Mikhail Epstein's definitions

uchronia

uchronia n. (Gr. ou, not + Gr. khronos, time; literally "no time"; cf. utopia, "no place) Ð a historical period when "nothing happens," a time of stagnation.

As soon as utopia finds its fulfilment in history, it turns into uchronia, a disruption of history itself.

by Mikhail Epstein November 13, 2003

the booming 1990s, the dooming 2000s

a nickname for our decade

American culture likes to divide itself into decades: the prosperous fifties, the rebellious sixties, the egoistic seventies, the greedy the eighties, the booming ninetees… Finally, the dooming
2000s

by Mikhail Epstein October 8, 2003

netscapism

netscapism n (net + escapism) - an inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities into the electronic network, or virtual world.

In the past, the wild nature and remote countries were the favorite refuge for escapists. Now netscapism, especially among adolescents, has grown into a serious social problem.

by Mikhail Epstein November 7, 2003

dreadvertise (verb; dread + advertise)

to advertise by dread, to engage in military propaganda.

There are skilled dreadvertisers in our government.

by Mikhail Epstein October 2, 2003

polypath

polypath n. ( Gr. polys, much, many + patheia, suffering) Ð a person with multiple disorders, such as neuropathy, myopathy, sociopathy, chronopathy, etc.

A polymath is a universal genius, a polypath is a universal idiot.

by Mikhail Epstein November 13, 2003

slavior

slavior (to (en)slave + suffix ior, like in savior) Ð the prince of this world, the one who imitates the Savior and promises to save people but makes them slaves.

Outwardly the distinction between Savior and Slavior may be as subtle as one letter difference in their names.

For many old-believers, the Slavior is already here, in our very midst, and they refuse to serve this self-appointed sovereign.

by Mikhail Epstein November 2, 2003

domestican

domestican n Latin domesticus, belonging to the household, from domus, house - someone who preaches the values of domestic life, worships the deities of hearth and home.

He is a sort of a monk, though his monastery is his own house. In a word, he is a domestican.

A typical domestican hates public spaces. Hu prefers hus kitchen and living room to all attractions in the world.

by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003