Meaning of vellichor | Babel Free

Definitions

The pensive nostalgia and temporality of used bookstores; the feeling evoked by the scent of old books or paper.

neologism, uncountable

Examples

“It seemed that nobody else was in the shop⟳, so I wandered around, both intimidated and entranced by the sense⟳ of vellichor as I traced my fingers along the leather spines of books beyond my time.”

“Bringing the drawing to his face⟳, he closed his eyes, inhaling the paper's vellichor, the opium-like smell⟳ of yesteryear and childhood.”

“I stepped inside to see⟳ rows and rows of old books and tables to sit⟳ at. The vellichor of the place⟳ hit me in the face⟳ like⟳ a cold harsh wind.”

CEFR level