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This one is for (aspiring) writers and those wanting to enhance their verbiage. Other than being able to share your story, arguably the most rewarding part about being a writer is the never-ending discovery of words you may not know. Rare but beautiful words may help one impart emotions or situations that may take multiple words, if not sentences, in just one short term. If you ever wondered if there was a word to describe a particular situation or feeling, there probably is. You just don't know about it (yet).
One may think that the many obscure words are irrelevant in day-to-day living. After all, wouldn't they be more common if people got to use them more often? Well, technically, yes. However, there are many reasons to adapt words you've never heard of. Other than making your vernacular more beautiful, rare words help convey an idea more concisely, whether written or spoken. Besides that, using cool unknown words adds great panache to one's lingua.
Below, we've compiled many rare words with beautiful meanings and typically unknown words that could be applied to everyday language. Just be sure you know what they mean and how to spell them correctly! Discovered any words that you liked and will try to add to your vocabulary? Let us know by giving them an upvote! Also, what other uncommon words should be added to the list? Comment down below!
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#2
Tidsoptimist Meaning: a person who’s habitually late because they think they have more time than they do.
Trophy Husband 2 years ago
This describes several of my children. And meanwhile I'm stressed if I don't arrive everywhere at least 15 minutes early!
StrangeOne 2 years ago
Habitually is a strong word, but I do often overestimate how much time I have to get ready in the morning and do other things. It takes a bit more effort to consider how much time I have to get ready and get to places.
#3
Dysania Meaning: the state of finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning.
StrangeOne 2 years ago
This would be an extreme case. Like, you have to put in so much effort you'd rather use a bedpan than get up to use the toilet.
#4
Lethologica Meaning: the inability to remember a word or put your finger on the right word.
Evelien Amaryllis 1 year ago
Wouldn't this be ironic xD That you have lethologica but you can't tell them since well, you have it xD
Will Forest 2 years ago
Right! Right! When that happens to me, I feel so....um.,so...errrr..so....
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago
Presumably from the mythical River Lethe of Greek lore, one drink of which would eliminate all memory.
#5
Phosphene
Meaning: the stars or dots you see when you rub your eyes.
secretly a kitten wallflower 2 2 years ago
I didn’t know those had a name! I just always thought of them as stars, or patterns, or light blobs!
DP 2(DP The Magical Unicorn) 2 years ago
Ooooo.. so that’s what those are, I see those daily. Even when I’m not rubbing my eyes.
#6
Alexithymia Meaning: inability to identify and express or describe one’s feelings.
Saeyoul Akiyune 1 month ago
Learned this one in "He Is Psychometric"! (K-Drama with GOT7's Jinyoung 😁)
#7
Overmorrow Meaning: the day after or following tomorrow.
#8
Ailurophile Meaning: a cat lover.
#9
Nibling Meaning: the gender-neutral term for nieces or nephews.
Jack Pinkerton 1 year ago
childrens yummy yummy sandwich gobble gobble yum yum
Load More Replies... #10
Cryptomnesia
Meaning: when you forget that you’ve forgotten something, and perceive it as a new, original thought.
Panda Kicki 2 years ago
I am sure this happens to me a lot, but if it makes me happy I dont mind!
#11
Potvaliancy Meaning: brave only as a result of being drunk.
Margaret H 2 years ago
In other words, Dutch courage, though I have never learned why the Dutch needed it most!
#12
Griffonage Meaning: careless or illegible handwriting.
Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
Someone once memorably said of me "her handwriting is so bad she could be a doctor!"
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago
Humphrey Lyttleton had a line: "This handwriting's so bad, I can only read it if I pin it to a wall and run past it"
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fair_weather_rose 2 years ago
This is me. At this point I have 2 different handwritings. The one that ohrr people can read, and the one that is easier to write but illegible to everyone but me. And my mom, who somehow has the ability to read anything, no matter how messy
#13
Psithurism Meaning: the sound of wind in the trees and leaves.
#14
Schadenfreude Meaning: a feeling of enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing about the troubles of other people.
fair_weather_rose 2 years ago
My dad is a German teacher, he's always taught it to me as "laughing at the misfortune of others"
#15
Sangfroid
Meaning: the ability to stay calm in difficult or dangerous situations.
#16
Whippersnapper Meaning: a young and inexperienced person considered to be overconfident.
Sarah Kathrin Matsoukis 2 years ago
Only person I ever heard this word from was Sean McGuire in Red Dead Redemption 2
#17
Quidnunc Meaning: a person who seeks to know all the latest news or gossip.
Julie Snelling 2 years ago
Jennifer Aniston's character in Love Happens write this word on the wall.
#18
Decathect Meaning: to withdraw one’s feelings of attachment from (a person, idea, or object), as in anticipation of a future loss.
#19
Pentapopemptic
Meaning: a person who has been divorced five times.
