Weltschmerz

Weltschmerz - n., sadness from thinking upon the evils of the world.


One of those Romantic passions. From German, from Welt, world + Schmerz, pain (coined in 1810 by Jean Paul Richter).

Sigh.

---L.

Followup: poetaster

Following up on poetaster, Forthright's Phrontistery has a nice list of other dabblers and pretenders.

Something to toss at the grammatitasters in your life.

---L.