r/dictionary

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Not sure if this is the right sub for this, so please point me in the right direction if it’s not. I am reading Girl, Interrupted, and I came across the phrase “basement-colored person”. I try to find the meanings and definitions of words/phrases I don’t recognize so that I can learn and expand my vocabulary/understanding, but I haven’t been able to find anything online that recognizes this phrase.

The line for context:

“You’re living at One fifteen Mill Street?” asked a small, basement-colored person who ran a sewing-notions shop in Harvard Square, where I was trying to get a job.

What are your favorite words for toilet?

i’ve been searching for a word that captures the feeling of mourning a moment before it’s over. i keep searching but all i’m getting is “anticipatory grief,”which i know isn’t what i’m looking for. oddly enough i used to have a list of “rare words” in my notes for moments like this, and i could have sworn that list had a word for this feeling. sadly, it was lost in an update fluke several phones ago.

anyway, if anyone knows what i’m referring to/has suggestions that can help me out, i would greatly appreciate it!