---
product_id: 279887521
title: "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows"
price: "30977CFA"
currency: XOF
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 11
url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/279887521-the-dictionary-of-obscure-sorrows
store_origin: SN
region: Senegal
---

# The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

**Price:** 30977CFA
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
- **How much does it cost?** 30977CFA with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/279887521-the-dictionary-of-obscure-sorrows)

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## Description

desertcart.com: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: 9781501153648: Koenig, John: Books

Review: A must-have reference for poets, writers, logophiles. - Got this for Christmas, although for some reason, it was delayed. No matter, it was well worth the wait. I confess I haven't "finished it" because it is a dictionary of sorts, and I keep in the bathroom to read a bit at a time. Who cares. Move on. Physically, the book is beautiful, feels good in the hand, and is visually appealing, in a sort of well, in an alternate universe, this book could have magic and power. It should hum or have fairy sparks coming from it. It does have power, truly. This is a dictionary of words that don't exist but should, to describe the feeling of certain moments like looking wistfully out a windowpane that is dripping with rain. The words are carefully constructed, often with Latin roots, such that they SHOULD exist, and well, now they do. I think the title may be a bit misleading. This is not a volume designed to make one despair, to get the hankies out and boo-hoo along with the saddest songs one can think of. Rather, it is a poetic journey through fleeting moments and recognitions. For example: Echthesia: noun A state of confusion when your own internal sense of time doesn't seem to match the calendar--knowing that something just happened though it apparently took place seven years ago; or that you somehow built up decades of memories in the span of a year and a half. I sure have this and am delighted to have it put to words. I assumed my woogie sense of time was either early onset Alzheimer's or a byproduct of being the child of alcoholics. There's hope, then. Wildly creative and wise, these new words rearrange my brain a bit and make me yearn to write poetry. Unfortunately, to date, I don't seem to demonstrate an ability for same, but this would surely help. Poets? Writers? Dreamers? Bibliophiles? You need this dictionary. Ha-ha, pun intended, take not mine, but Mr. Koening's word for it!
Review: Great gift for word lovers - Quirky and original Educational and insightful Great collage pictures in black and white

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #5,318 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in Lexicography #2 in Quotation Reference Books #2 in Word Lists |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (3,551) |
| Dimensions  | 5 x 1 x 7 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 1501153641 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1501153648 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 288 pages |
| Publication date  | November 16, 2021 |
| Publisher  | Simon & Schuster |

## Images

![The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31A0F2ydO5L.jpg)
![The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41SetrEcyJL.jpg)
![The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41hYpf7iIjL.jpg)
![The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-voU0QfNL.jpg)
![The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51b8AnGKyNL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must-have reference for poets, writers, logophiles.
*by J***R on February 8, 2022*

Got this for Christmas, although for some reason, it was delayed. No matter, it was well worth the wait. I confess I haven't "finished it" because it is a dictionary of sorts, and I keep in the bathroom to read a bit at a time. Who cares. Move on. Physically, the book is beautiful, feels good in the hand, and is visually appealing, in a sort of well, in an alternate universe, this book could have magic and power. It should hum or have fairy sparks coming from it. It does have power, truly. This is a dictionary of words that don't exist but should, to describe the feeling of certain moments like looking wistfully out a windowpane that is dripping with rain. The words are carefully constructed, often with Latin roots, such that they SHOULD exist, and well, now they do. I think the title may be a bit misleading. This is not a volume designed to make one despair, to get the hankies out and boo-hoo along with the saddest songs one can think of. Rather, it is a poetic journey through fleeting moments and recognitions. For example: Echthesia: noun A state of confusion when your own internal sense of time doesn't seem to match the calendar--knowing that something just happened though it apparently took place seven years ago; or that you somehow built up decades of memories in the span of a year and a half. I sure have this and am delighted to have it put to words. I assumed my woogie sense of time was either early onset Alzheimer's or a byproduct of being the child of alcoholics. There's hope, then. Wildly creative and wise, these new words rearrange my brain a bit and make me yearn to write poetry. Unfortunately, to date, I don't seem to demonstrate an ability for same, but this would surely help. Poets? Writers? Dreamers? Bibliophiles? You need this dictionary. Ha-ha, pun intended, take not mine, but Mr. Koening's word for it!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great gift for word lovers
*by B***R on January 18, 2026*

Quirky and original Educational and insightful Great collage pictures in black and white

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Odd, funny, moving, and fascinating
*by B***C on December 2, 2024*

This oddity contains a wealth of language and emotional discovery. It explores difficult aspects of our experience in a novel and often darkly humorous manner. It is an oddly fun read yet can be moving, too. This curiosity is great for language lovers, sensitive souls, people with slightly darker senses of humor, and goth teens who want to revel in the glorious misery unleashed by their shiny new box of hormones. I received it as a gift twice, and passed my extra copy on to a writer friend who also enjoyed it.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
- Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning
- Dictionary of the Rare, Creative, and Beautiful: Words for Writers, Poets & Dreamers

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*Product available on Desertcart Senegal*
*Store origin: SN*
*Last updated: 2026-02-10*