omphaloskepsis
- noun
- /ˌɑmfəloʊˈskɛpsɪs/
- Literature
:
navel-gazing
- Some critics argue that excessive omphaloskepsis can hinder personal growth.
Examples
-
That was no way to earn three ounces of jasmine oil, let alone to earn three years of omphaloskepsis, which was what the doctor ordered (or did the doctor order the smothered burrito?)
Fiction book (1990) -
If you are searching for ignorance and insularity, perhaps you should try omphaloskepsis.
Blog text (27) -
He spent the afternoon in quiet omphaloskepsis, lost in deep thought.
-
During meditation, she often engages in omphaloskepsis to find inner peace.
Synonyms
1
8.8
Spending too much time thinking only about yourself instead of other important things
Antonyms
How Self-Absorbed
Surface Forms
Morphology
omphaloskepsis = omphalo + skepsis
The word is composed of Greek combining forms ('omphalo-' = navel, 'skepsis' = examination) that are not productive or recognizable as standalone English words for typical learners, so the meaning must be learned rather than derived.
Etymology
Omphaloskepsis breaks into omphalo- meaning 'navel' and -skepsis meaning 'to look', so it literally means 'navel-gazing'. That's why it can mean the act of staring at your belly button during meditation and, more often, being too focused on yourself.