovers can be struck with a temporary case of oenophobia -- fear of wine -- around Thanksgiving.

2007 November 14, Karen Page, Andrew Dornenburg, “With These Strategies, Pick Your Pour”, in The Washington Post:

The fear or hatred of wine; anxiety related to wine.


Anglophilia

/ˌæŋ.ɡləʊˈfɪ.li.ə/

Perhaps Anglophilia continues to play its part, but if I were one of the few surviving teachers of Anglo-Saxon I would rejoice at the way in which such terms as muggle and Wizengamot, and such names as Godric, Wulfric and Dumbledore, had become common currency.

2007 August 12, Christopher Hitchens, “Harry Potter: The Boy Who Lived”, in New York Times:

But now, as a company with the word "British" in its name pisses apocalyptic quantities of oil into the ocean, and CEO Tony Hayward pops up on the news to make tactless statements in a British accent, anglophilia is shrivelling.

2010 June 14, Charlie Brooker, The Guardian:

The love of the country, culture or people of England.

anglofília

the love of the country, culture or people of England


nervousness

en-noun

nervousness (countable and uncountable, plural nervousnesses)

A part of the nervousness at Chelsea involves whether any more sponsors will follow the telecommunications and internet service provider Three in withdrawing support, at least temporarily.

March 11 2022, David Hytner, “Chelsea are in crisis but there is no will to leave club on their knees”, in The Guardian:


radge

en-adj

radge (comparative more radge, superlative most radge)

more radge (comparative)
most radge (superlative)

We met for the first time at the airport and ended up in Turkey – I’ve done a lot of radged things in my time but nothing like this.

2016 July 16, Joanna Morris, quoting Phil Stephenson, “Tinder date lands Darlington man in Turkey amid military coup”, in The Northern Echo, Darlington, UK:

That fight last night was radge

(Geordie, Scotland, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Birmingham) Violent or crazy.


radge

He hoyed a propa radge when a telt him.
He threw a real tantrum when I told him.

(Geordie, Scotland, Yorkshire) A fit of rage.

Thir's a desperate, pleading edge tae her voice. What a fuckin radge.

1994 [1993], Irvine Welsh, “Bang to Rites”, in Trainspotting, London: Minerva, →ISBN, page 220:

(derogatory, Scotland) An angry or violent person.


radge

en-verb

radge (third-person singular simple present radges, present participle radgin, simple past and past participle radged)

radges (present singular third-person)
radgin (participle present)
radged (participle past)
radged (past)


radge

(UK, dialect) Alternative form of rodge (“grey duck”)


ouranophobia

Now I’m not saying I was ever clinically diagnosed with ouranophobia. I wasn’t.

2011, Randal Rauser, The Confessions of an Ouranophobe, or How I got over my fear of heaven:

Besides, maybe I don't want heaven regardless of the price. Maybe I have Ouranophobia and am consequently scared shitless by the very mention of heaven.

2013, Sergio De La Pava, A Naked Singularity, →ISBN, page 341:

She thinks I'm bringing this up to make fun of her, but I explain that (a) her fears are adorable, and (b) that's not the point. I tell her I think we both suffer from ouranophobia and she asks what that means and I tell her we're afraid of heaven.

2016 Fall, Davis Webster, “Wyo.”, in Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction, volume 18, number 2:


exhilarate

exhilarate (third-person singular simple present exhilarates, present participle exhilarating, simple past and past participle exhilarated)

exhilarates (present singular third-person)
exhilarating (participle present)
exhilarated (participle past)
exhilarated (past)

/ɪɡˈzɪləɹeɪt/

/ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/

From Latin exhilarāre (“to delight, to gladden, to make merry”), from ex- (“out, away”) (from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs (“out”)) + hilarāre, present infinitive of hilarō (“to cheer, to gladden”), from hilaris (“cheerful, light-hearted, lively”), from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός (hilarós, “cheerful, merry”), from ἵλαος (hílaos, “gracious, kind, propitious”), from Proto-Indo-European *selh₂- (“comfort, mercy”).

der

Good news exhilarates the mind; wine exhilarates the drinker.

