oniochalasia

ō-nē-ō-kə-lā'zē-ə        n

Definition

:  The purchasing of objects as a form of mental relaxation 

Usage example

• 
  
  Bellboy: Sir, that woman is pulling at her hair, is bright red and screaming at other guests. Should I have her removed?
  Concierge: No, that is our favourite customer at the gift shop. She practices oniochalasia. Watch what happens now.
  Bellboy: Well she is attacking the shop keeper and tearing up the postcards of our hotel.
  Concierge: No problem, give her a minute.
  Bellboy: She seems to have stopped.
  Concierge: Yes and now she is about to purchase 12 our most expensive glass statues of the Burj al Arab.
  Bellboy: Incredible.
  Concierge: Never underestimate the value of oniochalasia on one’s pocket.
  Feb 18, 2010 -   HotelierMiddleEast.com

Origin

Greek onio-, sell, for sale; chalasia, the relaxation of a ring of muscle (as the cardiac sphincter of the esophagus) surrounding a bodily opening

Related

Related Words: oniomania, oniomaniac

Sources: Wiktionary, Dictionary.com, English Word Information, Answers.com


Why This Word

Here is an obscure word unused in everyday speech that describes a very common phenomenon for which there is no common word. It begs the question, given our consumer culture, why we seem so reluctant to name this thing: shopping as recreation. A good word gives us the ability to describe something no other word does. That ability is power to know and understand the thing being described. Perhaps it is too unwieldy a word to ever serve that purpose. But until a better candidate comes along, this is a word that we need.