Unique

The Book of Human Emotions

Words for feelings English never got around to naming

Tiffany Watt Smith’s encyclopedia collects the feelings that are already named somewhere else. Abhiman, in Sanskrit: the specific pain of being hurt by someone you love, sorrow braided with bruised pride. Amae, in Japanese: surrendering into someone’s arms to be looked after. Żal, in Polish: melancholy at an irretrievable loss, wavering between resignation and rebellion. Having the word turns out to be most of the work.

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