Word misplaced or imagined?

September 3, 2010 10:30 PM

Please help me find a specific word, perhaps two, meaning 1) fear of ambiguity and 2) fear of the imagination. Am I misremembering the word(s) for these? Is it obviously right under my nose in English, or does it not exist at all? I thought it might be Greek or have a Greek root, though I could certainly be wrong. Thanks!
posted by methinks to writing & language (11 answers total)

I didn't want to make this a one word post, because it could be very weird.

Anal.
posted by sanka at 10:38 PM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]

You think it might be Greek or have a Greek root? Then you're saying these words end in "phobia," which is the Greek word for 'fear' most used in English. Did it end in 'phobia'? I have a feeling you would've remembered that and mentioned it. Also, I can't seem to find either of those on this list of phobias on Wikipedia, although I haven't looked to hard at similar words or meanings.
posted by koeselitz at 10:43 PM on September 3, 2010

koeselitz, I get the feeling methinks means the kind of word used in greek drama that really cannot be translated into english like hubris or arete.
posted by wayland at 10:57 PM on September 3, 2010

Ambiguphobia?
posted by Ahab at 11:23 PM on September 3, 2010

wayland: “koeselitz, I get the feeling methinks means the kind of word used in greek drama that really cannot be translated into english like hubris or arete.”

I'd thought that might be the case. I'm sort of stumped, though; I know Ancient Greek somewhat, but I can't think of what words those would be. I'm trying to conceptualize what "imagination" would have been to the Greeks... hmm. Maybe a fear of poetizing, or something like that? Either way, I'm at a loss.
posted by koeselitz at 11:33 PM on September 3, 2010

skeptic
posted by Lanark at 4:04 AM on September 4, 2010

rigid?
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:45 AM on September 4, 2010

Functional Description/Educational Implications of Conceptualization Difficulties. Student may demonstrate one or more of the following :
... Rigidity of thought processes: difficulty incorporating new information
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:48 AM on September 4, 2010

I'm trying to conceptualize what "imagination" would have been to the Greeks...

In Aristotle, the word "phantasia" in Greek is translated as "imagination" in english, although I suppose that's in the philosophical sense (the ability to create an image in the mind) and is essentially thought of as the counterpart to memory.

I can't think how that's related to a fear or to ambiguity specifically, though, at least not offhand...
posted by mdn at 10:01 AM on September 4, 2010

Thanks so much for racking your brains. None of these are ringing a bell, including anything "-phobia". That's where my memory is leaning, wayland, a word not commonly used in English, though who knows at this point.

It may be scribbled in a notebook somewhere, from an inspired lecture binge a few years ago, one of those nice "aha!" moments. I promise to report back if and when I recall just what it is I'm thinking of.

Again, I appreciate your efforts and hope this was at least an interesting puzzle.
posted by methinks at 4:10 PM on September 4, 2010

I think the word is misoneism, if anyone is wondering. That best rings my memory bell.
posted by methinks at 9:03 AM on May 28, 2011