For the Philiſtian preſcribeth Cures of the minde in Phrenſies, and melancholy Paſsions; and pretendeth alſo to exhibite Medicines to exhilarate the minde, to confirme the courage, to clarifie the wits, to corroborate the memorie, and the like; but the ſcruples and ſuperſtitions of Diet, and other Regiment of the body in the ſect of the Pythagoreans, in the Hereſy of the Manicheas, and in the Lawe of Mahumes doe exceede; […]

1605, Francis Bacon, The Tvvoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane. To the King, book II, London: Printed [by Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, and are to be sould at his shop at Graies Inne Gate in Holborne, →OCLC, page 37, recto:

Any and ſundry are the meanes, which Philoſophers and Phyſicians haue preſcribed to exhilarate a ſorrowfull heart, to diuert thoſe fixed and intent cares and meditations, which in this malady ſo much offend; but in my judgement none ſo preſent, none ſo powerfull, none ſo [a]ppoſite as a cup of ſtrong drinke, mirth, muſicke, and merry company.

1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Musicke a Remedy”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 2, section 2, member 6, subsection 3, page 276:

I slept soundly, and without feeling the least uneasiness, and am a great deal better this morning; neither do I find that the henbane has affected my head, which, from the great effect it had on me,—exhilarating me to the most extraordinary degree, and yet keeping me sleepy,—I feared it would.

1838 November 1, Charles Dickens, “XV. Mrs. Charles Dickens.”, in Life, Letters, and Speeches of Charles Dickens with Biographical Sketches of the Principal Illustrators of Dickens’s Works: Illustrated with Engravings on Steel: In Two Volumes, volume I, Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company; The Riverside Press Cambridge [Mass.], published 1894, →OCLC, page 118:

It is now for us to say, that with very considerable powers of fancy, and a deep feeling of enthusiasm, he [James G. Small] has described the scenes of his romantic rambles, and recorded the historical or traditional events for which he cherishes such a warm veneration, in song that by turns exhilarates, captivates, and melts; and that will especially arouse Scotland's associations.

1843 June, “Art. XI. The Highlands, The Scottish Martyrs, and Other Poems. By the Rev. James G. Small. Edin. Whyte & Co.”, in The Monthly Review (New and Improved Series), volume II, number II, London: G. Henderson, 2, Old Bailey, Ludgate-Hill, →OCLC, page 235:

Returning to their desks at the beginning of April 1966, exhilarated by the size of the Labour majority, Ministers found that there had been no improvement in the economic outlook while they had been away; indeed it had grown worse.

1978, Michael Stewart, “The Light that Failed: April 1966 – June 1970”, in Politics & Economic Policy in the UK since 1964: The Jekyll & Hyde Years, Oxford: Pergamon Press, →ISBN, page 64:

(transitive) To cheer, to cheer up, to gladden, to make happy.


scaredy cat

Alternative form of scaredy-cat (“coward”)


exultant

From Latin exsultāns, present participle of exsultō (“rejoice; boast”). See also exult.

Very happy, especially at someone else's defeat or failure.

ликуващ

very happy, especially at someone else's defeat or failure


shy bairns get nowt

[ʃaɪ bɛːnz ɡɛʔ naʊʔ]

Literally “shy children get nothing”, a reference to the shyness of children when making requests.

A' forgot te ask 'er fo' me money back!
Wye, shy bairns get nowt.

Aye, Mary, we heard you. How could we not? Ah well, shy bairns get nowt. Will we let her at the microphone and give me a bit peace?

1994, Fiona Cooper, A Skyhook in the Midnight Sun, London, New York, N.Y.: Serpent's Tail, →ISBN, page 121:

Ask questions, enquire, and push for more information and care. As the saying goes in the north-east, ‘shy bairns get nowt’! Know your rights and what you are entitled to by pushing and not taking no for an answer.

2007, “Rob [Rob has a Six-year-old Son who was Infected with Cytomegalovirus as a Baby]”, in Jill Harrison, Matthew Henderson, Rob Leonard, editors, Different Dads: Fathers’ Stories of Parenting Disabled Children, London, Philadelphia, Pa.: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 37:

An old Geordie saying says: ‘Shy bairns get nowt!’ It literally means ‘shy children get nothing’, but is used to emphasise that people should speak up for themselves. I think that this saying applies to leaders.

