schadenfreund

Inspired by 'schadenfreude' – a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others – schadenfreund is the first metaplastic word the metaplasm staff has coined in a foreign language. From the german schaden (damage, harm) and freund (friend), a schadenfreund is a loser of a friend you keep hanging around because his/her life is so miserable it makes you feel good about your life. (Originally posted September 21, 2004)