parergon

1.  A piece of work that is supplementary to or a byproduct of a larger work.

2. Something that is an accessory to a main work or subject; embellishment.

3. Work undertaken in addition to one’s principal work.”

Read as: deadly distraction. Life-threatening. MENACE.

Read also as: side-job, paramour, passion project, sidechick.

(also might get you a paying job in the real world)

Plural (Parerga) are all the exciting and fascinating things, like so many sirens, beckon you off the course of your dissertation, singing so sweetly their meretricious songs, dynamically tuned to your tastes and weaknesses, urging you to smash your dissertation-ship on their rocks.

par (variant of para- as in “parallel”; = to the side) + ergos (“work”). 1595-1605.

 

A notably difficult to pronounce word.