2011, John Marrin, “Ten Tips on Taking the Lead”, in Leadership for Dummies (For Dummies Series), Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley, →ISBN, page 297:

(Geordie) If you're too shy, or don't ask, you will not get what you want.


on top of the world

He was on top of the world after she agreed to marry him.

(idiomatic) Delighted; ecstatic; exceptionally pleased, happy, or satisfied.


love life

Marigold and Dale have a very active love life. I am encouraging them to invest in a new bedframe.

2015, Jeph Jacques, Questionable Content (webcomic), Number 2962: Daily Life:

William understood Diana more but idealized her less. He was privy to her volatile love life. He knew the tabloids made her life hell, but he also knew she colluded with them.

April 5 2022, Tina Brown, “How Princess Diana's Dance With the Media Impacted William and Harry”, in Vanity Fair:

An individual's amorous or sexual relationships.


ill-tempered

en-adj

ill-tempered (comparative more ill-tempered, superlative most ill-tempered)

more ill-tempered (comparative)
most ill-tempered (superlative)

Dr. Evil: You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads! Now evidently my cycloptic colleague informs me that that can’t be done. Can you remind me what I pay you people for, honestly? Throw me a bone here! What do we have?
Number Two: Sea Bass.
Dr. Evil: Riiiight.
Number Two: They are mutated sea bass.
Dr. Evil: Really? Are they ill-tempered?

1997, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (film)

Spain’s acting prime minister, the socialist leader Pedro Sánchez, has a fresh, if fraught, shot at returning to power after his conservative rival Alberto Núñez Feijóo failed in his attempt to take office in an ill-tempered investiture debate that followed July’s inconclusive general election.

2023 September 29, Sam Jones, “Alberto Núñez Feijóo fails to win Spanish MPs’ backing to become PM”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:


ratty

ratty (comparative rattier, superlative rattiest)

rattier (comparative)
rattiest (superlative)

From rat + -y (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’ forming adjective).

suffix

He got bad, he got ratty, he would take it out on people around him. He was mean when it turned against him.

(originally British) Annoyed, bad-tempered, irritable.


dotage

en-noun

dotage (countable and uncountable, plural dotages)

From dote + -age, from Middle English doten (“to dote”).

Claudio. And ſhe is exceeding wiſe.
Prince. In euery thing, but in louing Benedicke. […] I would ſhee had beſtowed this dotage on mee,

1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 108, column 2:

Fondness or attentiveness, especially to an excessive degree.


savagery

savagery (countable and uncountable, plural savageries)

/ˈsæv.ɪd͡ʒ.ɹɪ/

(uncountable) Savage or brutal behaviour; barbarity.


joyless

en-adj

joyless (comparative more joyless, superlative most joyless)

more joyless (comparative)
most joyless (superlative)

Without Joy, my life is joyless!


pained

pained (comparative more pained, superlative most pained)

more pained (comparative)
most pained (superlative)

In pain, especially in an emotional sense.

огорчен

in pain, especially in an emotional sense


beaming

beaming (comparative more beaming, superlative most beaming)

more beaming (comparative)
most beaming (superlative)

The honest Captain, with his Heart's Delight in the house, and Susan tending her, was a beaming and a happy man. As the days flew by, he grew more beaming and more happy, every day.

1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:

The beaming smile of David Brooks, proudly wearing his yellow Euro 2020 jersey and a bucket hat, instantly raised the spirits of those on the pitch who spotted the 25-year-old's frantic waving.

2022 November 29, Ian Mitchelmore, “Wales put out of World Cup misery by England as sobering tournament must signal changing of the guard”, in WalesOnline:


leukophobia

Normal rats show leukophobia, ie, going away from strong light, while blind rats do not react to light in this manner.

1924, Theodore Koppånyi, Clyde Baker, “Further Studies on Eye Transplantation in the Spotted Rat”, in American Journal of Physiology, volume 71, number 2:

What had been the healthy fear of white people shared by most of the country's colored inhabitants had recently morphed into full-blown leukophobia, or fear of all things white.

