Mikhail Epstein's definitions
conaster n from Latin cum, with + Greek astron, star - literally with star, the exact antonym to disaster; the fortunate outcome of an almost imminent disaster; the sensation of a catastrophe narrowly averted and later remembered from the vantage point of safety.
There were several conasters in my life that I cannot recall without thanking God for his undeserved mercy.
You were born under a lucky star. This conaster is an amazing mixture of chance and miracle.
You were born under a lucky star. This conaster is an amazing mixture of chance and miracle.
by Mikhail Epstein November 2, 2003
Get the conastermug. Nothing in contemporary life carries meaning for him. He is a deeply relicious person, not simply nostalgic.
Some people think that Eastern Orthodox spirituality is more relicious than truly religious.
Some people think that Eastern Orthodox spirituality is more relicious than truly religious.
by Mikhail Epstein November 2, 2003
Get the reliciousmug. etceteric adj (from etcetera, "and so forth")- somebody or something usually included in the "etcetera" rubric, one among "the others," "the like," "the rest," not named individually; marginal, anonymous, obscure.
I'm afraid you have never heard about Andrew Lynch. No, he is not an exoteric writer. He is simply an etceteric writer.
Alan has worked in zoology for almost forty years, and he still remains an etceteric researcher. Isn't this a shame? Let's find a way to give some tribute to him.
Kaluga is not an etceteric Russian provincial town, it is known for the best preserved cityscape and architecture of the 19th century.
Alan has worked in zoology for almost forty years, and he still remains an etceteric researcher. Isn't this a shame? Let's find a way to give some tribute to him.
Kaluga is not an etceteric Russian provincial town, it is known for the best preserved cityscape and architecture of the 19th century.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
Get the etcetericmug. traf v (back-formation from traffic) - to drive in heavy traffic, to be held in traffic, to trail in slow traffic.
Back-formation is the creation of a simpler or shorter form from a pre-existing more complex form: "edit" from "editor," "intuit from intuition."
Now, "traf" from "traffic."
I traffed for an hour before I could get home.
I've been traffing for two hours before I could even stop by a gas station to have a cup of coffee.
Now, "traf" from "traffic."
I traffed for an hour before I could get home.
I've been traffing for two hours before I could even stop by a gas station to have a cup of coffee.
by Mikhail Epstein November 8, 2003
Get the traf (verb, from "traffic")mug. lovedom n love + suffix dom; cf. kingdom, stardom Ð the world of love, the totality of loving emotions and attitudes.
Edward VIII was that rare romantic who challenged society by trading his kingdom for lovedom.
Your heart is large enough to love many, but in all your lovedom, can you find a small corner for me?
Your heart is large enough to love many, but in all your lovedom, can you find a small corner for me?
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
Get the lovedommug. egonetics, n. (ego+net+ics)
weaving a network of self-references, increasing one's presence on the interne.
Egonetics is different from "ego surfing" - a search of your name on the internet (using search engines). Egonetics is an active electronic dispersal of your name, making links to your homepage, using various interactive sites and open forums. It can be done for the sake of an idea or a commercial promotion, but in the absence of ideological or professional motifs, this is a clear case of egonetics.
weaving a network of self-references, increasing one's presence on the interne.
Egonetics is different from "ego surfing" - a search of your name on the internet (using search engines). Egonetics is an active electronic dispersal of your name, making links to your homepage, using various interactive sites and open forums. It can be done for the sake of an idea or a commercial promotion, but in the absence of ideological or professional motifs, this is a clear case of egonetics.
I am afraid that my colleague uses her office hours for egonetics.
He is not an egoist in the classical sense, he is simply an egonetic.
He is not an egoist in the classical sense, he is simply an egonetic.
by Mikhail Epstein November 16, 2003
Get the egoneticsmug. webbiage n (web + suffix iage, like in verbiage) Ð excessive use of web tools and design beyond those needed to present a certain content or achieve a certain goal.
by Mikhail Epstein November 2, 2003
Get the webbiagemug.