- Today's Word
Limerence
[LIM-uh-rens]
Definition
- (noun) A state of intense infatuation or obsession with another person, characterized by overwhelming feelings of attraction, desire, and preoccupation. It often involves intrusive and obsessive thoughts about the object of affection, as well as a strong desire for reciprocation.
Example
From the moment they met, Emily was in a state of limerence, constantly daydreaming about James and eagerly awaiting any opportunity to spend time with him.
Fun Fact
The term “limerence” was coined in 1979 by psychologist Dorothy Tennov to describe the intense, involuntary, and sometimes obsessive romantic feelings that can occur in the early stages of attraction. Tennov derived the term from the word “Limerent,” which she created by combining the words “limer,” an archaic term for a tangle or snare, and the suffix “-ence,” denoting a state or condition. While limerence is often associated with the euphoric feelings of falling in love, it can also have negative aspects, such as anxiety, insecurity, and a preoccupation that can interfere with daily life. Limerence is not considered a clinical disorder but rather a natural phenomenon that many people experience at some point in their lives, particularly in the context of romantic attraction and relationships.
(adjective) In a state of quiet inactivity or dormancy; temporarily at rest but capable of becoming active again.
The volcano had been quiescent for over a century, its silence so complete and so prolonged that the villages on its slopes had stopped thinking of it as a threat.
Quiescent derives from the Latin quiescere, meaning “to rest” or “to be quiet,” rooted in quies — “rest” or “quiet.” The same root gives us quiet, acquiesce, and requiem — all words built around the idea of stillness and the laying down of activity. It entered English in the 17th century, used in medical, geological, and philosophical contexts to describe a state of suspension that is not permanent — the crucial distinction being that something quiescent is resting, not finished.