Solestalgia

[kimberkit]

Neil Gaiman once wrote that there wasn't a word for that feeling you get when you look at someone you used to love, and remember how it was.

I thought maybe "solestalgia" would be right, and osirusbrisbane suggested the simpler "lostalgia" as a counter, but neither quite gets the "love" notes in there. Ideas?

Comments

[neurosophy.livejournal.com]

The suffix "algia" means suffering or pain, and "nostalgia" is from the greek "nostos" (returning home) and "algia" (pain), thus, pain upon returning home. I get irked by little things like "shopaholic": the "aholic" comes from alcoholic, and that word was clearly invented by adding "ic" to alcohol, so people should be "shoppics" and "chocolics". Anyway.

I'd take the "upon returning" concept and keep nostos, and add "eros", greek for romantic love. Nosteria. Love upon returning "home", this home being metaphorical. Although algia can also mean longing, which is certainly part of the "nostalgia" concept...so maybe nosteralgia. Love and pain and longing upon returning to one's former "home".

[kimberkit.livejournal.com]

Language is poetry, too :) "Nosteria" suggests "hysteria" by common sound, and "noster" also means "ours," (in Latin?). "Nosteralgia," to my ear, then therefore means "our pain" and ends up placing emphasis on the "pain" bit of it again, rather than the love bit.

[osirusbrisbane.livejournal.com]

The main reason I like "lostalgia" is that it's only a letter away from nostalgia, making it a easy-to-parse portmanteau.

[neurosophy.livejournal.com]

While I've got your attention...play my story game? Also, thank you for reminding me that the word "portmanteau" exists.

[neurosophy.livejournal.com]

Good points all. Erostalgia sounds like "FAILstalgia". No help over here, I guess :(

[kimberkit.livejournal.com]

Er... maybe "Erosolenost," though, to carry the idea forward? "Love alone/self returning home" ... sadly, the 5 syllables make it sound like a disease, and doesn't quite look natively English, either... this is a trickier question than I thought.

[nescio17.livejournal.com]

memoramor

[kimberkit.livejournal.com]

This is pretty. I am going to have to memorize this.

[neurosophy.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Very good, very good.

You too will play my game!