Catoptric Tristesse

Catoptric Tristesse

n.
the sadness that you’ll never really know what other people think of you, whether good, bad, or if at all—that although you can gather a few hints here and there, and even ask around for honest feedback, you’ll always have to wonder which opinions are being softened out of flattery, sharpened out of malice, or held back because it’s simply not their place.

In Ancient Rome, the catoptric cistula was a kind of mirror-lined box whose interior appeared to expand into an infinite forest, library, or treasure room. Pronounced “kuh-top-trik tris-tes.”

Covalent Bond

Aftergloom

Star-Stuck

Scrough

Monachopsis

Hailbound

Tillid

Siso

Wenbane

Heartmoor

Adronitis

Anecdoche

Burn Upon Reentry

Ludiosis

Catoptric Tristesse

Kinchy

The Unsharp Mask

Eigenschauung

Eigen-schauung

Nighthawk

Jouska

Justing

Funkenzwangsvorstellung

Funkenzwang-svorstellung

Evertheless

a person floating in water

Nilous

a person standing at a bus terminal

Knellish

a blurry image of a person lying on a bed

Vaucasy

The Meantime