words of the day

schadenfreude (shäd'n-froi'də) : Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.

Schadenfreude is a German expression (from Schaden: damage, harm; and Freude: joy) meaning pleasure taken from someone else's misfortune or shameful joy. The word is often capitalized, however since all German nouns (proper or common) are capitalized it should be possible to spell it lower case in English.

'Taken in a broader sense, it could apply to the feeling of being “blessed” because there are always people who are worse off than ourselves. Instead of compassion or pity for those less fortunate, we are thankful that it is they instead of us.'

epicaricacy/ep"-i-kar-ik'-i-see/ : taking pleasure in another's misfortune