dictionary entry: buttmuch n.
someone who is being annoying ('he's a buttmunch') [new compound; formed from 'butt' and 'munch']
| Cablinasian |
| context and source: "And then Tiger Woods said he wasn't actually 'black' at all -- he was 'Cablinasian.'" Website; 11/7/03. |
| apparent meaning: This word literally means
"Caucasian-Black-Indian-Asian." Tiger Woods coined this term to describe
his heritage after the media began to incorrectly categorize him as
African American, when in fact he was not. This term was coined to make
it easier for Tiger Woods to describe his heritage as not simply African
American. |
| type of word formation: blend of Caucasian, Black, Indian, and Asian |
| dictionary entry: cablinasian [blend Caucasian +
Black + Indian + Asian] Adjective.Being of Caucasian, Black, Indian,
and Asian descent. |
| Calcapalooza |
| context and source: "I'm having a calcapalooza!" (conversation with University of Texas sophomore 24 Nov 2003) |
| composed of: 'calculus' (advanced mathematical subject) + 'lollapalooza' (something that is a remarkable example of its kind) |
| apparent meaning: celebration after passing a difficult calculus test |
| type of word formation: blend of 'calculus' + 'lollapalooza' |
| reason used: This person was trying to express
his relief and joy at having done particularly well on a difficult test.
Here, 'lollapalooza' doesn't have quite the meaning that the dictionary
gives it. In this instance, it is being used as the name of the large
touring rock concert of the same name (which uses the word in its
dictionary sense-a particularly remarkable example of that type of
music), i.e. more to convey the celebratory, party atmosphere that the
concert brings. This word was then blended with 'calculus' to clarify
just what was being celebrated. |
dictionary entry: Calcapalooza, n.
celebration after passing a difficult calculus test ('the class
had a calcapalooza') [blend of 'calculus' + 'lollapalooza'] |
| Camphone |
| n. a cellular phone with a small camera. This
word is formed by clipping "cam" from "camera" and then blending it with
"phone". Context and source: On the Internet on 11/12/2003 |
| cebit |
| context and source: "cebits will soon become obsolete?." (conversation with a computer science friend, 10/10/03) |
| apparent meaning: classical bits - the bits used to store information in our computers today |
| type of word formation: analogy |
| reason used: Bits in our computers used to store
information are usually called just bits. However, physicists building a
theoretical model for a quantum computer refer to bits in a quantum
computer as qubits (q-bits). Hence, during a discussion about quantum
computing, my friend and I felt the need to call classical bits (i.e.
bits in our computers, often referred to as a classical computer) cebits
(c-bits), not just bits. |
dictionary entry: cebit, n.
Classical bit, as opposed to a quantum bit ("The bits in today's
computers are cebits") [analogy: 'c ' + 'e' + 'bit' - cebit] |
| celly |
| context and source: "Out and about. Call the celly 268.9596!" L. M.'s away message, 10-31-03. |
| composed of: "cellular telephone" (portable oral communication device) + "-y" (dim) |
| apparent meaning: cellular phone |
| type of word formation: zero derivation, clipping, and derivation |
| reason used: The zero derivation and clipping
have become standard in American usage ("cell" for "cellular
telephone"), for convenience's sake. The diminutive "-y" was probably
added to make the word roll off the tongue better or sound cuter. |
dictionary entry: " celly, n.
cellular phone ("Remember, I'm only a celly away.") [New
formation by zero derivation, clipping, and derivation from "cellular
phone" + "-y".] |
| Cereal |
| context and source: Are you friggin' cereal?" (Javier Otero, November 3rd, 2003) |
| composed of: cereal' (no change) |
| apparent meaning: Another form of the word serious. |
| type of word formation: Slight Rhyming Compound |
| reason used: The speaker was probably looking
for a creative, slightly humorous variation to the word serious. Cereal
rhymes slightly with serious and that is the most reasonable explanation
for why cereal was chosen to replace serious. |
dictionary entry: Cereal
adj. Not joking : earnest: sincere. Synonym of serious. [Rhyming compound of serious] |
| Checkya |
| context and source: "Checkya later!" (As an e-mail closing from P. S., 9-24-03) |
| composed of: check (inspect, consult) + "ya" (informal of "you") |
| apparent meaning: Something along the lines of
"talk to you" or "see you;" would most likely be found almost
exclusively in co-occurrence with "later." |
| type of word formation: compounding |
| reason used: The word was used in an e-mail by a
co-advisor to his O-Week group. In addition to being an informal and
catchy signoff phrase, "checkya" implies the speaker's intention to
actively keep in touch by stating that he or she will make the effort to
"check in" in the future. |
dictionary entry: Checkya, v.
(I will) be in touch ("Checkya later!") [new formation by compounding; formed from "check" + "you/ya"] |
| Cheesing |
"He can't stop cheesing!"
conversation - 11/18/03
Definition - v. process of smiling uncontrollably. Probably
rooted from cheese, as in "Say cheese!" while taking pictures, to make
people having the appearance of smiling. |
| Chillax |
| context and source: Man, he needs to just chillax." (Andrés Sanchez, October 26th, 2003) |
| composed of: Chill x Relax |
| apparent meaning: To take it easy, cool down, or
just relax. Someone can also be a 'chillaxed' person, basically meaning
that they are very relaxed and calm. |
| type of word formation: Blend (chill & relax) |
| reason used: The speaker was probably looking
for a word that would go beyond simply, "He needs to calm down." The
blend of chill and relax suggests that the person is beyond the
condition in which they may simply relax and, as a result, this word was
coined to place more emphasis on how much a particular person needs to
relax and chill out. The adjective form of this word was derived by
adding the '-ed' suffix and the meaning slightly altered to describe
someone who had achieved this state of being both chilled out and
relaxed. |
dictionary entry: Chillax v.
To become less tense or rigid. |
| Chillax |
"Take it easy and chillax!"
From the movie "Final Destination 2"
Definition - to relax. The word combines "chill" and "relax." |
| Chillax |
| context and source: "Will you chillax?" (conversation with Lovett freshman 17 Oct 2003) |
| composed of: 'chill' (to calm down) + 'relax' (to calm down) |
| apparent meaning: calm down |
| type of word formation: blend of 'chill' + 'relax' |
| reason used: The speaker was trying to get
someone to calm down and so would normally choose a word like 'chill'
(clipped form of 'chill out') or 'relax.' However, the speaker wanted to
emphasize her point especially well, and so combined two words with
essentially the same meaning to doubly underscore her meaning. |
dictionary entry: Chillax, v.
to calm down ('will you chillax?') [blend of 'chill' + 'relax'] |
| chillax |
| context and source: "Dude, you're too stressed
out. You need to just chillax." Said by my friend at dinner to me after
getting out of lab. October 8, 2003 |
| composed of: chill 'to calm down' + relax 'to become less tense' |
| apparent meaning: to become more relaxed, to chill out, to become less tense |
| type of word formation: blending and clipping |
| reason used: A creative new way to say chill out or relax. Sounds cooler, more hip and with it. |
| dictionary entry: chillax - v. to become at
ease, loose, relaxed, etc. ('you need to just chillax') [blending and
clipping; formed from 'chill' + 'relax'] |
| Chillaxin |
| context and source: Roommated described what she was doing as "chillaxin" (Oct. 27, 2003) |
| composed of: chilling + relaxing |
| apparent meaning: Taking a break |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: She found it more creative, fun and descriptive to combine the two words than to just use one. |
dictionary entry: Chillaxin, adj.
To be in a state of relaxation (Come on over, I'm just chillaxin.) [new blend; formed from 'chilling' and 'relaxing'] |
| Chineseness |
| n., the lifestyle or quality of Chinese.
Derivation of noun from an adjective/noun "Chinese" by adding the
noun-forming suffix "-ness" meaning "state" or "quality". It may also be
formed by an analogy with words like "plainness" and "happiness".
Context and source: "It is dangerous to bring your cultural beliefs and
your Chineseness into the church." |
| Chipotle |
| context and source: "They had chipotles in the servery today" Sid Rich freshman Oct. 2003 |
| apparent meaning: An especially large burrito |
| type of word formation: Brand generalization of Chipotle, a fast food burrito restaurant. |
| reason used: Chipotle sells the style of burrito that could be found in the servery. |
| dictionary entry: Chipotle, n. a large burrito
[brand generalization: Chipotle, a Tex-Mex style fast food restaurant,
from chipotle, Spanish, a variety of pepper] |
| chotch |
| context and source: "I can't stand being around Scott. He is such a chotch!" - John M. Hannah, Suitemate |
| composed of: 'chotch' |
| apparent meaning: Someone who is very unpleasant to be around |
| type of word formation: unknown, seems to be created spontaneously |
| reason used: The speaker wanted to illustrate
how annoying the person was, but the speaker did not want to resort to
profanity or use commonplace words such as 'idiot' or 'jerk.' |
dictionary entry: Chotch N.
a person who is very annoying as a result of trying to be too cool or agreeable. |
| Christmakkuh |
| context and source: "It's a miracle of
Christmakkuh. You've got Jesus and Moses working on your team." - The OC
(A television show) 12-3-03 |
| composed of: 'Christmas' + 'Chanukah' |
| apparent meaning: A combination between Christmas and Chanukah. |
| type of word formation: blending |
| reason used: The speaker wanted to create a term
that would describe the combination of the two holidays. This way,
instead of using the generic term 'holidays' he was able include the
names of both holidays to include Jews and Christians. |
dictionary entry: Christmakkuh; N.
