Chapter 1: An Exploration of New Vocabulary

Welcome to another installment in this ongoing series showcasing intriguing words and phrases gathered from the vast realms of literature and media. This collection is presented for your enjoyment and enlightenment. While these terms may be unfamiliar to me, you might already be acquainted with some, in which case, feel free to revel in my naivety—an unending source of material to explore. Challenge yourself: how many of these words do you already recognize?

Epicormic — An adjective referring to a shoot or branch that develops from a previously dormant bud on a tree's trunk or limb. This term was encountered on a sign at Westonbirt Arboretum.

Autotoxicity — Another term found at the arboretum, describing a biological phenomenon where a species inhibits the growth or reproduction of its own kind by releasing harmful chemicals into the environment. This term was used to describe how sycamore seedlings eliminate surrounding seedlings of the same species to enhance their chances of survival. The arboretum has been actively planting new trees to replace the thousands of ash trees lost to a disease known as "ash dieback."

Nunchaku — A weapon composed of two sticks connected by a short length of cord, chain, or rawhide, noted in a news report.

Excited delirium (ED) and Acute Behavioural Disturbance (ABD) are outdated terms that possess troubling racial implications, yet they continue to be utilized by law enforcement in the UK.

Aposematism — This term refers to signaling toxicity or danger through bright coloration. I came across this word while researching survival mechanisms in nature.

Parthenogenesis — Defined as reproduction without fertilization (asexual reproduction), this term emerged from the same research.

Sclerophyllous leaves — Tough, resilient leaves that deter herbivores, also noted in my studies.

Viviparity — The process of giving birth to live young instead of laying eggs, gleaned from the same research.

Velleity — Representing the minimal degree of volition, or a slight desire or inclination. This word appeared in an enlightening article by Ben Ulansey.

"A Proustian moment" — A sensory experience that evokes a flood of memories, often from long ago or seemingly forgotten. I first heard this phrase during an interview with author Philip Pullman, where he discussed the advice he would offer to his younger self.

Felo-de-se — A term from Medieval Latin, referring to a person who takes their own life or dies as a result of committing a malicious act.

Aphantasia — The inability to visualize people in one’s “mind’s eye,” further explored in a related article.

Carnauba — A wax commonly used in confections to prevent melting, in pills for easier swallowing, and as a thickening agent in cosmetics.

Eponym — A term that refers to a person after whom a discovery or invention is named, such as diesel, sandwich, or mackintosh, as discussed in the BBC show "Mastermind."

Anulus — The space between concentric circles, also derived from the same show.

The following terms are drawn from the remarkable "The Bastard of Istanbul" by Elif Shafak, a rich narrative celebrating the cultural fusion of a city where East meets West, modernity collides with tradition, and faith encounters secularism:

Simit — A circular bread typically coated in sesame seeds, enjoyed across the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire and the Middle East, particularly in Armenia, Turkey, and the Balkans.

Mellifluous — An adjective describing a sound that is pleasingly smooth and harmonious.

Mordant — A sharp or critical quality, particularly in humor.

Saturnine — An adjective denoting a gloomy demeanor, often associated with a person.

Jicama — A crisp, white-fleshed tuber used primarily in Mexican cuisine.

Janissary — Referring to elite infantry units forming the Ottoman Sultan’s household troops, recognized as one of the first modern standing armies.

Nef — An ornate table decoration resembling a ship, used for holding items like napkins and condiments.

Interstice — Denoting an intervening space, particularly a very small one.

Boutonnière — A floral decoration, typically a single flower or bud, worn on a suit jacket's lapel.

Hebephrenic schizophrenia — Also known as disorganized schizophrenia, typically developing in individuals aged 15–25, characterized by disorganized behavior and thoughts, along with brief delusions and hallucinations.

Fictive — An adjective relating to fiction or something created by the imagination.

I hope you find this collection delightful, and feel free to share your own favorite words in the comments.

As always, thank you for reading. This piece was crafted by a human, not an AI generator. (More Info)

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Previous articles from The Word Collector include:

Part 53 — Findom and Biblioklepting

Part 52 — Bump the Lamp with a Drabble Dabble

Part 51 — Blitzscaling Rishession

Part 50 — A Gallimaufry of Particitrousers

Part 49 — Kvetching, habit stacking, and loud budgeting

Part 48 — Flex Your Rizz Bruv

Part 47 — Bikeshedding Navvy Gravvy

Part 46 — Astraphobic Badonkadonk

Part 45 — Ergophobic Humdudgeon

Part 44 — Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobic Longiloquence

Part 43 — Stravaiging Shiznit

Part 42 — Model Collapse And Dezinformatsiya

Part 41 — A Flapdoodle of rapid unscheduled disassembly

Part 40 — Mulesing, Merkins, Quislings, Tallywags And Refoulment

Part 39 — Blowing off the hinky cobwebs

Part 38 — A Dreich Case Of Psychoterratic Solastalgia

Part 37 — A Cockamamie Collection Of Highkey Zhuzh

Part 36 — Keggers, Kerning, Çay and Crickets

Part 35 — Murmuring judges and anhedonia

Part 34 — A-quomodocunquizing-borborygmus

Part 33 — Going Monk Mode In Taumata­whakatangihanga­koauau­o­tamatea­turi­pukaka­piki­maunga­horo­nuku­pokai­whenua­ki­tana­tahu

Part 32 — Turpitudinous Tourons

Part 31 — Hurkle durkle, medicanes and misophonia

Part 30 — Immortal earworms

Part 29 — Government on the RAAC

Part 28 — Saved by a deus ex machina

Part 27 — Pre-Lapsarian Yakers

Part 26 — Fegans, Jorts, Rababs And Scotch Bonnets

Part 25 — Fissiparous Hegemony

Part 24 — Lollygag And Booktok

Part 23 — Patronymics And Samovars

Part 22 — Medium Is No Chronofage If YRMIRY

Part 21 — Everything Is Eellogofusciouhipoppokunurious

Part 20 — Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia And The Matthew Effect

Part 19 — A Nappuccino And Some Typo-Squatting

Part 18 — Yeeting Detritovres

Part 17 — An Inverted Pyramid Of Piffle On The Bed Of Procrustes

Part 16 — Having The Jones And Partisan Acrimony

Part 15 — Spycops In The Boondocks

Part 14 — Harlots, Stochastic Parrots, And The Devil's Cufflinks

Part 13 — The Things We Make Exceptional

Part 12 — "Semper Fidelis" And Semantic Symbiosis

Part 11 — Heliophobic Hikikomori

Part 10 — Lenticular Clouds And Peque Peques

Part 9 — Big Red Boots And Nepo Babies

Part 8 — A Patina Of Smilies

Part 7 — Atavistic frou frou

Part 6 — Mouth Breathers And Pearl Clutchers

Part 5 — The Lexophile's Latest List

Part 4 — Revenge of the word collector

Part 3 — An Etymological Extravaganza

Part 2 — Return Of The Word Collector

Part 1 — A Moment In The Sun

Chapter 2: The Proustian Effect in Memory

The concept of a "Proustian moment" can evoke a cascade of memories, often triggered by sensory experiences. To explore this fascinating idea further, I recommend the following video, which delves into the relationship between memories and sensory input.

The next video examines how smell can stimulate unconscious memories, offering insights into the Proustian/Madeleine effect.

This exploration into vocabulary and memory highlights how language shapes our experiences and recollections.