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Mikhail Epstein's definitions

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
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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
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chronopath

chronopath n. (Gr. khronos, time + Gr. patheia, suffering) Ð a person who suffers from chronopathy, i.e. a disorder of time sense.

chronopathic adj Ð characterized by chronopathy.
Why are you always late? Are you a chronopath?

He has no ill intentions or disrespect when he misses one appointment after another. He is severely chronopathic since his childhood.
by Mikhail Epstein November 13, 2003
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ghostalgia

ghostalgia n. (ghost + Gr. algos, pain, grief, distress; cf. nostalgia) Ð a mystical longing or wistful affection for ghosts, angels, miracles, aliens, and other otherworldy characters and mysterious phenomena.
Ghostalgia is a form of nostalgia in that we experience the other world as our genuine lost home.

I am agnostic, but sometimes I feel ghostalgic.

On the eve of deep historical crises, ghostalgia can grip the souls of entire nations.
by Mikhail Epstein November 15, 2003
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infopause n. (information + pause)

staying away from computers, newspapers and other sources of information in order to recover from informational stress.
The infopause may take from several minutes to several months, depending on the gravity of the initial affliction.

Every business should introduce at least two five-minute infopauses during the working day. All computers and all lights are off. This will refresh employees' ability to process new information.
by Mikhail Epstein November 15, 2003
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equiphilia

equiphilia n (Greek aequi, equal + philia, love) - equal love to many persons or things.
It is difficult for Mary to make up her mind. Not that she is indifferent to her admirers but she is now at the point of equiphilia.

Sometimes equiphilia is dangerously close to indifference. Equal love to many means no love at all.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
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egonetics

egonetics, n. (ego+net+ics)

weaving a network of self-references, increasing one's presence on the internet.

Egonetics is different from "ego surfing" - a search of one's own name on the internet (using search engines). Egonetics
is an active electronic dispersal of your name, making links to your homepage, entering various interactive sites and
open forums. It can be done for the sake of an idea or a commercial promotion, but in absence of ideological
or professional motifs, this is a narcissistic case of egonetics.
I am afraid that my colleague uses her office hours for egonetics.

He is not an egoist in the traditional sense, he is simply an egonetic.
by Mikhail Epstein November 16, 2003
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