a holiday that combines Christmas and Chanukah. |
| Chuuch |
| context and source: No matter how successful I become, I must 'member to always chuuch. - Snoop Dogg 10-30-03 |
| composed of: 'church' |
| apparent meaning: the act of doing something that would seem alien to someone extremely successful. |
| type of word formation: almost a zero derivation |
| reason used: The speaker was able to communicate the importance of keeping God in his life with a single word. |
dictionary entry: Chuuch; v.
the act of keeping God in your life. |
| claver |
| context and source: "She told me that Baker
seems to have a high density of clavers," in conversation with J. G.,
Hanszen freshman. 10-21-03. |
| composed of: "conclave" (secret association of parties with a common goal or interest) + "-er" (noun suffix) |
| apparent meaning: an individual fitting a stereotype of science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts. |
| type of word formation: derivation and clipping |
| reason used: the word was coined to refer to
members of Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts's Conclave
of Fantasy-Adventure. The word fills a gap in the American teenager's
vocabulary for a very specific and well-defined demographic in high
schools across the country. |
| dictionary entry: " claver, n. An individual
outside of mainstream American teenage life, usually interested in
fantasy, science fiction, and role playing games, of a particular
appearance and social stratum. ("The clavers pretty much stick to
themselves because they're not accepted among their peers.") [New word
formation by compounding from "conclave" + "er".] |
| Clubbing |
| context and source: "Do you want to go clubbing tomorrow night?" (Claire Cambell, September 25th, 2003) |
| composed of: 'club' (original word) + 'b' (added vowel, such as in dubbing) + '-ing' (V) |
| apparent meaning: Used as a verb as in "to go clubbing," To go out to a club, normally at night. |
| type of word formation: Derivation of verb by affixation of '-ing' to current noun 'club' |
| reason used: The speaker used this as an easy
way to ask a question. A nightclub or club consists of music, dancing,
drinking, and eating as well. Rather than use the entire phrase "Let's
go out to a club," go out to a club can now be expressed in on single
verb, clubbing. This was a derivation of the word club (clipping of
nightclub) to form a verb from a noun. |
dictionary entry: Clubbing
v. To go out to a dance club or a nightclub to dance or simply
hang out. [Derivation by affixing '-ing' (v) to 'club' (n)] |
| Cockblock |
(V)
The act of preventing a male to talk to, dance with, or interact
with a female. (This is most commonly used with girlfriends at a club,
when one girl doesn't want her friend to talk to a certain boy.)
I began hearing the word in the late 1990's.
This is a compound of "cock" (in this case, using the male genitalia as a metonymy for a male) + "block."
Ex: "Francine was cockblocking me at the club on Saturday night
because she didn't want me dancing with her ex-boyfriend, Sam. Every
time we would try to dance with each other she would jump in between us
and break us apart. How rude!" as heard in a conversation with a Jones
College freshman girl, November 25, 2003. |
| cockblock |
| context and source: Something to the effect of
"Don't be such a cockblock!" -- Heard from a few of my friends and also
on the MTV show 'The Real World' in the spring of 2003 |
| composed of: cock 'slang for penis' + block 'stop, impede, or prevent' |
| apparent meaning: someone or something preventing another person from engaging in sexual activity |
| type of word formation: compound |
| reason used: it's a short, humorous expression
to describe someone or something's unwanted presence during a person's
attempt to have sex |
| dictionary entry: cockblock - n. someone or
something preventing a person from engaging in consensual sexual
activity. ('My roommate tagged along when my girlfriend and I went for
dinner, and his presence was such a cockblock.') [compound; formed from
'cock' + 'block'] |
| comped |
| context and source: 'These rich people are in the comped category.' (comedy TV show, week of 11/24, 2003) |
| composed of: 'complimentary' (free, doesn't cost anything) X 'ed' (ADJ) |
| apparent meaning: the privileged few who don't have to work hard in life because they are rich |
| type of word formation: clipping with a suffix added |
| reason used: The TV show was trying to break
society into social groups in a funny way, when it came up with this
word. This word was used to describe the upper class of society; the
people that don't have to work for a living or worry about anything
because of their wealth. Basically, 'complimentary' was used with the
suffix 'ed' to turn an adjective into a noun; a group of people that get
everything pretty much free, or 'complimentary.' |
dictionary entry: comped, n.
an upper level social class that use their money to get things
done for them ('those comped are so full of themselves') [clipping;
arising from 'complimentary' X 'ed'] |
| complification |
| context and source: In another linguistics
course, a student used this word to show the opposite concept to
simplification in a language's history. |
| apparent meaning: the process of making something more complicated or more complex. |
| type of word formation: literal antonymization |
| reason used: Honestly, I think he didn't realize
at the time that "complication" is a word in English and was available
for his use. On a linguistic level, this new word emphasizes the verbal
background and how he really wanted to convey the idea of a process, as
opposed to a state of being. |
| dictionary entry: complification - n. - the act
or process of making something more complicated or complex. Formed by
taking a known word and creating what was thought to be the antonym.
Students of linguistics often discuss whether English's gradual loss of
grammatical rules is resulting in its simplification or its
complification. |
| concerting |
| context and source: "There are very few
concerting things these days, and my Spanish class is one of them." (a
college student discussing being stressed 11/16/03) |
| apparent meaning: opposite that of 'disconcerting', implies comforting, suitable. |
| type of word formation: from 'disconcerting' by dropping the prefix 'dis' |
| reason used: a poor attempt at humor |
dictionary entry: Concerting, adj.
Suitable, comforting, satisfying ('a concerting telephone conversation') [Clipping, formed from 'disconcerting'] |
| confuzzled |
| context and source: "This math problem has me all confuzzled." -conversation with friend, 11/16 |
| composed of: "confused" + "puzzled" |
| apparent meaning: to be both confused and puzzled by something at the same time |
| type of word formation: Blending |
| reason used: This word seems to be ideal for
situations in which both "confused" and "puzzled" are applicable, and a
complete description of the situation is lacking without the use of both
concepts. "Confuzzled" is a logical blend of these two words, helped by
the fact that there is a convenient way of splitting the two words. The
prefix on "confused" is simply added to the last sounds of "puzzled."
There is no awkward sound formation with this blend. |
dictionary entry: Confuzzled, adj.
Bewildered; confused and puzzled at the same time [new derivation, fr. "confused" + "puzzled."] |
| CONFUZZLED |
| context and source: "I'm so confuzzled. Where are we?" Conversation; 10/9/03. |
| apparent meaning: Confuzzled is a combination of
the meanings of confused and puzzled. This word means that a person
does not understand what is happening (confused) and at the same time,
he does not know how to solve whatever predicament he happens to be in
(puzzled). This term was coined to give a word with both of these
meanings. |
| type of word formation: blend of confused and puzzled |
| dictionary entry: confuzzled [blend confused +
puzzled] Adjective. Being without comprehension of the situation to the
point of not being able to solve a predicament. |
| Confuzzling |
| context and source: "It's confuzzling." (Instant messaging a friend, 10/28/03) |
| composed of: 'confusing' (causing confusion or
disorientation, lacking clarity of meaning) ['con-/co-' (with, together)
+ 'fund/found/fuse' (pour, blend) + '-ing' (V, A, N, present
participle)] + 'puzzling' (causing confusion or perplexity, lacking
clarity of meaning) ['puzzle' (to confuse or baffle mentally) + '-ing'
(V, A, N, present participle)] |
| apparent meaning: causing confusion,
disorientation, or perplexity; lacking clarity of meaning (more or less
the same meaning as 'confusing' and 'puzzling') |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: Although 'confusing' and 'puzzling'
(and many other synonyms of these words) adequately describe things
that cause confusion and puzzlement, these words have been used to such
and extent that they may no longer be of any interest to those who are
fond of describing things. As a result, someone probably chose to blend
two of the most common words for this quality to create a fun neologism. |
dictionary entry: confuzzling, adj.
Causing confusion, disorientation, or perplexity; lacking
clarity of meaning. ('a confuzzling problem') [new blend; formed from
'confusing' + 'puzzling'] |
| conglomo-coffee |
| context and source: "I detest conglomo-coffee
places such as Starbucks, that Empire place is so much nicer." (A friend
discussing coffee shops 8/28/03) |
| apparent meaning: referring to coffee products
sold by big-name coffee vendors such as Starbucks and Diedrich's
(especially Starbucks), emphasizing the fact that they control most of
the market, but have lesser quality. |
| type of word formation: A blend, formed from 'conglomeration' and 'coffee' |
| reason used: she felt very strongly about the
evil that is Starbucks, and was trying to refer to it in a clever but
derogatory manner. The name hints at the fact that there is nothing
unique or special about Starbucks, but rather that it is a large blob of
a coffee conglomerate. |
dictionary entry: Conglomo-coffee, n.
A coffee product sold by large famous coffee shops that hold the
monopoly in the coffee business. ('even the taste of conglomo-coffee
differs from coffee made in family-owned little unknown coffee places').
{A blend, formed from 'conglomeration' and 'coffee'] |
| continuify |
| context and source: "Lets try and continuify this function" (IM conversation, 11/01/03) |
| composed of: 'continuous' (pertaining to continuous functions) + -'ify' V. - continuify |
| apparent meaning: to make a function continuous |
| type of word formation: analogy |
| reason used: Continuous functions have nice
properties. While discussing a math problem, the speaker wanted to make
an ill-behaved function continuous so it would have nice properties. The
speaker analogized 'continuous' with continuous functions and affixed a
verb form to create 'continuify', to describe the process of making a
function continuous. |
dictionary entry: continuify, v.