(rare) Pathological fear of or aversion to the color white.


evil laughter

There was evil laughter coming from the villain's lair as he was contemplating how he was going to defeat his heroic foe.

The stereotypical laughter produced by a villain, frequently represented as muahahaha or bwahaha.


evil laugh

A signature laugh associated with villains in films and acting, sometimes represented as muahahaha or bwahaha.


May-September romance

en-noun

May-September romance (plural May-September romances)

From the metaphor of a year being the lifespan of a person, May being a time of relative youth and September being late in maturity.

The 40-year-old man and his 20-year-old girlfriend were involved in a May-September romance.

A romantic relationship where one partner is significantly older than the other.


regretful

en-adj

regretful (comparative more regretful, superlative most regretful)

more regretful (comparative)
most regretful (superlative)

Full of feelings of regret, indulging in regrets.


galeophobia

From Ancient Greek γαλεός (galeós), a type of shark with weasel-like markings, derived from γαλῆ (galê), γαλέη (galéē, “weasel, cat”) + -phobia.

The irrational fear of sharks or dogfish.


Iraqnophobia

[…] but they may be making a mistake by not taking a flier on Atlantic Coast and some of the other successful smaller airlines, the stocks of which have been grounded by Wall Street's Iraqnophobia.

2003 February 10, Jerry Knight, “Small Airline Has a Chance To Soar Again”, in The Washington Post:

An arrogant dictatorial super-villain possesses a weapon of mass destruction while the morally righteous Federation makes a successful preemptive strike — Nemesis almost seemed designed to encourage the nation's Iraqnophobia and justify its war.

2005, Daniel Dinello, Technophobia!: Science Fiction Visions of Posthuman Technology, University of Texas Press, →ISBN, page 217:

(Former American President George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair now suffer from Iraqnophobia for which there is no cure.)

2009, Gary Cox, How to Be an Existentialist: Or How to Get Real, Get a Grip and Stop Making Excuses, A&C Black, →ISBN, page 112:

weapons of mass destruction
weapons of mass destruction

(informal, humorous) An irrational fear of Iraq's ability to manufacture weapons of mass destruction, or, more broadly, of military conflict with Iraq.


fanatical

fanatical (comparative more fanatical, superlative most fanatical)

more fanatical (comparative)
most fanatical (superlative)

Having an extreme, irrational zeal or enthusiasm for a specific cause.

fanàtic

having an extreme, irrational zeal or enthusiasm


lose one's head

en-verb

lose one's head (third-person singular simple present loses one's head, present participle losing one's head, simple past and past participle lost one's head)

loses one's head (present singular third-person)
losing one's head (participle present)
lost one's head (participle past)
lost one's head (past)

Mrs. Ambient's grief was frantic; she lost her head and said strange things.

1884, Henry James, chapter 4, in The Author of Beltraffio:

Losing his head entirely, the young collier raved like a madman, what with pain and fear of hospital.

1914, D. H. Lawrence, “A Sick Collier”, in The Prussian Officer and Other Stories:

He then had to jump, and appears to have lost his head, as instead of walking the short distance forward to Slochd to let the signalman know what had happened, he started the 6½-mile walk back to Carrbridge.

1940 November, “Notes and News: A Highland Collision”, in Railway Magazine, page 612:

"He never lost his head in a crisis," Mr. Mandela wrote of his comrade.

2003 May 6, Bill Keller, “Walter Sisulu, Mandela Mentor and Comrade, Dies at 90”, in New York Times, retrieved 2009-12-12:

(idiomatic) To behave irrationally or to lose one's self-control, especially in a distressing situation or as a result of falling in love.

գլուխը կորցնել

behave irrationally or lose self-control

Only applicable to certain senses and situations:


gladden

gladden (third-person singular simple present gladdens, present participle gladdening, simple past and past participle gladdened)

gladdens (present singular third-person)
gladdening (participle present)
gladdened (participle past)
gladdened (past)

A balmy night! and tho' the stars be dim, / Yet let us think upon the vernal showers / That gladden the green earth, and we shall find / A pleasure in the dimness of the stars.

1798, William Wordsworth, The Nightingale:

Her body was bent by age; her limbs trembled with palsy; her face, distorted into a mumbling leer, resembled more the grotesque shaping of some wild pencil, than the work of Nature's hand. Alas! How few of Nature's faces are left alone to gladden us with their beauty!

