- Today's Word
Insightling
[IN-site-ling]
Definition
- (noun) A sudden, small burst of understanding or realization that occurs unexpectedly during everyday activities. It’s those mini “aha!” moments that pop up when you’re not actively trying to solve a problem, often leading to creative solutions or new perspectives.
Example
While walking her dog, Maria had an insightling about how to approach her work project, completely changing her strategy for the better.
Fun Fact
The word “insightling” combines “insight” with the diminutive suffix “-ling,” suggesting a small or young instance of sudden understanding. This concept aligns with psychological research on incubation in problem-solving. Studies have shown that taking breaks from focused problem-solving can lead to sudden breakthroughs, a phenomenon known as the “incubation effect.” A meta-analysis published in the journal “Psychological Bulletin” found that incubation periods filled with unrelated activities often result in improved problem-solving performance. This supports the idea that insightlings can occur when our minds are seemingly occupied with other tasks, highlighting the value of giving our brains time to process information subconsciously.
(noun) A burden, duty, or responsibility—especially one that is difficult or unwelcome.
The onus of proving the theory fell on the scientists who proposed it.
From Latin onus, meaning “load” or “burden.”