Dictionary of Eye-Watering Words

[Whos Wee Dug]

TSUNDOKU
A word from Japanese—but for good reason, as there really isn’t a direct English translation of tsundoku. It refers to the obsessive practice of buying books but leaving them unread in piles around your house.

[Darren]

In English it's probably Harkin's Syndrome...

[Basement]

I think Mr Slant suffers from it, although he does read most of what he buys

[Whos Wee Dug]

Another apt little gem I thought is: HELLUO LIBORUM
Leave it to Latin to find the perfect term for you: a helluo liborum is someone with an insatiable appetite for books. Brilliantly, it literally means “book-glutton”.

[Squigglyx]

TSUNDOKU
A word from Japanese—but for good reason, as there really isn’t a direct English translation of tsundoku. It refers to the obsessive practice of buying books but leaving them unread in piles around your house.

Does it apply to people who buy second (and sometimes third or more) copies of books with different covers that don't get opened, never mind read?

[steeljam]

TSUNDOKU
A word from Japanese—but for good reason, as there really isn’t a direct English translation of tsundoku. It refers to the obsessive practice of buying books but leaving them unread in piles around your house.

Does it apply to people who buy second (and sometimes third or more) copies of books with different covers that don't get opened, never mind read?

積ん読. The two kanji mean Pile-up and Read, so it would exclude books bought that you don't intend to read.

[Grace Speaker]

people who buy second (and sometimes third or more) copies of books with different covers that don't get opened, never mind read?

Perfectly normal, logical, sensible and reasonable behaviour if you ask me.

One battered old paperback copy that can be re-read repeatedly, and occasionally dropped in the bath - cover usually clinging on to the binding for dear life
One hard-back copy - again used for regular re-reading, although rarely leaves the house. Mainly used for bedtime reading as the thud when it hits the floor when you nod off is very useful for waking you up just the right amount to remember to turn the bedside lamp off.
Additional hard-back with alternate, new and exciting artwork on covers - which means you have to buy the whole new set, for 'best'
Additional, additional hard-back with alternate, new and exciting artwork on covers - when another set gets issued a few years later
(At least) One special/limited edition - could be 1st edition, illustrated and/or signed. Kept behind closed glass doors in bookcase, away from pets, small children, anyone not wearing clean cotton gloves when handling, or anyone in general who doesn't realise that any damage done to these books will result in justifiable homicidal rage.

See - perfectly normal

[Squigglyx]

people who buy second (and sometimes third or more) copies of books with different covers that don't get opened, never mind read?

Perfectly normal, logical, sensible and reasonable behaviour if you ask me.

One battered old paperback copy that can be re-read repeatedly, and occasionally dropped in the bath - cover usually clinging on to the binding for dear life
One hard-back copy - again used for regular re-reading, although rarely leaves the house. Mainly used for bedtime reading as the thud when it hits the floor when you nod off is very useful for waking you up just the right amount to remember to turn the bedside lamp off.
Additional hard-back with alternate, new and exciting artwork on covers - which means you have to buy the whole new set, for 'best'
Additional, additional hard-back with alternate, new and exciting artwork on covers - when another set gets issued a few years later
(At least) One special/limited edition - could be 1st edition, illustrated and/or signed. Kept behind closed glass doors in bookcase, away from pets, small children, anyone not wearing clean cotton gloves when handling, or anyone in general who doesn't realise that any damage done to these books will result in justifiable homicidal rage.

See - perfectly normal

No like it or love it icon, so just have to use this one....

[Whos Wee Dug]

Take your pick of what would be worse.

DÉJÀ-LU
If déjà-vu is the unusual feeling that something has already come to pass, then déjà-lu is its literary cousin. Derived from the French verb lire, it refers to the discomforting feeling that you’re reading something that you’ve already read.

ABIBLIOPHOBIA
…And if you have actually resorted to reading things you’ve already read, then you’re perhaps on your way to developing abibliophobia: the fear of running out of things to read!

[Grace Speaker]

Another one Feegled from the QI Elves of Twitter:

Word of the day: SCAPABOBIDIDDYWIDDILYDOOBAPBAPAPHOBIA - the fear of freestyle jazz.

[phalarope]

Another one Feegled from the QI Elves of Twitter:

Word of the day: SCAPABOBIDIDDYWIDDILYDOOBAPBAPAPHOBIA - the fear of freestyle jazz.

[steeljam]

I love orphaned negatives:
Couth
Gruntled
Ept
Evitable
Sung
Maculate
Flappable
we should use these more

[Grace Speaker]

Feegled from the Tweeting QI Elves, as I am so guilty of this! And not in the least abashed about it

MONOLOGOPHOBIA - a fear of using the same word more than once in a single sentence or paragraph.

[chrisboote]

Feegled from the Tweeting QI Elves, as I am so guilty of this! And not in the least abashed about it

MONOLOGOPHOBIA - a fear of using the same word more than once in a single sentence or paragraph.

[Grace Speaker]

Feegled from the Tweeting QI Elves, as I am so guilty of this! And not in the least abashed about it

MONOLOGOPHOBIA - a fear of using the same word more than once in a single sentence or paragraph.

Well played, Mr Boote, well played