(transitive) To cause (something) to become more glad.


devil-may-care

en-adj

devil-may-care (comparative more devil-may-care, superlative most devil-may-care)

more devil-may-care (comparative)
most devil-may-care (superlative)

From attributive use of a shortened idiom of the original oath or expression: The devil may care, but I do not.

This is the sort of witchery, not easily defined—but, by its votaries, pretty sensibly felt, in hunting the fox. The light-hearted, high-spirited stripling, when cigaring it careless to cover, with a kind of a knowing demi-devil-may-care twist of his beaver, receives in his transit a benison from every real friend of the chase he may chance to pass; and the airy, eager zeal of the youthful aspirant to rolls, tumbles, and the brush, will flush his memory with the frolic gayety of other days, and animate his mind with reflections most welcome to his heart.

1837, "Venator", The Warwickshire Hunt from 1795 to 1836, Prefatory Remarks

Not that this would have worried him much, anyway—he was a mighty free and easy, roving, devil-may-care sort of person.

1837, Charles Dickens, chapter 49, in The Pickwick Papers:

Now, upon his whole person, from the crown of his unkempt head down to his broken, dusty boots, there yet clung that air of jaunty, devil-may-care rakishness.

1910, Jeffery Farnol, chapter 3, in The Broad Highway:

Collins' death can be put down to his devil-may-care attitude—his decision to journey through hostile territory in a large convoy, the inadequate choice of the members of the convoy, and the tactics he adopted in the ambush. For all the debate about ballistics and entry and exit wounds, and the use of powerful historical imaginations, it matters more that Collins was killed than how he was killed. Concentration on the events at Béal na mBláth has, moreover, often meant a failure to place them in the overall context of the war.

1988, Michael Hopkinson, Green Against Green: The Irish Civil War:

Tiny Albania emerged from communist dictatorship in 1990 only to tumble into a rough world of gangsters, fraudulent financial machinations and incompetent governance, exacerbated by lawless capitalism and devil-may-care politics.

2011 May 21, Altin Raxhimi, “The Trouble with Democracy: Albania's Worrisome Vote”, in Time:

It is no real surprise that half the UK's stations and 5,000 miles of route were recommended to close. Nevertheless, some great mistakes were made in Marples' devil-may-care purge that left commuters stranded and seaside resorts without a lifeline.

2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 50:


roid rage

(bodybuilding) Uncontrollable anger or violent behavior resulting from the use of anabolic steroids.


hit the roof

en-verb

hit the roof (third-person singular simple present hits the roof, present participle hitting the roof, simple past and past participle hit the roof)

hits the roof (present singular third-person)
hitting the roof (participle present)
hit the roof (participle past)
hit the roof (past)

When he found out I wrecked his brand-new car, he hit the roof.

Half a year of profits gone and now there's hell to pay / The cops say they know who, but there's no proof / The banker hit the roof / and damn near took the car.

1981, Stan Rogers (lyrics and music), “Night Guard”, in Northwest Passage:

(idiomatic) To be explosively angry; to lose one's temper.


lurve

From an expressively lengthened pronunciation of love ([lʌːv]~[lɜːv]~[lɐːv]). The spelling is based on non-rhotic English.


lurve

lurve (third-person singular simple present lurves, present participle lurving, simple past and past participle lurved)

lurves (present singular third-person)
lurving (participle present)
lurved (participle past)
lurved (past)


gushy

en-adj

gushy (comparative gushier, superlative gushiest)

gushier (comparative)
gushiest (superlative)

Spouting water: Early Hawaiians named this l l/2-mile strip of coast Waikiki, or “spouting water,” its inland part a swamp nurtured by descending mountain streams and gushy spring waters. As early as the 1400s, Hawaiians utilized this water ...

1994, Houghton Mifflin Company, Insight, Insight Guides, Insight Guide Hawaii, Insight Guides

Off with my beige bikini set, then he parted my legs and went straight for for the gushy pussy and gushy it was. I was seeping like a loose faucet.