Process of making a function continuous ('continuify a
function') [analogy: 'continuous' (pertaining to continuous functions) +
-'ify' V.] |
| Cookie-cutter |
| context and source: "At times, in fact, you feel
like you're watching cookie-cutter action sequences with overcooked
buddy-movie dialogue." (Click2Houston.com, 11/05/03) |
| composed of: 'cookie' (small, crisp, usually
flat cake made from sweetened dough) + 'cut' (to form or shape by
severing or incising) + '-er' (N, doer, performer of a certain action,
one associated or involved with) |
| apparent meaning: (seemingly) mass-produced |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| reason used: For years, cookie dough has been
cut into shapes before baking. They may have begun as circular disks,
but now they resemble all sorts of animals, celestial objects, and
holiday icons. Facilitating the formation of these shapes was the
invention of the cookie-cutter (and later, the cookie-press), which is a
(usually metal, sometimes plastic) sharp mold that cuts the desired
figure from the rest of the dough. Because these utensils allow the
baker to form a large number of shaped cookies at one time, these baked
goods can be seen to be mass-produced, and because of this quality, many
have zero-derived and semantically shifted the word 'cookie-cutter' to
mean 'mass-produced,' as used for a plethora of items, such as houses,
movies, and even scenes in movies. The word also seems to have a slight
negative connotation, especially when referring to "original" things
such as movies, books, and works of art. |
dictionary entry: cookie-cutter, adj.
Mass-produced, or seemingly so. ('the lackluster, cookie-cutter
films of a tired, unoriginal director') [new zero derivation; formed
from 'cookie-cutter, n.'] |
| coot |
| context and source: "My orthodontists is a crazy old coot." - Suitemate Mark Mendenhall 11-15-03 |
| composed of: 'coot' |
| apparent meaning: elderly person, geezer. |
| type of word formation: unknown, but it is Southern in origin. |
| reason used: 'coot' not only denotes an elderly person but its connotation often implies that subject is rather loony. |
dictionary entry: coot; N.
an older person who tends to be rather silly or crazy. |
| corpsicle |
| context and source: "Freeze. Wait. Reanimate. It
sounds good in theory, but you're still a corpsicle." -Scientific
American article by Michael Shermer, Oct. 2003 issue |
| composed of: corpse (dead body) + popsicle |
| apparent meaning: A body frozen for the purpose of reanimation at a later date. |
| type of word formation: Blending |
| reason used: Corpsicle is a cute and humorous
neologism formed by blending "corpse" with "popsicle." The apparent
dichotomy between a very somber word such as corpse and a "happy" word
like popsicle may contribute to the appeal of this word. The blend is
facilitated by the common "ps" sound at the end of corpse and in the
middle of popsicle; the two words are simply joined together at that
sound. |
dictionary entry: Corpsicle, n.
Slang term for a cryogenically frozen body [new formation, fr. "corpse" + "popsicle"] |
| Cosmeceutical |
| context and source: Used in an Oct. 8, 2003
Houston Chronicle article to describe an industry that is merging
cosmetics and medical science |
| composed of: cosmetics + pharmaceutical |
| apparent meaning: skin-care products that can both conceal and heal |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: The new industry does not have a
true scientific name, however the public can figure out what it does by
blending the names of two long-standing industries. |
dictionary entry: Cosmeceutical, adj.
Industry that is combining the beauty aspects of the cosmetics
industry with the healing benefits of the pharmaceutical industry. (My
new cosmeceutical cream hides and cures my wrinkles!) [new blend; formed
from 'cosmetics' + 'pharmaceutical'] |
| COTU |
| context and source: "My daddy calls me COTU" (a college student 9/04/03) |
| composed of: |
| apparent meaning: COTU stands for 'center of the
universe", implying someone who is selfish and think that everything
and everyone does and should revolver around him/her |
| type of word formation: acronym |
| reason used: the father of the girl probably made up this acronym because it fit! |
dictionary entry: COTU, n.
Center Of The Universe ('what you did was very COTU-like') - center of the universeO [An acronym] |
| courseware |
| context and source: "The real hope is that we
start seeing many open courseware programs, with the net result of there
being a critical mass of knowledge online for people everywhere." ("MIT
for Free, virtually" http://www.msnbc.com/news/973917.asp?0si=-
9/30/03) |
| composed of: 'course' (units of instruction in a subject) and 'software' (the programs and routines for a computer) |
| apparent meaning: computer programs that teach a certain subject to the user |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: The person being quoted in the
article needed a word that would convey the meaning of a software
program that could teach a course. The blend of course and software was
then used. |
dictionary entry: courseware, n.
educational software used to teach a subject or course ('open
courseware programs') [new blend; formed from 'course' + 'software'] |
| Cox box |
| context and source: "Where is the cox box?" (conversation with Baker senior Sep 2003) |
| composed of: 'coxswain' (person who steers and directs rowers of a racing shell) + 'box' (solid rectangular container) |
| apparent meaning: used in crew (i.e. rowing
club), microphone and speaker used by coxswain to communicate with
rowers while in the boat |
| type of word formation: clipping ('coxswain' to 'cox') and compound of 'cox' + 'box' |
| reason used: This rhyming compound is composed
of two words. The first, 'cox,' is an often used clipping of 'coxswain,'
so it was not specifically clipped for this compound. However, the
choice of 'box' is slightly more random, for the item itself is not
contained in a box. However, the battery pack to which the microphone
and speakers attach is rather box-shaped, so the choice of 'box' is
somewhat justified. I believe, however, that the word 'box' was chosen
more to create a rhyming compound, which is often more memorable than a
non-rhyming compound, with 'cox' than for any particular merit of its
own. And 'cox' was chosen for the compound instead of 'coxswain' because
it was easier to find a word that rhymed with 'cox.' |
dictionary entry: Cox box, n.
used in crew; microphone and speaker used by coxswain to
communicate with rowers while all are in a racing shell ('have you seen
the cox box?') [clipping of 'coxswain' to 'cox' and compound of 'cox' +
'box'] |
| craction |
| context and source: My roommate was checking out
her outfit to make sure certain things were not showing, but since she
was wearing low-rise jeans and is not a waif, they were a little too low
in the back. She then stated that she couldn't wear the pants because
of all the craction. |
| apparent meaning: the appearance of someone's 'crack' or any part of someone's behind. |
| type of word formation: blending |
| reason used: We often put action at the end of
phrases, and for the sake of pronunciation, she just put two words
together: crack + action. |
| dictionary entry: craction - n. - the appearance
of someone's behind, usually unintentional. That's a little bit too
much craction going on back there, so pull your pants up. |
| CRAPTACULAR |
| context and source: "That movie so had the most craptacular ending ever!" - Conversation in Hanszen College, 21 Oct 2003. |
| composed of: CRAP + TACULAR [SPECTACULAR] |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: This blend combines a functional
word, SPECTACULAR, with a swear word, CRAP, that reinforces group
membership (college students) and negates the positive connotations of
SPECTACULAR. |
dictionary entry: CRAPTACULAR, adj.
Horrible, awful, or otherwise bad in a particularly noticeable manner. |
| craptacular |
adj.
Reading a friend's online journal 11/17/03. He was discussing
his day…"so I run 3 miles around the loop. After doing that in a
disgustingly craptacular time, I run another half mile to Chipotle…"
Craptacular seems to be a spin-off of 'spectacular' which
suggests a display of something grand and impressive. The subject was
obviously having a dismal "crappy" day, the antithesis of spectacular,
hence 'craptacular'.
This word is a cut-and-pasting of the slang term 'crap': just
replace 'spec' with 'crap' and it becomes craptacular. It is a blend, of
sorts.
There is a very ironic, satiric connotation that comes with
'craptacular' as if the speaker/writer was annoyed at the lack of
positive output but not seriously ill-affected. It sounds like a very
improvisational word, as if the inventor wrote it out on the spot in
part of a stream of consciousness, not even thinking that they had
formed a new word.
craptacular, adj.
Annoyingly bad, unpleasant. [slang. crap + spectacular] |
| Creative-cat |
| context and source: 'You are a creative-cat' (Cranium board game, 2001) |
| apparent meaning: Someone who is imaginative and comes up with unique ideas for writing, speaking, drawing, and behaving. |
| type of word formation: Compound (A-N) |
| reason used: The word is used to distinguish
someone and their unique abilities or characteristics. Each word in the
compound starts with the same sound and so pairing them together gives a
sense of sound symbolism. |
| dictionary entry: creative-cat, n. A person who
thinks abstractly and is able to formulate unique ways to express words
and actions. |
| creature-feature |
| context and source: "...a high-camp
creature-feature that, astoundingly, is also a bittersweet rumination on
aging." - New York Post movie review (for Bubba Ho-tep) by Megan
Lehmann, late Nov. |
| composed of: creature + feature (movie) |
| apparent meaning: A movie featuring a monster, or some other type of strange being |
| type of word formation: rhyming compound |
| reason used: This is a catchy word that fits
well in attention-grabbing spaces, such as movies reviews in papers such
as the Post. It seems boring to say "monster movie" or, worse yet,
"horror film," so a new, rhyming term was invented. Furthermore, it is
very easy to discern what the word means. Even though "feature" is a
somewhat archaic term for a movie, almost everyone knows what it means.
It compounds extremely well with "creature" because both syllables in
the two words are similar or identical. |
dictionary entry: Creature-feature, n.
A movie that includes a monster or similar "scary" entity |
| CREEP OUT |
| context and source: "Get him away from me; he's creeping me out!" - Conversation at party in Jackson, Mississippi, 28 Nov 2003 |
| composed of: CREEP + OUT |
| type of word formation: compound |
| reason used: It is a similar composition to
FREAK OUT; the first word has a negative connotation of strangeness (and
can be applied as a noun to dislikable persons), and the out makes it a
verb. The verb actually is a generic word for any actions that one
person might do to scare or disturb another person. |
dictionary entry: CREEP OUT, v.
To disturb, scare, or bother in a shocking way. |
| Crib |
"I'm about to go to my crib."
