Word | navel-gazing |
---|---|
Date | May 11, 2010 |
Type | noun |
Syllables | NAY-vul-GAY-zing |
Etymology | If you are scratching your head over something, then you are probably in a state of puzzled contemplation. But if you are staring at your navel, you could either be indulging in some useless self-contemplation or in a state of deep meditation. If the latter, the technical term for your activity would be "omphaloskepsis," which is a form of meditation that has been practiced by mystics for centuries. Navel-gazing is a pop form of omphaloskepsis that is devoid of any serious meditative value. The word has been used more or less disparagingly since its first appearance in 1963. |
Examples | Instead of more of the feel-good lyrics and beats that launched her to stardom, the songs on the diva’s sophomore release border on tedious philosophizing and navel-gazing. |
Definition | : useless or excessive self-contemplation |
Tags: wordoftheday::noun
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Elephantiasis elephantiasis kind skin film enlargement enormous noun
Previous card: Adjective fructuous latin fruit parents fruk-chuh-wus word fructus
Up to card list: Word of the Day