(noun) The joy of listening to the sound of rain on a roof. From the Greek roots 'στέγη' (stegi), meaning 'roof;' 'βροχή' (vrochi), meaning 'rain;' and '-philia,' a love of or a fondness for.
Aesyle gathered her mug of steaming cocoa, her knitted woolen blanket, her favourite book of botanical prints, and snuggled into her warm bed to indulge her stegivrochophilia – reveling in the joy of listening to the rain pattering on the slate roof sheltering her from the blustering storm outside.
by The Autumn Mandrake August 14, 2024
(noun) An individual who revels in the joy of walking on grass barefoot. From the Greek roots 'ξυπόλητος' (xipolitos), meaning 'barefoot;' 'γρασίδι' (grasidi), meaning 'grass;' and '-philia,' a love of or a fondness for.
There is nothing more soothing for the xipolitosograsidiphile than to veer from the hard cobbles of a hot and dusty road, remove their boots, and cool the soles of their feet on the soft verdure of a grassy meadow.
by The Autumn Mandrake August 14, 2024
(noun) An individual who has a fondness for the smell of old books. From the Greek roots 'ἀρχαῖος' (archaios), meaning 'ancient' or 'old;' 'βιβλίον' (biblion), meaning 'book;' 'ὀσμή' (osme), meaning 'smell;' and '-philia,' a love of or a fondness for.
Diana was an enthusiastic archaiobibliosmiophile who loved nothing more than those first evocative moments in the morning when walking into the Bodleian Library, where the waft of ancient manuscripts ignited her anticipation of hours of reading pleasure.
by The Autumn Mandrake August 14, 2024
(noun) One who derives joy or pleasure from squeezing pimples, blackheads, and other sebaceous skin eruptions. From the Greek roots σπυρίς (spyris), meaning 'basket,' something hollow, or 'pimple;' and '-philia,' a love of or a fondness for.
Whilst considered repugnant by some people, spyrophilia is a pleasurable and usually harmless activity for many.
Contrast with 'dermatillomaniac,' an individual with a mental illness related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and which is characterised by repeated picking at one's own skin, resulting in areas of swollen or broken skin and causing significant disruption in one's life.
Whilst considered repugnant by some people, spyrophilia is a pleasurable and usually harmless activity for many.
Contrast with 'dermatillomaniac,' an individual with a mental illness related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and which is characterised by repeated picking at one's own skin, resulting in areas of swollen or broken skin and causing significant disruption in one's life.
The success of Ron and Eloise's enduring friendship was due in no small part to the fact that each was a spyrophile who inordinately savoured the simple pleasure of squeezing the other's pimples and blackheads.
by The Autumn Mandrake August 15, 2024
The ambisignum is the ± symbol commonly referred to as the plus-or-minus sign, or the plus-minus sign. The term is derived from the Latin prefix 'ambi-,' which means "both" or "on both sides," reflecting the dual nature of the symbol (plus and minus). The Latin word 'signum' means "sign" or "symbol" and directly ties 'ambisignum' to its function as a mathematical sign.
Note that it is tautological to refer to an 'ambisignum sign' or an 'ambisignum symbol' in the same way that it is tautological to refer to RAS syndrome (where RAS means 'redundant acronym syndrome')...
Note that it is tautological to refer to an 'ambisignum sign' or an 'ambisignum symbol' in the same way that it is tautological to refer to RAS syndrome (where RAS means 'redundant acronym syndrome')...
Albert could never remember the keystrokes required to insert an ambisignum into his social media posts discussing mathematics, so he always resorted to copying one from a web search and pasting it into his text.
by The Autumn Mandrake November 28, 2024
Leminscatus (noun) The infinity (∞) sign. Derived from the Latin 'lēmniscātus,' meaning "decorated with ribbons", and which itself ioriginates from the Greek 'λημνίσκος' (lēmnískos), meaning "ribbon."
The lemniscatus is a figure-eight curve that resembles a group of curves in algebraic geometry collectively called lemniscates. Jacob Bernoulli first used the term 'lemniscate' in the late 17th century, based on the same Latin and Greek roots. While a 'lemniscate' refers to any algebraically defined figure-eight curve, the lemniscatus specifically symbolises the concept of infinity.
The lemniscatus is a figure-eight curve that resembles a group of curves in algebraic geometry collectively called lemniscates. Jacob Bernoulli first used the term 'lemniscate' in the late 17th century, based on the same Latin and Greek roots. While a 'lemniscate' refers to any algebraically defined figure-eight curve, the lemniscatus specifically symbolises the concept of infinity.
Johann knew that his brother Jake was serious about studying philosophy at university when Jake came home one day sporting a new lemniscatus tattoo on his arm.
by The Autumn Mandrake November 30, 2024
noun A fascination with or an appreciation of sticks, twigs, wands, and similar pieces of wood, especially if they have unique or pleasing forms, textures, and/or colours. From the Greek root 'rhabdos/rhavdos' or 'rhabdi/rhavdi,' a stick, and '-philia,' denoting a fondness for or a love of.
Alternative spellings: ravdophilia, rhavdiphilia, ravdiphilia.
Alternative spellings: ravdophilia, rhavdiphilia, ravdiphilia.
Combing through the accumulated driftwood on the beach, John's rhavdophilia was ignited by a contorted stick with a patterned and branched end that resembled the head and neck of a dragon.
by The Autumn Mandrake August 09, 2024