Gee I can pick some long words. This is a word I will probably never use in coversation, and I advise you don’t either, lest you want some sideways looks. However, even if you don’t use it, whomever this word applies to might give you a sideways look anyway—either because they suspect you of stealing their beer, or simply because they’re under the influence and have nothing left to drink.
Meaning: fear of an empty glass, most often applied to a glass of beer, but can also include glasses of wine, spirits, or cocktails.
Origin: though not generally found in dictionaries, ceno- comes from the Greek kenos, meaning empty; sillica, which means quartz, but can be extended to mean glass; and phobia, which is Greek for fear.
Example: John sips his glass slowly, savouring every drop of beer, knowing that enough sips will eventually exhaust his supply. The amber liquid leaves behind a froth to remind John that soon he will run out of beer and his glass will be empty. John’s cenosillicaphobia gets worse when he has lass than a glass left.
I don’t drink beer. Never liked it. I’m more of a wine, rum, mead, amaretto, and scotch guy—though not all mixed together! Due to health reasons, I can’t drink much in one sitting, so my glass is quite literally only a few sips-worth anyway. I guess I have been conditioned not to worry about running out of something to drink, because whenever I buy a bottle it tends to last many months. But for others, there is a very real fear of running out of alcohol. It’s something I don’t understand, but I raise my (near-empty) glass to them for enduring their fear.
