Etymograph

English

liberosis

Liberosis may come from Italian libero ‘free’.

  1. Italianc. 1300–presentlibero‘free’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation 2015liberosis

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Italianc. 1300–presentlibero‘free’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation 2015liberosis

Earliest quotation: 2015, Johnny Close, Eco-Lonely: “I was cursed with liberosis, the desire to care…”

The story

Coined by American author and neologist John Koenig, creator of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, from Italian libero (‘free’) and the modern English suffix -osis, referencing the libero position in volleyball and its ability to "move at greater liberty than other players."uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₁lewdʰ- ‘to grow’

liberation, leed, 14 more

through Old Latin loeber

liberalism, libre, liberator, libertine, illiberal, 5 more

Today it means

noun The longing to feel a blissful childlike state of indifference and to experience life's joys without being burdened by its cares.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Italian libero / liberosis

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