I first saw this in title of MTV show: "MTV Cribs."
Definition - place of residence, house, apartment, etc. |
| Crossed |
"That guy with the ball just crossed him."
Conversation at the gym - 11/06/03
Definition - act of having someone perform the "cross-over" move on you. If someone does this, they have "crossed" you. |
| Crotch-grab |
| context and source: Context and source: "? the infamous crotch-grab in "Black or White" |
| apparent meaning: a dance move involving the grabbing of ones crotchital region |
| type of word formation: compound word formation |
| reason used: a more succinct and eye grabbing noun |
| dictionary entry: Crotch-grab, n. a dance move
involving the grabbing of ones own crotch conspicuously [compounding:
from crotch + grab] |
| Crowning |
| context and source: "Officials were particularly
concerned about crowning, in which flames leap from one treetop to
another, leaving firefighters on the ground all but powerless to stop
them." (MSNBC.com, 10/28/03) |
| composed of: 'crown' (the highest point or
summit, also the upper part of a tree, including the branches and
leaves) + '-ing' (V, A, N, present participle) |
| apparent meaning: the leaping of flames from one treetop to another, as with the spread of forest fires |
| type of word formation: compound |
| reason used: The word 'crown' had already been
used in reference to the higher parts of trees, so someone, apparently
knowledgeable in the world of firefighting, created a new word for an
event that previously had no single label. Because forest fires tend to
leap from treetop to treetop, making them very difficult to contain,
this disastrous occurrence needed a name, and because there was the
existing word 'crown,' the addition of the present participle morpheme
'-ing' resulted in the formation of the new word. |
dictionary entry: crowning, n.
The leaping of flames from one treetop to another, as with the
spread of forest fires. ('the uncontrollable crowning spread the forest
fire across the river') [new compound; formed from 'crown' + '-ing'] |
| Cruise |
| context and source: "Laundromats make for a great place to cruise." Brown RA conversation late Nov. 2003 |
| apparent meaning: To look for people of the
opposite sex to engage in conversation. To go on a flirting safari.
Probably taken by metaphor from cruise, to move slowly, to shop to get
extended to shopping for people of the opposite sex to mate with. |
| type of word formation: metaphor |
| reason used: Speaker wanted to invoke something
smooth and suave way of hitting on people of the opposite sex while not
seeming too aggressive. |
| dictionary entry: Cruise, v. to go flirting
casually [metaphor from cruise to move in a somewhat slow manner and
look for things] |
| 'cruits |
| context and source: 'They're bringing the 'cruits in' (Sports website, 9/23/03) |
| apparent meaning: A group of people, usually
newcomers. Derived from the plural noun 'recruits', meaning people that
are being scouted to serve or perform specific actions. The 're' was
simply dropped from the word. |
| type of word formation: Clipping |
| reason used: A shorter version of the plural noun 'recruits', possibly used to emphasize a novice skill level. |
| dictionary entry: 'cruits, pl.n. A group of people that are being sought out to join a team or organization. |
| Crunk |
(ADJ)
A mixture between two states of being: crazy and drunk.
Heard from a Hanszen senior male during September, 2003.
A blend of crazy + drunk.
Ex: "Are you gonna get crunk tonight? There's a big party at Martel. There's gonna be some good music and four kegs." |
| crunk |
| context and source: "The party's going to be crunk and caliente" (a party advertisement on a flyer 11/30/03) |
| composed of: |
| apparent meaning: in this context, the word
'crunk' means cool, awesome. The party here is for Hispanic and black
people, hence the 2 words used in the sentence. |
| type of word formation: derivation unknown, but most often encountered in African American circles |
| reason used: to appeal to the specific ethnic population that would benefit most from attending the party. |
dictionary entry: Crunk, adj.
Cool, awesome, appealing in all respects, worthy of attention ('what a crunk place') [derivation unknown] |
| Crunk |
| context and source: "Let's get it crunk, we gon' have fun up on it?" (Mary J Blige, "Family Affair") |
| apparent meaning: crazy, wild |
| type of word formation: slang |
| reason used: This word has no obvious connection
to other words of similar structure and meaning. It is probably a word
made to sound like something fun and chaotic. |
| dictionary entry: Crunk adj. Crazy, chaotic, describing a situation involving many people |
| cyber-grounded |
| context and source: "A chastened Johnny was
cyber-grounded for two weeks: no email, no Instant Messages, no surfing,
no online access at all." -Delta Sky Magazine, November issue |
| composed of: "cyber" (relating to computers or
the Internet) + "grounded" (slang for confined to one's room or denied
freedom of actions) |
| apparent meaning: Having no access at all to the Internet |
| type of word formation: compound |
| reason used: The area of computing is a constant
source of new words, and this a prime example. Many parents use a
denial of a favored activity as a punishment, and in the modern world
the use of the computer is the primary entertainment for many
youngsters. In the past, being "grounded" meant being unable to leave
the house or play outside; now, it is necessary to use the prefix
"cyber" to convey the idea that the child is unable to use the computer.
This word seems very likely to come into mainstream usage, if it has
not already done so. |
dictionary entry: Cyber-grounded, adj.
Describing the condition of being barred from accessing the
Internet or using a computer for entertainment purposes; applies
especially to children |
| Cyberrhea |
| n. a connection problem in the computer network.
This word is probably formed by an analogy with "diarrhea", which
refers to a problem in the intestine. The morpheme "cyber" means
"computer or computer network". Context and source: In a conversation
with my sister on 10/25/2003. |
| damnitology |
n.
Online conversation with a friend 9/03. ?."I have so much work and damnitology to do?"
A silly word for work that is particularly frustrating and
exasperating. Trying to evoke a scientific feel with the addition of
'logy' (study) onto the familiar expletive 'damnit'. There is a bit of
satire as well, as real sciences such as biology and physiology can turn
into 'damnitology' if the speaker/writer is especially wearisome of the
situation.
This is primarily a blend of 'damnit' (slang used to express
frustration to self or at something) and 'logy' which is the suffix
meaning 'study' on all sciences.
This is another word that strikes me as being more useful in
writing than in speech. It sounds slightly awkward and can be used to a
real 'shock' effect, since the derivative, 'damnit' is usually
seen/heard in a taboo setting.
damnitology,
The study of frustration, exasperation. [slang 'damnit' + logy] |
| Datahead |
| context and source: 'That guy is a datahead' (Conversation about a classmate, May, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Someone who retains a lot of
information and is capable of recalling that information at any time.
The word might carry a connotation of being smart or even nerdy. Data
'information' + head 'body part'. |
| type of word formation: Compound (N-N) |
| reason used: The compound is a way to classify someone intellectually and describe the quality of his or her knowledge. |
| dictionary entry: datahead, n. A person full of knowledge, usu. a nerd or over-achieving student. |
| dawg |
"Meet Jose, he's my dawg."
Conversation 11/18/03
Definition - buddy, pal, etc. |
| Dealio |
| context and source: 'What's the dealio' (Teen People, October 2003 issue) |
| apparent meaning: A casual situation or scenario
usually involving an agreement between parties. The '-io' ending, which
has no inherited meaning was added to the noun 'deal', making the new
word cute and fun. |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| reason used: The speaker was seeking a way to be
informed about something. Perhaps the '-io' is a new diminutive ending,
meaning in this word a small event or short scenario. |
| dictionary entry: dealio, n. A situation, plan, or happenings. |
| deep on-campus |
| context and source: As opposed to the common
Rice term 'deep off-campus' or 'deep OC,' I feel that there are people
who are deep on campus as well. |
| apparent meaning: incredibly involved in activities on campus, and oblivious to what is beyond the hedges. |
| type of word formation: compounding |
| reason used: I couldn't use the term 'deep OC'
to refer to this concept because deep off-campus already owns it. But I
wanted to convey the same concept, just in opposite spheres. |
| dictionary entry: deep on-campus - adj. -
describes a person who is overly involved with on-campus events to the
point that they almost never go off-campus. College presidents and
pre-meds are usually very deep on-campus. |
| Delio |
| context and source: What's the delio?" (Michelle Polintan, November 20th, 2003) |
| composed of: deal x yo + i (filler between del and o) |
| apparent meaning: What is currently happening, or an explanation of what is occurring. |
| type of word formation: Blend (deal & yo) A filler 'i' is added and the 'a' from deal is deleted from the original word |
| reason used: In this case, the speaker involved
the phrase "What's the deal, yo?" This phrase basically means "What's
going on?" As the phrase became more widespread, users began to shorten
the length of the last two words. Eventually, either through the speed
of speech or simply the desire to compile two words into one, the 'deal,
yo' blended to from the neologism 'delio.' Thus through blend word
formation, another word was coined by the speakers of the English
language. |
dictionary entry: Delio
n. An event, situation, occurrence that is currently happening
or has just taken place. [Blend compound formed from the words deal and
yo] |
| defenged |
| context and source: "You've defenged it" (overheard in a conversation about a tarp being painted with friend 10/8/03) |
| composed of: formed from 'de-' (in reverse,
away, down) + 'feng shui' (The Chinese practice of positioning objects
based on a belief in patterns of yin and yang and the flow of chi that
have positive and negative effects) + '-ed' (past tense) |
| apparent meaning: the positive effects from the painted tarp were gone |
| type of word formation: clipping and derivation |
| reason used: The speaker was discussing the feng
shui of the tarp being painted at MOB rehearsal with friends. When
someone stepped on the wet tarp, the speaker wanted to express how all
good energy from the tarp had been lost. The morpheme 'de-' was added to
the clipping of feng shui along with the past tense morpheme '-ed' to
get defenged. |
dictionary entry: defenged v.
past tense. the driving away of positive energy or effects of an
object [new clipping/derivation; formed from 'de-' + 'feng shui' +
'-ed'] |
| derivitate |
| context and source: "How do we derivitate this problem?" -roommate, working on math homework 11/16 |
| composed of: "derivative" (calculus property) and "-ate" (verb suffix) |
| apparent meaning: a synonym for "differentiate" (a process in calculus) |
| type of word formation: Analogy/Affixation |
| reason used: This word is simply a synonym for
"differentiate," an oft-used process in calculus. The noun used to
describe the result of differentiation is the "derivative," so a natural
process is to create the word "derivitate" to describe the process.
