Definitions by holsan

emble

(n.) A small, limited yet genuine romantic attraction that is stronger than romantic interest but doesn't develop into a full crush. An emble is a stable, limited feeling. It might persist at that level for years or fade, but it doesn't inherently progress into stronger romantic feelings. Basically, a “half-crush”, but not necessarily a crush that's still developing.

Pronounced /ˈɛm.bl/, or "EM-bl". (like "ember", but replace the "ber" with "bl")(which is where the word comes from: "ember" -> "emble")

"I don't have a crush on her, it's just an emble. I've had it for years."

emble by holsan September 21, 2026

Contradefine

(verb) To contradefine means to aggressively insist an incorrect definition of a word or term to someone with firsthand knowledge of said word or term.

Tourist: "An 'Irish Goodbye' means someone who sneaks out of a place, like a pub or party. without saying a word."
Irishman: "No, an 'Irish Goodbye' means to say 'bye' to everyone for like forty minutes, and maybe have an hour-long conversation in the hall. Or to say 'bye' 20 times within 5 seconds while on the phone to someone.."
Tourist: "No, you're wrong."
Irishman: "Are you seriously trying to contradefine my own culture to me?"

Contradefine by holsan August 15, 2026

Retralgia

Definition:
(noun.) A painful longing for an idealised past, often intensified by grief, nostalgia, and/or the intense awareness that it cannot be recovered as idealised.

Etymology:
Coined from retro- (backwards; past) + -algia (pain; distress; longing).

I felt retralgia when I saw an old video of people playing a video game that is now unplayable.

Retralgia by holsan August 15, 2026