Wheth, Atmami, Omnivistatude: New words for old feelings

If any of these appeal to you, feel free to use them

At a recent literary festival in Pune, its curator, the author Manjiri Prabhu, challenged me to prove my love of words by coining a few new ones. Inspired by the English language’s habit of borrowing freely from the world’s languages, I essayed these:

Wheth: This was prompted by the Malayalam expression ethramathe which asks someone to specify the precise numerical position of an object. ‘Wheth’ is derived from the Old English word hwæt—a precursor, referring to an inquiry into position or place. In the English ordinal system the ‘th’ suffix, used in words like ‘sixth’ or ‘tenth’, has been adapted to give a sense of order or position in a sequence. So ‘wheth’ can be used to inquire about the specific number position of something within a sequence, line, list, series, set, or event. It represents the state of identifying which exact place or position something occupies within an ordered structure, particularly when the focus is on the question of its location rather than the number itself.

When you ask, ‘ethramathe vandi?’ in the context of a row of rental cars, you’re asking, ‘What number position is my car in that line?’ With ‘wheth’, you would simply seek to identify the car’s ordinal number in the line-up—whether it’s the first, second, fifth or any other position in a sequence.

‘Wheth one?’ emphasises identifying the ordinal position, rather than the numeric value or quality. As in: Wheth am I on the list?’ she asked anxiously after the exam results were published. Or: when he arrived at the new office, he asked, “Wheth cubicle in the row is mine?”

Atmami: My response to the challenge to find a word for an eternal soul-mate who’s not necessarily a romantic partner, but a kindred spirit. I derived it from atma (Sanskrit for soul), and ami (French for friend). “Atmami” emphasises the idea that friendships can be eternal, continuing across lifetimes—interconnected souls that transcend time and space. It signifies a profound spiritual alignment and the soul’s kinship with another soul, a connection that transcends the constraints of a single lifetime. When you meet someone and feel an inexplicable familiarity, it’s the acknowledgement of a deep, eternal bond. The experience is deeply personal—an intuitive feeling that suggests that some bonds are so deep and meaningful they endure, regardless of the passage of time—as if the universe reunited you with someone who has always been part of your existence. Thus: She was more than a friend; she was an atmami, a soul whose presence in my life was a reminder that some bonds never truly end. Or: as we spoke, I felt that our lives had always been intertwined, as if we had always known one another—he was an atmami.

Omnivistatude: From omni (Latin for all, or every), vista (Latin meaning view or sight; a broad or expansive perspective), tude (Latin tudo which describes a state or condition, like beatitude or fortitude). ‘Omnivistatude’ was my response to a request to describe a state of being where the boundaries between self and cosmos dissolve, allowing one to perceive oneself as both an integral part of the universe and the universe itself; where the vastness of the cosmos feels intimate, as though the stars, galaxies, and the very essence of being reside within you.

In a world often fragmented by differences, the feeling of being intertwined with the cosmic order brings a sense of inspiration, peace, awe, and belonging. Usage: Standing atop the mountain under a canopy of stars, she felt profound omnivistatude, as though she had become one with the infinite. Or: as the sun rose over the desert, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson, a wave of omnivistatude washed over him, filling him with awe and serenity.

I don’t necessarily expect these neologisms to pass into circulation overnight, and many experiences transcend language, anyway. I am also aware that many writers over the centuries have invented words that were never employed by anyone but themselves. But if any of these appeal to you, feel free to use them. Who knows? They may catch on!

editor@theweek.in