This is analogous to other word pairs that add the suffix "-ate" to a
noun or adjective to form a verb. |
dictionary entry: Derivate, v.
In calculus, to perform processes that yield the derivative of a function; differentiate
[fr. "de" (out of) + "rivus" (stream) + "ate"] |
| DERIVATIZE |
| context and source: "When you derivatize f(x)=x, you get df/dx=1." Conversation; 10/29/03. |
| apparent meaning: Derivatize means to take the
derivative of a function, as in calculus. The term was coined to be
easier than the more correct and accepted term, differentiate, which is
harder to come up with quickly. This word has a more natural feel, as it
is formed in a more native way using the verb forming suffix "-ize."
Differentiate is more difficult to produce quickly because the stem part
of the word changes radically. |
| type of word formation: back formation, from derivative to differentiate back to derivatize |
| dictionary entry: derivatize [derivat- + izeV] Verb. To differentiate a function. |
| desi |
| context and source: "The desi population at Rice isn't too high" (conversation, 9/17/03) |
| apparent meaning: people of Indian or Pakistani origin |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| reason used: The speaker (a person of Indian
origin) wanted a word to refer to people from the Indian subcontinent.
She used this word from Hindi directly. This word is now used quite
commonly. |
dictionary entry: desi, n.
A person of Indian or Pakistani origin ('He is a desi') [zero derivation: 'desi', orig. from Hindi, meaning native] |
| DETRAY |
| context and source: "Joe, detray and we can fit you in." - Conversation in Hanszen Commons, 26 Oct 2003. |
| composed of: DE- + TRAY |
| type of word formation: derivation and zero derivation |
| reason used: This was a spontaneous creation at
lunch; someone coined it as a fast way of saying "Get rid of the tray,"
first by changing TRAY from a noun to a verb and then by negating the
action with DE-, a common prefix for verbs of removal. |
dictionary entry: DETRAY, v.
To remove a tray from one's personal space. |
| Digicam |
| context and source: Many ads for sales the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 2003) featured specials on digicams |
| composed of: digital camera |
| apparent meaning: Digital Camera |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: Digital Camera is a rather long word to say, so the two words were clipped and then blended together. |
dictionary entry: Digicam, n.
A digital camera. (This digicam has so much memory!) [blend, formed from 'digital' + 'camera'] |
| Digititis |
| context and source: 'Are you suffering from digititis?' Question posed by a narrator of a television commercial. (10/17/03). |
| apparent meaning: A medical condition of the hands, similar to arthritis. Digit 'finger' + -itis 'inflammation'. |
| type of word formation: Blend |
| reason used: The speaker wanted to convey a
condition with which people were familiar but at the same time use a new
word to make his or her promotion sound modern and on the cutting edge. |
| dictionary entry: digititis, n. A condition in which the joints on fingers are enlarged. |
| Dizzle |
| context and source: The University of Iowa had
nicknamed VP for student services 'dizzle' in order to make
student/administrator interactions more fun. They changed the name when
students said it was slang for an alcoholic redneck. (Omaha World Herald
Nov. 17, 2003) |
| composed of: Possibly based off of drizzle |
| apparent meaning: an alcoholic redneck |
| type of word formation: slang |
| reason used: The administrators were trying to catch onto the hip hop "izzle" craze, but failed. |
dictionary entry: Dizzle, n.
An alcoholic redneck. (Man, he's such a dizzle; he just sits on
the front porch and drinks all day) [slang, formation unknown] |
| DL |
| context and source: Keep it on the DL." (Megan Kanagy, November 8th, 2003) |
| composed of: 'D' (down ) + 'L' (low) |
| apparent meaning: Keep it quiet or under wraps. Do not openly reveal or publicize. |
| type of word formation: Acronym (Down Low) |
| reason used: This originally began as keeping
something down low, in other words keeping something real quiet or
secret. It was a metaphorical use in which the information is kept where
it isn't "visible" to everyone and only a select few are aware of it.
Later, this became shortened to the acronym, or abbreviation, DL from
down low. |
dictionary entry: D.L.
v. To keep information limited to only a certain few people who need know. [Acronym that stands for down low] |
| DL |
| context and source: On someone's AIM profile,
there is a DL of the day section that says which song she downloaded and
is now listening to. |
| apparent meaning: the abbreviation of download. |
| type of word formation: abbreviation |
| reason used: With the word 'download' becoming
more and more taboo, people are inventing ways to speak of this practice
that does not offend people. It's also easier to say DL, which is great
for someone who downloads a lot of music and likes to talk to people
about it. |
| dictionary entry: DL - n. - abbrev. of download,
a song that was obtained by downloading from one's computer. It takes
FOREVER to find DL's from The Breakfast Club soundtrack. |
| dollarization |
| context and source: "Increased trade with the US
will result in dollarization of the Indian economy" (interview with a
business analyst, Star News, 8/14/03) |
| composed of: 'dollar' + -'ize' V. + -'ate' V. + -'ion' - dollarization |
| apparent meaning: there will be more transactions in US dollars in the Indian economy |
| type of word formation: derivation (affixation) |
| reason used: The speaker wanted to convey that there will be a greater presence of US currency in the Indian economy. |
dictionary entry: dollarization, n.
Increased transactions with the US, resulting in greater
presence of American money in an economy ('dollarization of an economy')
[derivation: 'dollar' + -'ize' V. + -'ate' V. + -'ion'] |
| DOWN LOW |
| context and source: "Keep it on the down low, ok?" Conversation; 11/16/03. |
| apparent meaning: When someone tells you to keep
a fact on the "down low," they are asking you to keep it secret. This
makes sense, as something down low is hidden or not apparent on the
surface. This term was coined to allow for a more hip way of asking
someone to keep a secret. |
| type of word formation: metaphor, as something concrete can be down low or hidden, something abstract can be secret |
| dictionary entry: down low [metaphor of "down low" as in placement] Noun. Secret. |
| drinkathon |
Reading the British tabloids online:
http://media.guardian.co.uk/diary/ 12/03. "Drama at the British Society
of Magazine Editors awards drinkathon, sorry, ceremony this week?"
"Drinkathon" seems to be a large social gathering that is
basically an excuse to drink excessive alcohol. 'Drink' refers to
alcohol, the suffix '-athon' refers to some sort of race or drawn-out
activity, presumably from 'marathon', from which many nouns have been
coined. It is very easy to take any verb and slap '-athon' on the end to
turn it into a word that denotes an activity that lasts a very long
time.
This word is a blend of 'drink' (to drink alcohol) and 'marathon' (activity that lasts a long time).
This word was obviously coined in jest, to make fun of people
who party under the pretense of official business. The British are funny
very funny, inventive writers, not afraid to coin new words or modify
existing ones to suit the situation.
drinkathon, n.
An extended party or event involving the consumption of alcohol. [drink + marathon] |
| Druggy |
| adj. relating to drugs. Zero derivation from the
noun "druggy". This derivation is sensible as many adjectives bear the
suffix -y (meaning "rich in/ full of"), e.g. sexy, rosy and crazy.
Another possible way of forming the word is by analogy-"rose" -->
"rosy", "drug" --> "druggy". Context and source: "High school
students are attracted to druggy and sexy things." |
| Dudely |
| context and source: "That's dudely." (Conversation with friend, 11/11/03) |
| composed of: 'dude' (man, fellow, multipurpose interjection) + '-ly' (like, resembling) |
| apparent meaning: excellent, nifty, groovy, cool |
| type of word formation: compound |
| reason used: Originally, the word 'dude'
referred to an American city slicker who vacationed out West. It was
later popularly used in reference to people, originally males, who were
somehow "cool." The female version of the word was 'dudette.' Now, the
word 'dude' seems to appear most often as an interjection with a wide
range of uses. It can convey approval, congratulation, or even a
salutation. If 'dude' is taken to mean 'someone or something that is
cool (in the modern, slangy sense),' the addition of the adjectival
morpheme '-ly' would give 'dudely' a meaning like 'resembling someone or
something that is cool,' which can be shortened simply to 'cool.' |
dictionary entry: dudely, adj.
Excellent, nifty, groovy, cool. ('a dudely gadget') [new compound; formed from 'dude' + '-ly']
| E-linquent |
| context and source: "Juvenile e-linquents: could they be yours'" -Delta Sky Magazine, November issue |
| composed of: "E-" (prefix denoting a relation to
the world of technology and computing) + delinquent (one with a
tendency to commit crimes) |
| apparent meaning: one who makes trouble or misbehaves online or on the Internet |
| type of word formation: Blending |
| reason used: "E-linquent" is a rather clever
term for computer users, usually youngsters, who use today's technology
(especially the Internet) to commit crimes or create trouble. Like the
previous word, "e-linquent" is a modernization of an older word,
delinquent. The prefix "E-" connotes something that is modern; blending
it with "delinquent" evokes images of a technology-savvy troublemaker.
This word is especially well-formed because the long e sound is present
in both delinquent and e-linquent; therefore, it is easy to form the
latter word through blending. |
dictionary entry: E-linquent, n.
