Ambitendry

The quiet, mutual tension between two people who are deeply aware of each other’s presence, yet choose not to acknowledge it—each pretending to be absorbed in something else, while their awareness hums between them like a wire strung tight.

Etymology: From Latin ambi- (“both, around”) + tendere (“to stretch”) + -ry (denoting state or quality).

Even across the crowded room, the ambitendry between them crackled like static.

by Inej May 27, 2025