Lachryphagy

I learned a fascinating word the other day. It was lacryphogy.

Lacryphogy. This sounds like something to do with a columbarium.

With a columbarium? How interesting that you would say that. Now, why would you say that?

You know what a columbarium is.

Well, yeah, it comes from the Latin word columbo, which means dove, because it looks, a columbarium is where you put ashes, and it’s like, you know, what do you call those things that doves?

Urns.

Like a dove could, you know?

Dove could, yeah, but some people think it has to do with the little puffs of white smoke when you’re cremating a body.

Oh, no.

They look like little doves going up to the heavens.

But no, what is the word again?

Lacryphagy?

Yeah, L-A-C-H-R-Y-P-H-A-G-Y.

Oh, tear eater? Somebody who eats tears?

Yes, yes.

Basically tear eating.

What is that?

What is it eating?

This is so cool, Grant.

You’ve got to look up lacryphogy because scientists have observed that insects,

Like especially flies and bees and butterflies,

Sometimes crawl up to the eyes of other animals,

And they’ll sip on the animal’s tears because tears contain a whole lot of protein.

It’s like a protein shake for butterflies.

You can find pictures on the Internet of butterflies sipping from the eyes of caimans.

You know, those crocodile-like animals.

Oh, yeah.

I think I’ve seen pictures like that.

That’s called lycrophagy.

Horses with flies at their eyes, and it looks very irritating.

That could be the same thing.

I think certain kinds of bees will do that as well.

But lacryphogy, you know, it’s from the Latin word lacrima, which means tears.

You know, there’s lacrima Christi, that white wine.

Somebody who’s lacrimose is all teary and mournful.

But lacryphogy just made my heart sing.

Lacryphogy.

I could see that being used metaphorically to describe someone who tries to make others cry.

Yeah.

Because they feed off of that negative energy.

They feed on their tears.

Yeah, lacryphogy.

877-929-9673 or talk to us on social media.

There are a dozen ways to reach us.

Find them all on our website at waywordradio.org.