Word To Use Today: cryptoscopophilia.

 In these times of separation from, well, pretty much everyone else on the planet, we have to take our pleasures where we can.

Cryptoscopophilia is a love of looking into people's houses as you walk past them.

photo by Emmabellechan

It's a love that generally dare not speak its name - not that it would be easy to say its name even if you dared - but all the same I would guess that cryptoscopophilia is a majority interest.

For what do we live, as a man of philosophy once said, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?*

Word To Use Today: crytoscopophilia. The crypto- bit of this word comes from the Greek word kruptein, to hide. The scopo- bit comes from the Greek word skopein, to look at. The philia bit comes from the Greek word philos, loving.

Well, it's a grander term than Peeping Tom, isn't it?

*Mr Bennett, Pride and Prejudice.