Skip to main content

Mikhail Epstein's definitions

syntellect

syntellect n (Greek syn, with, together + intellect) Ð the unified mind of civilization that integrates all individual natural and artificial minds through the mediation and accumulative effects of informational networks.
Intellectual network--inteLnet--will connect all thinking beings into one communicational network that gradually will develop into a new form of consciousness--syntellect. The syntellect will absorb and condense the potentials of all thinking beings and will operate on both biological and quantum levels.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
mugGet the syntellectmug.

protologism

protologism n Greek protos, first, original + Greek logos, word; cf. prototype, neologism - a newly created word which has not yet gained any wide acceptance. It is a prototype or a hypothetical projection of a new lexical unit before it may become current in writing or speech. The word "protologism" proposed here and now is itself an example of protologism.
In contrast to protologisms, neologisms are words that have already been in public usage by authors other than their inventors. As soon as a protologism finds its way into newspapers and websites, journals and books, it becomes a neologism.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
mugGet the protologismmug.
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
mugGet the infopause n. (information + pause)mug.

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
mugGet the equiphiliamug.

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
mugGet the ghostalgiamug.

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
mugGet the egoneticsmug.

webbiage

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.
Why do you need all this webbiage? Simplify, simplify!
by Mikhail Epstein November 2, 2003
mugGet the webbiagemug.

Share this definition

Sign in to vote

We'll email you a link to sign in instantly.

Or

Check your email

We sent a link to

Open your email