Words are the most important piece of what I do as a writer. With some shuffling of letters on the page, I can bring the strongest people to tears. That’s probably why I have a fascination with obscure words that most people don’t know exist. Whenever I find a new word, it joins the long list I keep on my laptop. These are just a few of my favorites that I’ve decided to share with you!

Vagary

Vagary is an unpredictable instance, a wandering journey. It can be a whimsical idea, desire, or action.

Resfeber

Resfeber is the restless race of a traveler’s heart before the journey begins. It’s the moment when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.

Selcouth

Selcouth is a way to describe the unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvelous aspects of life.

Philophobia

Philophobia is an indescribable fear of falling in love and of love in general.

Rubatosis

Rubatosis is the unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat when you feel awkward in a situation.

Compuctious

Compuctious is the deep-seated feelings of remorse or regret when you know you’ve done something wrong.

Alexithymia

Alexithymia is an inability to identify and express, or describe, your feelings when the world overwhelms you.

Desiderium

Desiderium describes an intense desire or longing, often associated with grief for someone you’ve lost.

Leucocholy

Leucocholy is the state of mind that comes with trivial diversions, particularly when you’re procrastinating.

Monachopsis

Monachopsis is that small, weird, persistent feeling we all get that we’re out of place.

Callosity

Callosity describes the lack of feeling or capacity for emotion. This is often associated with colder people.

Compathy

Compathy describes any shared feelings between the people you love, like joy or sorrow.