Got an assignment for you andy-hughes. A few years back when I was an AnswerBank rookie somebody asked a question I've never been able to forget - but of course I've forgotten who it was. Anyway the question was what's the word for the feeling you get when you're expecting to be revelling in malicious delight any second now but it doesn't happen and you're sort of disappointed that it didn't... For instance, somebody loses their balance and it looks funny and you're kinda hoping they'll drop the pie that they're carrying but they don't.
The word schadenfreude was mentioned but what we're talking about here goes further than that, it's the feeling you're left with when your schadenfreude dies aborning. What I've never been able to forget is how convinced the poster was that such a word does exist - does it really??? I'm not sure I saw all the replies, my computer access was limited at the time. Anyway this is your assignment - if there isn't such a word, make one! Please.