One who utilizes technology to commit crimes or make mischief;
applies especially to young people [modernization of "delinquent"]. |
| e-pal |
| n. a friend which communicates with one by
e-mails. This is probably formed by analogizing with the word "pen-pal",
which refers to a friend that keeps in contact with another person
using letters (pens). Or it may be formed by concatenating the letter
"e", which now commonly stands for "electronic" (by acronym) and "pal",
which means "friend". Context and source: In a conversation with my
sister on 11/15/2003 |
| e-voting |
| context and source: "Diebold drops e-voting lawsuit" (read on msnbc.com on 12/1/03) |
| composed of: 'electronic' (implemented on a computer) + 'voting' (a way a preference is made known) |
| apparent meaning: voting that is done online |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: The article was about voting online
electronically. The author needed a catchy title so people would read
the article. Saying electronic voting in the article title would be too
long so a shortening was used. |
dictionary entry: e-voting n.
online voting ('drops e-voting lawsuit') [new blend; formed from 'electronic' + 'voting'] |
| Earworm |
| context and source: "Everybody has known what it
feels like to have an earworm." (Host of Total Request Live, MTV,
October 5th, 2003) |
| composed of: Ear(n) x Worm(n) |
| apparent meaning: A song that won't go away, and gets stuck in your head. |
| type of word formation: Simple noun-noun compounding, concatenation. (ear & worm), Metaphor |
| reason used: This is a creative metaphorical
compound neologism. The word allows the speaker to provide an image to
supplement the definition of the new word. Imagine a worm crawling
through one's ear into the very depths of your mind. Not only that, but
it seems like there is no way to get it out. This feeling is precisely
what one experiences when a song gets "stuck" in one's head. The tune or
lyrics continue to bombard your thoughts and often you to actually sing
or hum the song to release it in some form. The song therefore becomes
this earworm that usually doesn't leave one's mind easily or quickly. |
dictionary entry: Earworm
n. A song (the tune/lyrics) that repeats over and over inside a
person's head, usually refers to after the song has stopped playing.
[Compounding of ear & worm] |
| Earworm |
| context and source: Earworm was used on a show on MTV in October, 2003 in order to describe a song that is "stuck in your head." |
| composed of: Ear (body part) + worm (object that crawls and gets stuck places) |
| apparent meaning: song that is constantly replaying in your head |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: There is no concise word to
describe the idea that a song is stuck in your head, and an earworm
implies that something is caught in your ear and can't get out,
therefore carrying a close meaning with it. |
dictionary entry: Earworm, n.
A song stuck in your head (That song is so catchy it's an earworm.) [new blend; formed from 'ear' + 'worm'] |
| ear worm |
| context and source: Cosmopolitan used this term
to describe a song that gets stuck in your head, and rated the 5 most
common ones. |
| apparent meaning: song that gets stuck in one's head easily |
| type of word formation: sensory compounding |
| reason used: Worms and these songs are related
in that they are insignificant but highly undesirable things, and since
everyone is familiar with a song that gets stuck in your head, it made
sense to have a shorter phrase to describe it. That happens with words
that are quite common. If this catches on, I wouldn't be surprised if it
became earworm in a few months. |
| dictionary entry: ear worm - n. - a song or any
catchy sample of audio that repeats itself in someone's mind. Britney
Spears has put out entire albums of ear worms like no other artist. |
| Edress |
| context and source: What's your edress'" (Andy Johnson, November 23rd, 2003) |
| composed of: Email x Address |
| apparent meaning: Referring to someone's e-mail address. |
| type of word formation: Blend (email & address) |
| reason used: This coinage occurred for a common
reason. In searching for a quicker or easier way to ask for someone's
email address, the speaker blended both words. Edress is yet another
example of the formation of a word for the purpose of shortening and
simplifying the original word. |
dictionary entry: Edress
n. An e-mail address [Blend compound formed from the word email and address] |
| edutainment |
| context and source: "If he gets on the computer he can only play edutainment games." (read on online comic 11/20/03) |
| composed of: 'education' (the knowledge obtained by a learning process) + 'entertainment' (something that amuses or pleases) |
| apparent meaning: a game (software) that can provide entertainment while teaching a child. |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: The character in the comic was
dropping her sun off at the babysitter and didn't want her son playing
mindless computer games. She wanted a way to describe an educational
computer game, so she used a blend of education and entertainment. |
dictionary entry: edutainment n.
software that entertains while teaching information to the user
('edutainment games') [new blend; formed from 'education' +
'entertainment'] |
| Egosurf |
| context and source: "I can't believe he's so conceited. He actually egosurfed!" (conversation with Lovett freshmen 26 Aug 2003) |
| composed of: 'ego' (self-esteem) + 'surf' (to search the internet for something of interest) |
| apparent meaning: to look oneself up on an internet search engine, usually for a boost of self-esteem |
| type of word formation: compound of 'ego' + 'surf' |
| reason used: 'Surfing' is a common way of
talking about searching the internet. The 'ego' is the self or
self-esteem. So egosurfing has a dual meaning-both searching the
internet for mentions yourself and searching the internet for mentions
of yourself to improve your self-esteem. With the ever increasing
popularity of the internet and improvement of search engines, people
have been able to look up ever more narrow subjects-themselves included.
So 'egosurfing' was coined to describe this phenomenon. |
dictionary entry: Egosurf, v.
to look oneself up on the internet using an internet search
engine, esp. to improve one's self-esteem ('only conceited people
egosurf') [compound of 'ego'+ 'surf'] |
| Elliptical |
| context and source: "If you can't come [to
practice] the best thing you can do is work on your cardiovascular
fitness. This is (sic) means running, swimming, ellipticalling, etc. for
at least 30 minutes." (e-mail from crew coach 14 Sep 2003) |
| composed of: 'elliptical trainer' (type of machine designed to increase cardiovascular strength) |
| apparent meaning: to use the elliptical trainer |
| type of word formation: clipping ('elliptical
trainer' to 'elliptical') and zero derivation ('elliptical', n. to 'to
elliptical', v.) |
| reason used: The elliptical trainer has become a
popular method of working out. The author was explaining that those who
could not come to practice should work out on their own, and gave
examples of possible ways of doing so. The motion made while on the
elliptical trainer is not one that can be replicated without the
machine, so no verb existed for this motion previously. The author was
attempting to find a shorter way of saying 'to use the elliptical
trainer' and so zero derived the first part of the name for the machine. |
dictionary entry: Elliptical, v.
to use an elliptical trainer ('ellipticalling at the gym') [zero derivation of clipped noun 'elliptical trainer'] |
| Emoticon |
| context and source: A friend made a new message
board and stated that the variety of emoticons available were a positive
trait of this kind of board. (Nov. 25, 2003) |
| composed of: Emotion + icon |
| apparent meaning: Icons that show feelings |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: While the smiley face icon came
first, it was followed soon thereafter by a host of different kind of
faces with different emotions. Emoticon blends the two words nicely and
it has definitely caught on. |
dictionary entry: Emoticon, n.
Computer icon of a face with an obvious emotion. (I love her
giddy emoticon.) [new blend; formed from 'emotion' + 'icon'] |
| Engineerize |
| v. to make a person more like an engineer
student (of Hong Kong universities), which has stereotypes of being lazy
and mischievous. Derivation of verb from a noun "engineer" by adding
the verb-forming suffix "-ize" meaning "become like". It may also be
formed by an analogy with words like "Americanize". Context and source:
"I have successfully engineerized Peter." |
| ENSORCERIZING |
| context and source: "The mobile's disks'
replaced for me the ensorcerizing waving of tree leaves." - Annie
Dillard, An American Childhood. |
| composed of: EN- + SORCER [SORCERY] + -IZ [-IZE] + -ING |
| type of word formation: derivation |
| reason used: The affixes on this word mimic its
synonyms; "enchanting" and "bewitching" have the progressive particle
suffix and a prefix. However, to fit this pattern, Dillard first had to
add the -IZE verb suffix, then she could add the other affixes. |
dictionary entry: ENSORCERIZING, adj.
Enchanting or bewitching in a hypnotic or otherwise captivating way. |
| equipmental |
| context and source: "Possible sources of error for this experiment include equipmental errors'" |
| composed of: equipment + "-al" (adjective suffix) |
| apparent meaning: to do with equipment used in an experiment |
| type of word formation: Analogy/affixation |
| reason used: Equipmental was simply formed by
adding an adjective suffix to an entire noun. It appears to have been
used in an attempt to sound "more scientific" by using a longer word.
The word takes the place of several shorter words that would have been
necessary, such as "caused by the equipment." The word is analogous to
other words formed by adding "al" to a noun, such as "developmental." |
dictionary entry: Equipmental, adj.
Of or having to do with equipment, especially scientific equipment or apparatuses. |
| Espy |
"Stay tuned for the Espy Awards, next."
Name of a series of annual sports awards, given by members of the media
As the network ESPN hosts and created the awards, the name of
the award became "Espy" by dropping the N and adding the Y to ESPN. |
| ETEXT |
| context and source: "We want people to be able
to look up quotations they heard in conversation, movies, music, other
books, easily with a library containing all these quotations in an easy
to find etext format." - "Project Gutenberg Official Home Site - History
and Philosophy." Online at < http://www.promo.net/pg/history.html
>. Last updated 13 May 2002. |
| composed of: E- [ELECTRONIC] + TEXT |
| type of word formation: abbreviation |
| reason used: Although no dictionaries carry the
word, it was probably coined in 1971 with the advent of online
republication of great works; the abbreviation itself is patterned on
EMAIL. |
dictionary entry: ETEXT, n.