#20
Tacenda Meaning: things not to be mentioned or made public—things better left unsaid.
#21
Vernacular Meaning: the everyday speech of the people.
#22
Ultracrepidarian Meaning: someone who gives opinions beyond one’s area of expertise.
Jack Pinkerton 1 year ago
i am very not ultra creepy its giving me i know what it means because im it and its not ultra creepy like who is the stephanie woman talking about like oga ma gosh shes so stupido
#23
Callipygian Meaning: having a shapely bottom.
Jack Pinkerton 1 year ago
#notgivingmakesnosenseuwierdowhydoulikebigasses
Load More Replies... #24
Paresthesia
Meaning: the prickly feeling when your limb 'falls asleep' – also known as pins and needles!
Chewie Baron 2 years ago
That prickly feeling is your blood going back into the veins it was stopped from doing so.
Jack Pinkerton 1 year ago
i think u mean pins and needles not whateer nonsense this is its calle dpin and needles dumbo bumbos
#25
Eccedentesiast Meaning: one who fakes a smile.
#26
Swivet Meaning: a state of nervous excitement, haste, or anxiety; flutter.
#28
Foofaraw Meaning: a great fuss or disturbance about something very insignificant, or an excessive amount of decoration or ornamentation, as on a piece of clothing, a building, etc.
#29
Pogonotrophy
Meaning: the act of cultivating, or growing and grooming, a mustache, beard, sideburns or other facial hair.
#30
Floccinaucinihilipilification Meaning: the act of considering something to be not at all important or useful - used mainly as an example of a very long word.
#31
Gowpen Meaning: the hollow of two hands held together as if forming a bowl.
#32
Sprezzatura Meaning: perfect conduct or performance of something (as an artistic endeavor) without apparent effort.
#33
Gregarious Meaning: temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others.
#34
Balter
Meaning: dancing clumsily without any particular grace or skill but usually with enjoyment.
WindySwede 2 years ago
In sweden: "fuldans", translates to 'ugly dance'. Knowingly to dance bad just for the enjoyment.
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago
I wonder if that's relates to "fulsome", as in "fulsome praise", which means "sickening".
Load More Replies... Margaret H 2 years ago
I love dancing, even if my dancing reminded someone of "a hippopotamus on sedatives". So, I must be the poster child for baltering.
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago
"Love like you need the money. Dance like it hurts. Work like no-one is watching." - Scott Adams
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#36
Cachinnate Meaning: to laugh very, very loudly.
Stephanie Did It 2 years ago
I had a relative who did this, they sounded like a donkey braying.
#38
Ereyesterday Meaning: the day before yesterday.
#39
Apricity
Meaning: the warmth of the sun in winter.
#40
Defenestrate Meaning: throwing a person or thing out of a window.
Marek Čtrnáct 2 years ago
We throw a few guys out of the window and you're still bringing it up 400 years later? :(
Load More Replies... #41
Yerk Meaning: strike sharply.
#43
Lachrymose Meaning: given to tears or weeping.
#44
Akrasia
Meaning: the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgment through weakness of will.
#45
Mumpsimus Meaning: adherence to or persistence in an erroneous use of language, memorization, practice, belief, etc., out of habit or obstinacy.
#46
Frivolous Meaning: not serious in content, attitude, or behavior.
#47
Fodder Meaning: coarse food composed of plants or leaves and stalks.
#48
Cancatervate Meaning: heaping things into a pile.
#49
Dwale
Meaning: another name for deadly nightshade; belladonna.
#50
Compunction
Meaning: anxiety arising from awareness of guilt.
#51
Petulantly Meaning: in an easily irritated or annoyed manner.
#53
Panacea Meaning: hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases.
#54
Steatopygic Meaning: having a large bottom.
#55
Hullabaloo Meaning: a commotion or a fuss/another word for kerfuffle.
Chewie Baron 2 years ago
Hullabaloo was the name of the cartoon joey that was used internally at the BBC when they were promoting the upcoming launch of BBC2.
#58
Pogonotrophy Meaning: the cultivation of beards, beard-growing.
#59
Acrophobia Meaning: a morbid fear of great heights.
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago
Vertigo is the sensation of dizziness. Some people with acrophobia get it at heights; others get it because of inner ear problems.
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#64
Proline Meaning: an alcohol-soluble amino acid occurring in high concentrations in collagen.
#65
Umami Meaning: one of the basic tastes.
What do you think ?
Adam Zad 2 years ago
Quotidian: Everyday or commonplace. Brushing one's teeth would be considered a quotidian activity.
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago
Also "mundane", as in "Jamie Kennedy's acting is quotidian at best".
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Adam Zad 2 years ago
Quotidian: Everyday or commonplace. Brushing one's teeth would be considered a quotidian activity.
Vix Spiderthrust 2 years ago
Also "mundane", as in "Jamie Kennedy's acting is quotidian at best".
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