2007, Rechella, Players Got Played, Kensington Books, page 112

Just as underground water wells up in a gushy spring, when a bore is sunk down to that depth, […]

2015, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 1, Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division, →ISBN:

(uncommon) Tending to gush, to produce a large flow of liquid.


hark back

en-verb

hark back (third-person singular simple present harks back, present participle harking back, simple past and past participle harked back)

harks back (present singular third-person)
harking back (participle present)
harked back (participle past)
harked back (past)

From hark (“to listen attentively”) + back (“to or in a previous condition or place”, adverb), originally a hunting command to hounds meaning “Listen! Go back!”.

(transitive, hunting) To call back (hounds); to recall.


down in the dumps

en-adj

down in the dumps (comparative more down in the dumps, superlative most down in the dumps)

more down in the dumps (comparative)
most down in the dumps (superlative)

From dump “a dull, gloomy state of the mind.”

"You've got down in the dumps and can't see what's sensible and to your own advantage."

1886, Edward Payson Roe, chapter 2, in He Fell In Love With His Wife:

"Being out of work sometimes makes you feel down in the dumps and being out here with my buddies helps."

2009 February 2, Brian McVicar, “Some in Mich. turn to ice fishing as economy dives”, in chicagotribune.com, retrieved 2009-02-03:

(idiomatic) Sad; lacking engagement or enthusiasm.


dolorous

dolorous (comparative more dolorous, superlative most dolorous)

more dolorous (comparative)
most dolorous (superlative)

From Middle English dolorous, from Old French dolerous (modern French douloureux), from Late Latin dolōrōsus (“painful”), from Latin dolor. Doublet of dolorose.

Through dolorous despaire, which she conceyved,
Into the Sea her selfe did headlong throw,
Thinking to have her griefe by death bereaved.

1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

. . . Hell itself will pass away,
And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day.

1645, John Milton, On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, stanza 14:

From this prison here of horror, whence I every hour tend nearer and nearer to destruction, I send you . . . the assurance of my dolorous and unhappy service.

1859, Charles Dickens, chapter 30, in A Tale of Two Cities:

She turned and waved a hand to him, she cried a word, but he didn't hear it, it was a lost word. A sable wraith she was in the parkland, fading away into the dolorous crypt of winter.

1922, Michael Arlen, “3/2/1”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:

As World War II came to a close, the gaunt and dolorous child was liberated at yet another death camp, Buchenwald.

2001 June 24, Stefan Kanfer, “Author, Teacher, Witness”, in Time:


mood swing

The worst thing about my wife's pregnancy was her awful mood swings.

(psychology) A rapid and extreme changing in mood, from excessively happy to desperately miserable.


afear

en-verb

afear (third-person singular simple present afears, present participle afearing, simple past and past participle afeared)

afears (present singular third-person)
afearing (participle present)
afeared (participle past)
afeared (past)

From Middle English aferen (“to frighten, terrify”), from Old English āfǣran (“to terrify, dismay”), from ā- (perfective prefix) + fǣran (“to frighten; to devour, raven”), from fǣr (“sudden danger, calamity, ambush; a blitz”), from Proto-Germanic *fērō (“danger”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to try, dare, risk”).

der

Moreouer the perfit beleue of this article, worketh in all true chriſten people, aloue to continue in this vnitie, and afeare to be caſte out of the ſame, and it worketh in them that be ſinners and repentant, great comforte, and conſolacion, to obteine remiſſion of ſinne, by vertue of Chriſtes paſſion, and adminiſtracion of his ſacramentes at the miniſters handes, ordained for that purpoſe, [...]

1543 June 8, Henry VIII of England, “The Nynthe Article. The Holy Catholike Churche.”, in A Necessary Doctrine and Erudicion for Any Chrysten Man, Set furth by the Kynges Maiestye of Englande, &c., imprinted at London: […] by Thomas Berthelet, […], →OCLC:

Be not affeard, the Iſle is full of noyſes, / Sounds, and ſweet aires, that giue delight and hurt not.