A literary or reference work converted into a text-based file on
the Internet, usu. downloadable, searchable, and made available for
free. [also used as adj.] |
| Euroskeptic |
| context and source: "' [T]here is little
likelihood of a major government initiative to swing a euroskeptic
nation behind the euro." (New York Times Online 15 Sep 2003) |
| composed of: 'euro' (currency for most nations of the European Union) + 'skeptic' (one who doubts a particular thing) |
| apparent meaning: characterized by being unsure of the benefits of adopting the euro as a form of currency |
| type of word formation: compound of 'euro' and 'skeptic' |
| reason used: The author was discussing the
likelihood of nations in the European Union who do not currently use the
euro (i.e. United Kingdom) of switching to the euro. He was trying to
convey the idea that some countries are skeptical of the benefits of the
euro, and so compounded 'euro' and 'skeptic.' |
dictionary entry: Euroskeptic, adj.
characterized by being skeptical of the benefits of switching to
the euro as a form of currency ('euroskeptic nations') [compound of
'euro' + 'skeptic'] |
| exabyte |
| context and source: "Future computers will be
able to store exabytes of information" (conversation with a computer
scientist, 10/25/03) |
| composed of: 'exa'- (10^18) +'byte' (unit of storage of information) - exabyte |
| apparent meaning: 10^18 bytes |
| type of word formation: derivation (affixation) |
| reason used: The speaker wanted to quantify a
large number of bytes. A few years, gigabyte wasn't a very common term.
Now, due to faster and better computers, gigabyte and gigahertz are
common terms. Similarly, I foresee, exabyte and exahertz becoming common
terms in the future. |
dictionary entry: exabyte, n.
10^18 bytes, or a billion billion bytes ('This hard disk has 1
exabyte storage capacity') [derivation (affixation): 'exa'- + 'byte' -
exabyte] |
| Exonym |
| n. a name for a group of outsiders.
Concatenation of the prefix "ex-" meaning "out" (or "exo-", which means
"outside") and "onym" which means "name". Context and source: "And they
have all these exonyms for those who are unlike them." (In a
conversation with a high school teacher on 10/25/2003) |
| Extrasolar |
| context and source: "A parallel question, albeit
in less extravagant form, was posed by former NASA administrator,
Daniel Goldin, shortly after astronomers detected the first extrasolar
planets around normal stars." (SPACE.com, 11/21/03) |
| composed of: 'extra-' (outside) + 'sol' (sun) + '-ar' (A, of, pertaining to) |
| apparent meaning: beyond the sun or the solar system |
| type of word formation: compound |
| reason used: The morpheme 'extra-' can be used
to describe things as being outside or above other things, so attaching
it to the word 'solar' (of, pertaining to, or proceeding from the sun)
creates a new word meaning 'outside of the sun.' However, in the case of
extrasolar planets, the planets must be outside of the solar system,
because the nature of planets requires that they not be within any
stars. Therefore, this meaning must also be included, but the more
general meaning of 'outside of the sun' seems to have some importance,
so I have classified the word as a compound without any elements of
clipping (from 'solar system' to 'solar'). |
dictionary entry: extrasolar, adj.
Beyond the sun or the solar system. ('extrasolar planets') [new compound; formed from 'extra-' + 'sol' + '-ar'] |
| Facronym |
| context and source: "I'm really good at facronyms." (Watching TV show, 10/25/03) |
| composed of: 'fact' (something demonstrated to
exist or to have existed) + 'acronym' (word formed from the initial
letters of a name with multiple words) ['ac/acer/acr' (sharp, tip,
extremities) + 'onym' (name)] |
| apparent meaning: an acronym (word formed from
the initial letters of a name with multiple words) for a an
organization, device, or idea with a specialized function or with a name
composed of many polysyllabic words |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: For humorous effect, the writer on
this television show chose to coin a new word for acronyms whose
meanings are unusually sesquipedalian. |
dictionary entry: facronym, n.
A word (formed from the initial letters of a name with multiple
words) for an organization, device, or idea with a specialized function
or with a name composed of many polysyllabic words. ('to be good at
facronyms') [new blend; formed from 'fact' + 'acronym'] |
| Falloween |
| context and source: "Don't get me started on
outfits for pets or the move to extend the holiday into an event that
runs for a whole season so that it becomes-you'll love
this-'Falloween.'" (Time 23 Oct 2003) |
| composed of: 'fall' (season that runs from
mid-September to mid-December) + 'Halloween' (holiday that falls at the
end of October) |
| apparent meaning: time period leading up to and
including Halloween which seems to get longer and longer every year, so
that fall and Halloween seem synonymous |
| type of word formation: blend of 'fall' + 'Halloween' |
| reason used: The author was complaining about
the amount of lead-up given to Halloween by certain people, especially
in stores. He argued that Halloween-themed items were in stores for the
entire first half of fall, instead of just right before the holiday,
creating a new season, which he dubbed, somewhat derisively, with a
blend of 'fall' and 'Halloween.' |
dictionary entry: Falloween, n.
First part of fall, during which items are advertised and sold
for the Halloween holiday ('Falloween starts earlier and earlier every
year') [blend of 'fall' + 'Halloween'] |
| fangoriously |
| context and source: "Betty was fangoriously devoured by the gelatinous monster." (In conversation with friend 9/17/03) |
| composed of: 'fang' (A long, sharp, pointed
tooth) + 'gory' (full of violence and bloodshed) + i (filler) + '-ous'
(ADJ) + '-y' (N) |
| apparent meaning: an act that is very graphic or bloody, and involves fangs |
| type of word formation: blend & derivation |
| reason used: The speaker wanted to convey the
way the fictional character in his story was being devoured by the
gelatinous monster. No current words convey his meaning, so he formed a
new word using different morphemes. |
dictionary entry: fangoriously adv.
in a gory, graphic manor, usually involving fangs in some way.
('fangoriously devoured') [new blend/derivation; formed from 'fang' +
'gory' + '-i' + '-ous' + '-y'] |
| fangoriously |
| context and source: 'The person was being
fangoriously devoured by a gelatinous monster.' (Some guy in Lovett
commons, he said he got it from
http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail84.html week of 11/3, 2003) |
| composed of: 'fang' (a sharp pointed tooth) X 'gore' (horrible scene or bloodshed) X 'i' X 'ous' (ADJ) X 'ly' (ADV) |
| apparent meaning: describing a disgusting or horrible act such as being eaten, mauled, etc |
| type of word formation: blend, and or analogy |
| reason used: I know what you are thinking: weird
word from a weird source, but hear me out. While the source is somewhat
questionable, this a great blend of several words and word endings,
both adjective and adverb! I think it is a great example of how easily
new words can be formed by simply adding suffixes to a word. This word
was used to describe someone being eaten by a monster, and it
incorporates some fang imagery. Also, you could think of the word as
'furiously gnashing of teeth.' I have also heard the word 'fangoria'
used by people to describe weird or creepy things associated with
horror, i.e. Fangoria magazine. |
dictionary entry: fangoriously, adv.
Describing the furious gnashing of teeth, fangs, etc ('the lion
ate his food rather fangoriously') [new blend or analogy; arising from
'fang' X 'gore' X 'i' X 'ous' X 'ly' ] |
| Fave |
| context and source: "Out of all the characters, Aragorn's my fave." (K.T.Weber, October 2nd, 2003) |
| composed of: 'fav' (from favorite) + 'e' (adj, n) |
| apparent meaning: Same as favorite, just a
clipping or shortening of the word. Used to describe a preferred item,
person, place, etc. |
| type of word formation: Clipping (favorite) |
| reason used: This is yet another instance in the
English language (or any language) of a "slang" word coined from the
clipping or shortening of an existing word. The common explanation for
these occurrences is that the speaker thought of it as easier to shorten
the word rather than say the whole thing. Instead of using a word with
three syllables, now the speaker can convey the same meaning in just
one. The word was formed from cutting off the 'fav-' from favorite and
adding an '-e' ending to complete the formation of the word. Depending
on the context of the word, "fave" can either be used as a noun or an
adjective. |
dictionary entry: Fave
n. A person or thing that is favored above others.
adj. Used to describe that which is favored.
[Clipping of the word favorite] |
| FEEB |
| context and source: "That guy who crossed in front of me without looking is such a feeb!" Conversation; 10/25/03. |
| apparent meaning: Feeb is an insulting term that
implies that someone or their actions are stupid. It also implies that
the person somehow cannot help how imbecilic they are. This word was
coined to imply in one word that someone is hopelessly stupid. |
| type of word formation: clipping of feeble, as in feeble minded; zero derivation adjective to noun |
| dictionary entry: feeb [clipping of feeble] Noun. A person who is hopelessly stupid. |
| fetishization |
n.
"Love in the Time of No Time", by Jennifer Egan, in the New York
Times magazine, 11/23/03…."Chemistry is a word you hear a lot among
online daters; sine quo non of the enterprise and the object of a fair
bit of fetishization…"
This word obviously derives from the n. root 'fetish' which has
two possible meanings in this context: 1) an object, or idea eliciting
strong reverence or devotion, or 2) an object or non-genital part of the
body that is repeatedly preferred or exclusively used for achieving
sexual excitement. Paired with the noun-forming suffix '-ion',
fetishization might refer to the act or process of turning an online
love affair into some sort of obsession (sexual or not). Since online
relationships between people can be somewhat intangible due to the
distance between computers, fetishes perhaps become more common, and
easier to acquire because of the impersonality of the Internet.
'Fetishization' implies that there is also a verb 'to fetishize'
meaning, to turn something into a fetish, i.e. an obsession, fixation.
"Fetishization" is then an affixation, formed by sticking the
noun-forming suffix '-ion' onto the verb 'fetishize'.
The article that this word appeared in was about the rising
phenomenon of online relationships and their success rates. I think the
use of 'fetishizatation' suggests that the "chemistry" felt between
online daters is fleeting and unstable, and is not real but dissipates
as soon as the computer is turned off, and the reason that the people
involved feel any sort of attachment in the first place is through a
common diversion, or way to arouse themselves.
fetishization, n.
