Friday, December 11, 2009

Schadenfreude

Look, the German word Schadenfreude is not unique to German language. (Meaning too derive pleasure or satisfaction from the misery of others). We have it in Arabic: Shamatah, or even English as gloating. I love how Ibn Mandhur describes "shamata" (verb), shamatah (n) in Lisan Al-`Arab. It is defined as "the happiness of the enemy" or the "pleasure with the misfortune of the enemy".