Re: antonyms: regretful & tasty

Garrett Jones scripsit:

> it's interesting to hear of words that english doesn't have good
> translations for.
Howard Rheingold's _They Have A Word For It_ is an idiosyncratic collection
of such words, and is now back in print.  Some of my favorites:

hakamaro'o (Pascuan) borrowing things with no intention of returning them,
        as an act of malice

Korinthenkacker (German) lit. someone who craps currants, a nit-picker

Schlimmbesserung (German) an improvement that doesn't improve anything,
        if indeed it doesn't make things worse

orenda (Iroquoian) the power of focussed will

wabi (Japanese) a flaw that makes something authentic

rojong (Indonesian) mutual cooperation

mokita (Kiriwina) truths that must not be spoken for social reasons

biga peula (I forget) lit. hard words, something that cannot be recalled
        once said and brings social disaster

biritilulu (Kiriwina) resolving disputes by comparing one's yams (yes, yams)

aware (Japanese) the feeling one gets from perceiving the beauty of the ephemeral

--
John Cowan  jcowan@reutershealth.com  www.reutershealth.com  ccil.org/~cowan
Dievas dave dantis; Dievas duos duonos          --Lithuanian proverb
Deus dedit dentes; deus dabit panem             --Latin version thereof
Deity donated dentition;
  deity'll donate doughnuts                     --English version by Muke Tever
God gave gums; God'll give granary              --Version by Mat McVeagh

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