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When an old word is a new friend

It’s oddly satisfying to “see” yourself in a word you hadn’t met before.

Perhaps you knew something about yourself. But because you lacked the one, perfect word, describing that something to yourself or others required whole piles of words, even whole piles of sentences.

Then you meet the word and … revelation!

Even better is when the word is new to you but isn’t new at all. It’s been out there, as if alive and sentient and waiting ever so patiently for you to finally circle ’round to it.

I write, of course, as if my experience is universal. Yours may differ. You may not connect emotionally to words, as I do. Words may be your utility players, inert like stone, necessary but not like family.

You knew this was coming: I met such a word this week.

Tsundoku.

It’s a 19th-century noun, from Japanese, for the practice of buying and stacking books you intend to read but haven’t. It also refers to the book stack itself.

Ahhh, Tsundoku. How I’ve needed you. ’Tis lovely to meet you at last.


For the love of words

Wordle captured me. Send help.

The writing bug

Editorial tyrant

The waffling semicolon

The humble editor

Disirregardlessers revolt

Exclamation exuberance!


A song about words

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One Comment

  1. Darlene Olivo Darlene Olivo

    Great word, Jeff. Thanks.

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