1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 12, column 2:

(obsolete or dialectal) To imbue with fear; to affright, to terrify.


hot-brain

From hot + brain. Compare Old English hātheort (“furious, angry, irascible, passionate, ardent”).

cog

(obsolete) an impetuous, fiery person; a hothead


jollity

en-noun

jollity (countable and uncountable, plural jollities)

From Middle English jolyfte, from Old French joliveté (“gaiety, cheerfulness; amorous passion; life of pleasure”), from jolif. Equivalent to jolly + -ty.

der

But I pitty the flatteries, and ſelfe-applauſes of a careleſſe and impenitent heart: This jollity hath in it much danger, and vvithout ſome change, death.

1651, Jos[eph] Hall, “Soliloq[uy] XI. False Joy.”, in Susurrium cum Deo. Soliloquies: Or, Holy Self-conferences of the Devout Soul, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Hunt, and are to be sold by George Lathum junior, […], →OCLC, page 37:

The Jolly Sandboys was a small road-side inn of pretty ancient date, with a sign, representing three Sandboys increasing their jollity with as many jugs of ale and bags of gold.

1840 April – 1841 November, Charles Dickens, “Chapter the Eighteenth”, in The Old Curiosity Shop. A Tale. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1841, →OCLC:

The youngsters, not immediately within sight, seemed rather bright and desirable appurtenances than otherwise; the incidents of daily life were not without humorousness and jollity in their aspect there.

1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume I, London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., […], →OCLC, phase the first (The Maiden), page 36:

(uncountable) The state of being jolly; jolliness, cheerfulness.


brame

From Middle English brame, from Old French brame, bram (“a cry of pain or longing; a yammer”), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *brammjan, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *bramjaną (“to roar; bellow”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrem- (“to make a noise; hum; buzz”). Compare Old High German breman (“to roar”), Old English bremman (“to roar”). More at brim. Compare breme.

[…] hart-burning brame
 She ſhortly like a pyned ghoſt became.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 52:

(obsolete) Intense passion or emotion; vexation.


lachanophobia

/ˌlækənəˈfəʊbɪə/

From Ancient Greek λάχανον (lákhanon, “greens, vegetables”) + -phobia.

All in all, I'd like to state that it was lachanophobia that sparked this.

2007, Clarence Cheong, “Food Fiesta on Sun (11 Nov)”, in west cell (Usenet):

“I thought recovered memories were traumatic. What's traumatic about citrus fruit?”
“Lachanophobia,” he says. “That's the fear of vegetables. It stands to reason that there's one for the rest of the food pyramid, too.”

She suffers from a fear known as lachanophobia, which leaves her sweating and stricken with panic attacks at the merest sight of a sprout or a pea.

2009 November 9, “Woman diagnosed with fear of vegetables”, in The Telegraph:

“[…] ‘lachanophobia,’ which appears to be an irrational fear of vegetables.” He leaned forward conspiratorially. “I must confess that, on occasion, I have used it as a way to avoid broccoli.”

2013, John Connolly, The Wrath of Angels: A Charlie Parker Thriller, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 145:


horrify

en-verb

horrify (third-person singular simple present horrifies, present participle horrifying, simple past and past participle horrified)

horrifies (present singular third-person)
horrifying (participle present)
horrified (participle past)
horrified (past)

From horror + -ify, or borrowed from Latin horrificare (cf. French horrifier). 1791, in form horrifying.

The haunted house horrified me, as I passed from one room to the next feeling more and more like I wasn’t going to survive.

To cause to feel extreme apprehension or unease; to cause to experience horror.

ужасявам

to cause to feel extreme apprehension or unease


orneriness

en-noun

orneriness (usually uncountable, plural ornerinesses)


white-knuckle

BP said its capped-off well appeared to be holding steady Friday morning, almost midway into a white-knuckle waiting period in which engineers watched the pressure gauges for signs of a leak.

2010 July 16, Colleen Long and Harry R. Weber, "BP capped well holding nearly a day into new fix", Associated Press wire

"No surprise given both Bellamy and White share - or have inherited - Hendrix's unique blend of experimental instincts and white-knuckle showmanship," said Mr Goldsmith.

