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Words you never knew you needed: 10 quirky terms to learn today

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It never hurts to add a few new words to your vocabulary, right? And the rarer they are, the more fun! A rich vocabulary can help you stand out at work, impress your family, or simply express yourself more clearly in any situation. Get ready to enjoy these 10 unusual words, along with their origins and meanings. Let's go!

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"Her limerence for him made it impossible to focus on anything else."

We've all experienced that intense teenage crush; the kind of love that feels like nothing else will ever compare. If you've felt it, you were likely in a state of "limerence." Coined by a psychologist in the 1970s, this noun describes a powerful emotional state of overwhelming romantic attraction and idealization toward someone.

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"During the negotiation, his accismus made it seem like he wasn't interested in the deal, giving him a strategic advantage."

Remember that time when your aunt gave you a very special gift and you said, "Oh, I couldn't possibly accept that," even though you wanted it more than anything? Well, that's a perfect example of "accismus." This noun means exactly that: pretending to be disinterested in something you actually desire, much like when your dog acts like it's not staring at your plate while secretly drooling.

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"The politician's mendacious claims quickly unraveled when reporters checked the facts."

If someone deliberately says something false, you can call that person (or their words) "mendacious." This adjective comes from the Latin mendax, meaning "lying," and that's why it describes a dishonest person, statement, or behavior.

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"His puerile fascination with pranks made him unpopular among his coworkers."

Do you know someone who acts impulsively, throws tantrums when things don't go their way, or blames others instead of taking responsibility? Instead of simply calling their behavior "childish," you can use the word "puerile." This adjective comes from the Latin puer, meaning "boy" or "child." But use it with caution, as it often carries a negative connotation.

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"The teacher's draconian rules made the classroom feel more like a prison."

Draco was an Athenian man from the 7th century BC, famous for creating a legal code so severe that even minor crimes could be cruelly punished. From his name, we got the adjective "draconian," used to describe laws, rules, or measures that are excessively harsh or severe.

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"She handled the unexpected questions from the press with remarkable aplomb."

Did you ace an exam with flying colors? Did you answer tough questions confidently and efficiently? That feeling of being able to take on the world is likely "aplomb." This intriguing noun refers to exceptional self-confidence and assurance, especially in challenging situations.

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"Visiting the ancient cathedral, he was overwhelmed by an ineffable sense of awe."

Some say that language shapes reality. Perhaps that's why there are things we either don't want to say or simply cannot. These things can be described as "ineffable." This adjective refers to something so great, extreme, or beautiful that it cannot be expressed in words.

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"His facetious comment during the meeting made everyone chuckle, but the boss was not amused."

Have you ever made an inconvenient joke in a serious situation? If so, we could say that you were being "facetious." This adjective is used to describe words or behaviors that are meant to be humorous but delivered when seriousness is expected.

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"Her flawless performance in the play was considered a paragon of theatrical skill."

A "paragon" is a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality or virtue. Take Babe Ruth, for instance; he can safely be described as a paragon of athletic talent and charisma. The word comes from the Italian paragone, meaning "touchstone" or "model for comparison."

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"Meeting her childhood friend in a foreign country felt like pure kismet."

If you're someone who believes in destiny, this word is perfect for you. The noun "kismet" refers to destiny, fate, or that which is meant to be. If you run into your teenage sweetheart in a strange city, if you and a friend end up working at the same company by chance, or if you miss a train that later crashes, you might say it was kismet.

Facts about sleep

Is your fall asleep time normal? Here's how to tell!

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For many people, the end of the day is the best part: it’s finally time to rest! Whether it’s a quick nap on the couch or a full night’s sleep, getting some rest is an essential part of our daily routine. But even though we sleep every night, there’s still so much we don’t know about it. If you want to learn 10 surprising things that happen while you sleep, keep reading!

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Sometimes, we go to bed and end up tossing and turning for what feels like forever. But did you know that taking more than 25 minutes to fall asleep is actually considered a sign of insomnia? Ideally, it should take about 10 to 20 minutes; that's the range considered healthy and normal.

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Do you dream in black and white? If that question sounds odd, you’re probably part of the majority who dreams in color. However, a smaller percentage of people only dream in black and white. There’s no single cause for this difference, but studies have found that while about 75% of people dream in color today, only around 15% did before the advent of color TV.

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Absolutely! Blind people do dream, but how their dreams unfold depends on a few factors. People who were born blind experience dreams primarily through their other senses, like smell, touch, and taste. Meanwhile, those who lost their vision later in life often dream in images and colors.

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Your sleep cycle has five stages, and one of them is REM sleep. It usually starts about 90 minutes after you fall asleep and occurs several times throughout the night. Here’s the fascinating part: during REM sleep, your body experiences temporary paralysis. That’s right! While your brain stays active—which is why you dream—your body is unable to move. It might sound a little scary, but it's actually your body's way of protecting you from acting out your dreams.

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The body's protective paralysis during REM sleep has an interesting side effect: you can’t sneeze while you're asleep. You might briefly wake up during the night to sneeze, or it might happen during lighter stages of sleep, but when REM takes over, sneezing is off!

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We all know that feeling when the alarm goes off, and we have to leave the comfort of sleep behind. Who wouldn’t want to stay in bed all morning?

But did you know there's actually a name for when this feeling becomes severe? It's called **dysania**—a condition where a person experiences extreme difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, so much so that it interferes with daily life. Dysania can be linked to sleep disorders, anxiety, or even depression.

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Have you ever seen a friend sleeping with their eyes open? It might sound strange, but it's more common than you might think. This condition is called nocturnal lagophthalmos, and it happens when a person doesn’t fully close their eyes while sleeping, often due to problems with the facial nerves or muscles. The good news is that people who sleep this way usually don't even notice it, and it typically doesn't bother them!

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Do you have nightmares? Don’t worry; it’s actually quite common. In fact, studies show that negative emotions like fear, stress, and anxiety appear more often in dreams than positive ones. This is believed to be connected to the role dreams play in helping us process emotions.

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Our brain doesn't shut down when we sleep; that's why it can pick up on external stimuli and weave them into our dreams, like sounds or smells. But wait! This can be risky if your brain turns your alarm into background music in your dream, and you keep on sleeping!

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Not getting enough sleep can seriously affect your mental, physical, and emotional health. When you don't get the rest you need, your body goes into emergency mode, looking for quick energy. That's when cravings for high-calorie and fatty foods start. In addition, lack of sleep throws your hormones out of balance and slows down your metabolism, which can eventually lead to weight gain.