Schadenfreude and other words, phrases: linguistic, etymological sources online
Schadenfreude is a favorite word of mine. A typically German noun compounded, according to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, of the nouns Schaden which means damage and Freude which means joy. Put them altogether and you get a new and totally unique concept: taking malicious joy in the misfortune of others. But see Fowler on the use of foreign phrases.
What does etymological mean? As my father always says, "Look it up."
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