2009 November 27, “Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child has 'best guitar riff'”, in BBC:

(idiomatic) Causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense, or nervousness.

aufregend

causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense or nervousness


atrociousness

1689, Francis Grant, Lord Cullen, The Loyalists Reasons for His Giving Obedience, and Swearing Allegiance, to the Present Government, Edinburgh: J. Reid, pp. 34-35,
If there be joyned to [injustice] an other vice […] , if it be frequent and habitual, in a Person of perfect Age, all these Aggravations augment its Atrociousness.

The atrociousness of a crime, depends greatly upon the nature, character, and condition of the victim. […] To steal bread from a full man, is theft; to steal it from a starving man, is both theft and murder.

1830, Theodore Dwight Weld, The Bible against Slavery, New York, page 12:

[…] as the day dawned, the atrociousness of his conduct became apparent.

1958, T. H. White, The Once and Future King, New York: Putnam, Book 2, Chapter 12, p. 309:

The state or quality of being atrocious.


anuptaphobia

(rare) The fear of remaining unmarried or being married to the wrong person.


infantophilia

The primary sexual attraction of adults to very young children (defined by various studies as 0–4 years old).


anhedonic

[P]hysical anhedonics may not pay attention to tone stimuli (and therefore do not give SC [skin conductance] responses) because such subjects are identified on the basis of lacking pleasure and interest in physical events. As such, nonresponding in physical anhedonics may indicate validity for the way physical anhedonia is measured, but may not reflect a factor of etiologic significance.

1995, Adrian Raine, Todd Lencz, Deana S. Benishay, “Schizotypal Personality and Skin Conductance Orienting”, in Adrian Raine, Todd Lencz, Sarnoff A. Mednick, editors, Schizotypal Personality, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, part III (Assessment), page 231:

The anhedonic can still speak about happiness and meaning et al., but she has become incapable of feeling anything in them, of understanding anything about them, of hoping anything about them, or of believing them to exist as anything more than concepts. Everything has become an outline of the thing. Objects become schemata. The world becomes a map of the world. An anhedonic can navigate, but has no location. I.e. the anhedonic becomes, in the lingo of Boston AA, Unable To Identify.

1996, David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest […], Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 693:

An anhedonic who impulsively seeks out social contact with others may be actin in response to his mental condition, but he tends to be less beholden to his condition during the process of actual socialization itself. [...] While an anhedonic will typically be shy and less than the center of any gathering, a manic can often be charming, talkative, and charismatic, with the hallmark that the self-aggrandizement is often tinged with delusions and distortions.

2014, David Coleman, “1980s–1990s: The Burgeoning Diversity of Depressive Expressionism”, in The Bipolar Express: Manic Depression and the Movies, Lanham, Md., Plymouth, Devon: Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, pages 216–217:

(psychiatry) A person who has anhedonia.


leman

From Middle English lemman, variant of leofman, from Old English *lēofmann ("lover; sweetheart"; attested as a personal name), equivalent to lief + man ("beloved person"). In the past, incorrectly asserted to derive from French l’aimant (“the [male] lover”).

gloss

Faire Venus seemde vnto his bed to bring
Her, whom he waking euermore did weene,
To be the chastest flowre, that ay did spring
On earthly braunch, the daughter of a king,
Now a loose Leman to vile seruice bound[…].

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

The prisoner I speak of is better booty—a jolly monk riding to visit his leman, an I may judge by his horse-gear and wearing apparel.

1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter II, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 61:

(archaic) One beloved; a lover, a sweetheart of either sex (especially a secret lover; a gallant or mistress).

'...They are lost, I tell thee, they are lost. For them there is no heaven nor hell, and in neither shall they praise God’s name.’
‘Father,’ cried the young Fisherman, ‘thou knowest not what thou sayest. Once in my net I snared the daughter of a King. She is fairer than the morning star, and whiter than the moon. For her body I would give my soul, and for her love I would surrender heaven. Tell me what I ask of thee, and let me go in peace.’
‘Away! Away!’ cried the Priest: ‘thy leman is lost, and thou shalt be lost with her.’
And he gave him no blessing, but drove him from his door.

1915, Oscar Wilde, A House of Pomegranates: The Fisherman and his Soul:

And he sent the news to William the Lyon, sitting drinking the wine and fondling his bonny lemans in Edinburgh Town, and William made him the Knight of Kinraddie[…].

1932, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Sunset Song: