- Today's Word
Abibliophobia
[uh-bib-lee-uh-FOH-bee-uh]
Definition
- (noun) The fear of running out of reading material. It’s a playful term used to describe the anxiety or distress some avid readers feel when they don’t have a book (or e-reader) readily available or when they’re nearing the end of their current read without another lined up.
Example
Sarah’s abibliophobia led her to always carry at least two books in her bag, just in case she finished one while out and about.
Fun Fact
While not a clinically recognized phobia, “abibliophobia” is a neologism created by combining the prefix “a-” (meaning “without”), “biblio-” (relating to books), and “-phobia” (fear). It’s a humorous term that resonates with book lovers and highlights the importance of reading in some people’s lives.
(adjective) Failing to act or resist; passive and yielding, especially when action is urgently needed.
The board’s supine response to the mounting crisis — endless meetings, no decisions, no accountability — allowed a manageable problem to become a catastrophic one.
Supine derives from the Latin supinus, meaning “lying face upward” or “thrown backward,” rooted in the same base as sub- (“under”). It entered English in the 15th century with both its literal meaning — lying flat on one’s back — and its figurative sense of moral or intellectual passivity. The physical image is the etymology: a person flat on their back, facing the sky, unable or unwilling to rise and meet what’s coming.