A baker’s dozen terms you (probably) never knew existed

Several of my previous posts have been dedicated to the power of words. I’ve written about words that describe words, confusing word pairs, and words that make writers swoon. Let’s dive down even further by looking at examples that will make you say, “There’s a word for that?” Hypergraphia: a compulsion to write, sometimes uncontrollably.

She was disappointed that her hypergraphia did not yield anything worthy of being published.

Mysophobia: an abnormal fear of dirt.

Don’t let a little mysophobia keep you from enjoying the camping trip.

Lissotrichous: having straight or smooth hair.

Looking in the mirror at the frizzy mass upon her head, she wished to be lissotrichous.

Schadenfreude: pleasure derived from the misfortunes of another person.

Was it Schadenfreude I felt when I heard about his car problems?

Avuncular: having to do with an uncle; characteristic of an uncle.

His avuncular tone undercut the value of his valuable advice.