10 Common Emotions You Didn't Know Had Names (11 photos)

Chances are you’ve felt that uncanny sense that whatever is happening right now has happened before. Or perhaps you've felt a tinge of sadness knowing you won't be around to see how your great-grandchildren live. And who hasn't experienced that incomparable feeling of warmth and comfort, wrapped in a blanket while rain pours outside? As complex as these feelings may seem, every single one of them has a name. Here are ten emotions you've probably felt without knowing how to describe them.





Opia



Not to be confused with opiates. Opia is that sudden rush of intensity when you lock eyes with someone. It’s an eye-contact charge that can feel exhilarating if you find the person attractive—or give you a chill down your spine if you perceive them as a threat.

Déjà vu





Derived directly from French,

déjà vu

literally translates to "already seen." It’s the unsettling sensation that you've been to a new place before or that a brand-new experience is repeating itself. It's surprisingly common—around 75% of people report experiencing it at some point.

Ellipsism



Ellipsism refers to a quiet sadness stemming from the realization that you won't get to see how the future unfolds. It’s particularly common among older adults as they watch their grandchildren grow, wondering if they'll be around for life's next big milestones.

Chrysalism



Derived from

chrysalis

—the pupal stage of a butterfly's development—this term describes a deep sense of bliss and shelter. Think of feeling warm and cozy indoors while a thunderstorm rages right outside your window.

Adronitis



Adronitis is the frustration felt after meeting someone fascinating, paired with the sobering realization that it will take a long time—or prove nearly impossible—to truly get to know them. The word originates from Ancient Greece, referring to the men’s quarters of a house.

Liberosis



Liberosis is the desire to care less about things and relinquish control over your life. It's that liberating longing to say, "I wish I were a kid again, without a single care in the world."

Enouement



Enouement is the bittersweet feeling of finally getting an answer to a question that haunted you for years, paired with the wish that you could go back in time to tell your past self how things turn out. It’s the emotional equivalent of the saying, "If I only knew then what I know now."

Zenosyne



A term named after Zeno of Elea—the Ancient Greek philosopher known for his paradoxes on time and motion—and Mnemosyne, the personification of memory. Zenosyne is the eerie sense that time keeps moving faster with every passing year.

Juska



Almost everyone has replayed an argument or conversation in their head, coming up with the perfect comebacks they wish they’d said. Those imaginary conversations running on loop in your mind? That’s juska.

Fugue State



No, not the blowfish, although that’s what is pictured here. A psychological fugue state happens when someone goes through the motions—talking, walking, going places—without any conscious awareness, leaving them with no memory of what took place. It can stem from severe trauma or substance abuse.