It’s A Word If It’s In The Dictionary
Merriam-Webster has added one hundred new words to its Collegiate Dictionary. Here are some of the recent additions:
- dirty bomb — bomb designed to release radioactive material
- edamame — immature green soybeans that are eaten
- infinity pool — outdoor swimming pool that seems to flow into the horizon
- kiteboarding — riding on a small surfboard propelled by a large kite
- malware — software designed to interfere with a computer’s functioning
- mental health day — taking a day off from work to relieve stress
- netroots — grassroots political activists who communicate online
- pescatarian — a vegetarian who eats fish
- subprime — a type of loan that has a higher interest rate than the prime rate and is especially given low-income borrowers
- Texas Hold ‘em — popular poker game
Subprime, Texas Hold ‘em, infinity pool, edamame and mental health day are all words and expressions I have heard and could define without the use of a lexicon. But pescatarian? Malware? Does the average person actually use these words or even know what they mean?
What new words do you use? Which ones rub you the wrong way? Do you “Google”? Do you “Facebook”? What leaves you in “shock and awe”? Do you know someone who makes up words or misuses vocabulary like Ricky from The Trailer Park Boys? For example, Ricky say he’s not a pessimist, he’s an optometrist. :) Jeff Brown coined a phrase just the other week - “quack pot”. As far as I know, it’s someone who is a cross between a quack (charlatan) and a crackpot (lunatic). Not a good combination!
Your thoughts are welcome, just click on the No Comments/Comments link below. Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is QUACKPOT. It will score you points until July 10th.
July 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Well, I’ve already established that using the word organic for anything other than food is, well, “ridonkulous” as the [Travelocity] Travelling Gnome would say. I love that silly little gnome. I think the most misunderstood word is irregardless, which some camps say is not a real word…others tell them yes it is, get stuffed. Tomato, tomahto, potato, potahto…whatever floats your boat I’d say, there are bigger things to worry about. BFF Shelley, bless her, pronounces tortilla like gorilla, and I say oh me too, I love torTEEya’s…and she still says tor-till-a.
I tend to use words like ironical, and sarcastical, just give them my own spin. Those who know me have come to accept my Lee Ann-isms…and there are loads of ‘em.
Enjoy your night!
Lee Ann
Carly’s Note: A good friend in Ottawa coined the word “disastrophe”, a cross between a disaster and catastrophe. I think a few drinks might have been involved that night. I love how we always think we’re more lucid when we’ve tipped back a few. Mental note to self - we’re not.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I think I’m a quackpot sometimes, but that’s another story.
I make up new words all the time. It’s fun to do, especially if you like to chat online with people, or post messages on a message board. Sometimes they might actually be real words and I just don’t know it. Like, “registrate.” It’s synonymous with “register.” Heck, if “educate” is the root word of “education,” and “dictate” is the root word of “dictation,” then the root word of “registration” must be “registrate,” right?
Or the word “discoed” or “disco’d.” These could be the past-tense in short form of the words “disconnected” or “discovered.” I discoed the cure for the common cold. Doesn’t that sound great? If you ever chat with me online, you might even “disco” new words that I have created! By the way, you have my permission to use these new words on the air, Carly.
Carly’s Note: I’ve “disco’d” before, but it usually involves a sparkly top and dancing shoes, maybe a little Donna Summer on the stereo.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:17 am
Hi Carly,
Whenever i get together with my old school chums we never say “want another beer?” We always say “Lager?” and that means “do you want another beer?” Even if the beer happens to be an ale or other type. Guess one word speeds up the drinking process!
When i was growing up, being of Japanese background we would use a lot of Japanese slang words or baby talk in place of English swear words. The funniest thing would be to get non-Japanese Canadian people to say these words. My brother and i would go into hysterics when our girlfriends or in my case later on ex-wife would use these words.
Finally, what drives me crazy are the business terms used in the 90’s like “think outside the box” or “bottom-line driven” or “results -oriented” or “win-win situation”, “people person”. What is a “non-people person?” Someone with poor people skills?
Have a great day Carly.
Carly’s Note: “Lager” is all about economy of words. It shows you work in the business world, Dave. Spend less to get the same result.
To your second point, my brother and I used to make up English swear words that we would teach to our French-speaking friends as kids in Quebec, so I can relate. Finally, the 90’s business term I love to hate is “value added”, but I still use it when talking sales. It probably makes me look uncool these days, like using 80’s expressions like “wicked” and “rad”.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Slang terms do geet in the books, sooner or later.
Check the 7 you couldn’t say;(RIP George!;p)
Spoonge is like screw and sponge at the same time, like a guy who never gives back, don’t let him Spoonge off you.
It also means something a fair bit raunchier, but let’s not go there today.
I missed you at Aren’t we naughty last weekend, and you may have heard the term used there.
Never know.
Also, I hate repatriatation. Like in Con-rad Black’s case.
He gave up his Canadian citizenship, but to get a better deal in jail, he wanted to be repatriated. Love it or leave it pal, you are or you aren’t.
And i love to use KYBO for the loo, but not in My funken-wagnell!
PLAY!
Carly’s Note: I always think of “repatriation” in terms of soldiers’ bodies being sent home. I know it doesn’t mean “to become a patriot again”, but rather “to send back to one’s own country”. Still, I can’t help but think that it was their personal sense of proud patriotism that led her/him to fight in a foreign land to begin with, so s/he never ceased to be a patriot, hence no “repatriation” necessary. You follow me?