The act or process of turning something into a fetish, obsession. [fetish + -ize (v) + -ion (n)] |
| Fishizzle |
context and source: "Are you going to NOD'"
"Fishizzle!" (Two Rice students, October 27, 2003). |
| apparent meaning: absolutely, definitely |
| type of word formation: sloppy derivation of "for sure" |
| reason used: This word may have been used to
signal one's being "in the know" of up to date teen terminology. It is a
sloppy derivation used in informal youth-to-youth conversation. |
| dictionary entry: Fishizzle adv. An expression meaning 'certainly' or 'definitely' used in informal speech. |
| FLESHFLAKE |
| context and source: "A dot appears, a fleshflake." - Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek |
| composed of: FLESH + FLAKE |
| type of word formation: compound |
| reason used: The compound, in context, should elicit an association with SNOWFLAKE. |
dictionary entry: FLESHFLAKE, n.
A small scrap of skin or flesh. |
| to flip a lid |
| context and source: "When I saw the grade I got
on that test, I flipped a lid!" (a college student describing her
reaction 11/30) |
| apparent meaning: to panic, to freak out,
carries specifically negative connotations. The test score was not so
pleasing, thus the reaction was that of becoming irritated and upset. |
| type of word formation: analogy |
| reason used: in order to correctly express the level of upsetness, a humorous interesting expression is used. |
dictionary entry: Flip a lid,v.
To react negatively to a stressor, to get upset and irritated,
to freak out ('he flipped a lid when he saw her standing there') [An
analogy] |
| Fly |
(ADJ) Someone or something that is extremely hip, sexy, trendy, in style, or awesome.
The word began appearing in pop culture in the late 1990's,
especially in the rap community, but recently it has become more main
stream.
A zero derivation of the verb form of the word "fly." It most
likely emerged as a type of metaphor deriving from the verb "fly"
because objects that are extremely new and cool are above everything
else, or ahead of everyone else. Hence, they fly by the rest.
Ex: "Sugar, how you get so fly'" lyrics to a hip/hop song by Baby Beesh which debuted in 2003. |
| Fly |
| context and source: "That chick in your econ class is so fly." Suitemate Alec Young 11-3-03 |
| composed of: fly |
| apparent meaning: attractive |
| type of word formation: zero derivation. |
| reason used: Instead of using the usual
adjective such as attractive or pretty, the speaker used 'fly' to
emphasize the beauty of the subject. |
dictionary entry:Fly; adj.
incredibly gorgeous or attractive. |
| FO' SHIZZLE |
| context and source: "We'll be ready when
Kristian returns, which will be at five-thirty at the latest, fo'
shizzle." - Conversation in Hanszen College, 25 Nov 2003. |
| composed of: FO' [FOR] + SHIZZLE [SURE + infix -IZZ-] |
| type of word formation: derivation |
| reason used: deleted final R of FOR and the
infix -IZZ-, although now used by a larger social segment, originally
linked African-American youth and culture. |
dictionary entry: FO' SHIZZLE, interj.
Certainly, for sure, of course. [also FO' SHEEZY] |
| FONDREN |
| context and source: "He was here a second ago, but now he's out Fondrening." - Conversation in Hanszen College, 23 Nov 2003. |
| composed of: FONDREN |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| reason used: This zero derivation exemplifies
the younger generations' penchant for verbing words. This particular
case is a very localized word, unintelligible beyond the Rice University
community. |
dictionary entry: FONDREN, v.
To study at the Fondren Library on the Rice University campus. |
| fooding |
| context and source: "I am fooding myself." - "away" message from online profile of friend |
| composed of: "food" + "-ing" (or "food" + "feeding") |
| apparent meaning: eating or feeding |
| type of word formation: Blending or Analogy |
| reason used: In this case, "fooding" appears to
have been used as a replacement for "feeding," which seems to be a case
of blending. Instead of saying that he was feeding himself, the source
of this word said he was fooding himself. This seems to be an attempt to
specify exactly how he was feeding himself, i.e. with food. Although it
seems logical that food is the normal means of feeding oneself, perhaps
the source just wanted to be extra clear. There is another possibility
with this word, however. If the object "myself" had not been used after
the word, "fooding" could be construed to mean "eating." In this case,
the word would have been formed by adding a verb suffix to a noun -
similar to the formation of LPAPing. |
dictionary entry: Fooding, v.
Intransitive: feeding [new derivation, fr. "food" + "feeding"]
Transitive: eating [new derivation, fr. "food" + "-ing"] |
| Four-wheel |
| context and source: "Let's four-wheel this December." Friend from Tennessee Oct. 2003 |
| apparent meaning: to take a four-wheel drive
vehicle driving off roads in fields it is probably taken by metonymy
from four-wheeler derived and take by clipping from four-wheel drive
vehicle |
| type of word formation: zero derivation and metonymy |
| reason used: to go off-reading is common for the
speaker but he wanted to get across the point that we would be using
cars that truly had four-wheel drive. |
| dictionary entry: Four-wheel, v. to drive a
four-wheel drive vehicle in fields usually in such a fashion that a
two-wheel drive vehicle would be insufficient [metonymy: from
four-wheeler from four-wheel drive vehicle] |
| FRAG |
| context and source: How many frags did you have'" Conversation; 10/7/03. |
| apparent meaning: The word frag is probably a
shortening of "fragmentation grenade" and so it can mean this kind of
grenade. When used as a noun, as in the example above, it means kills in
a video game. When used as a verb, frag means to kill someone's
character in a video game in any fashion or with a fragmentation
grenade. This term was probably created to replace the more vulgar term
"kill" which could upset parents and people who do not play video games. |
| type of word formation: clipping of fragmentation |
| dictionary entry: frag [clipping of
fragmentation] Noun. A kill, as in a video game. Verb. To kill someone's
character in a video game, especially using a fragmentation grenade. |
| Frankenfish |
| context and source: Scientists have genetically
altered a species of aquarium fish so that they will glow under a black
light. (Houston Chronicle, Dec. 2, 2003) |
| composed of: Frankenstein + fish |
| apparent meaning: Fish that were genetically engineered by humans. |
| type of word formation: blend |
| reason used: The fish are slightly eerie in a
sense, both because they are the first genetically engineered household
pets and because they are animals that glow. By using part of the word
Frankenstein, people understand that the fish were made by a scientist
and are perhaps a little scary. |
dictionary entry: Frankenfish, n.
Genetically engineered fish that glow. (I hope I get a
Frankenfish for Christmas!) [new blend; formed from 'Frankenstein' |
| Fratastic |
| context and source: "That keg stand was so fratastic." Suitemate Alec Young |
| composed of: 'fraternity' + 'fantastic' |
| apparent meaning: something that was splendidly fraternity-like. |
| type of word formation: blending |
| reason used: the speaker was almost poking fun at the foolish revelry that would occur in a college fraternity |
dictionary entry: Fratastic: adj.
a word that describes something that would be extremely popular and prevalent in a fraternity. |
| FREESTYLE |
| context and source: "After the victory, Apex
remains on the stage to freestyle some more rap in what has become a
kind of victory lap." - "MC Battles." Online at
<http://www.nuvo.net/archive/012501/music/012501_music_a.html>. 25
Jan 2001. |
| composed of: FREE + STYLE |
| type of word formation: compound |
| reason used: This word is somewhat borrowed from
athletic terminology used to describe competitions (like swimming and
skating) in which almost anything goes and judging is based on artistic
expression. The same qualities apply to most rap battles, so the jargon
was transferred from one social setting to another. |
dictionary entry: FREESTYLE, v.
To perform rap music without prepared beats or lyrics, to
perform impromptu rap; to engage in a rap competition in the above
manner. [also used as n., adj.] |
| fro-yo |
| context and source: Cosmopolitan used this term instead of frozen yogurt. |
| apparent meaning: the abbreviation of frozen yogurt, the typical alternative to ice cream. |
| type of word formation: clipping, slang |
| reason used: Cosmo was referring to frozen
yogurt as a hip, metropolitan thing to consume, and the abbreviation
made the term fit the imposed classification better. |
| dictionary entry: fro-yo - n. - abbrev. for
frozen yogurt, slang term for low calorie dessert item that is most like
ice cream. The best place to get fro-yo in Atlanta is TCBY. |
| Funtastic |
| adj. being fun and fastastic. Blending of the
words "fun" and "fantastic". Context and source: "The funtastic magic
ball is made of '." (In an advertisement of a toy product) |
| Gank |
| context and source: 'Stop ganking the weights from the Sid fitness room.' (Sid Council Minutes, Week of November 3rd, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:Used in the same context as stealing, or taking. The action of taking something which does not belong to you. |
| type of word formation: Compound (yank & grab) |
| dictionary entry:Gank v. To take and carry away
the property of another without authorization. ('do not gank the
silverware') [Blend compound formed from the words grab and yank] |
| gank |
| context and source:'I accidentally my CD case at
the party, and somebody ganked them.' ' heard something to this effect
from my friends this summer. I also use this word commonly. |
| apparent meaning:to take or steal something |
| type of word formation:slang |
| dictionary entry:gank ' v. To take or steal
something that does not belong to you. ('A nice pair of sunglasses had
been left behind, so I ganked them.') [slang; possibly formed from a
combination of gang and yank] |
| GANK |
| context and source:'Please don't gank my stuff, just give me credit.' Website; 8/30/03. |
| apparent meaning:This word means to steal with a
connotation of malicious intent. It can also mean, in video games, to
gang up on and kill an opponent. This meaning lends itself to the idea
that the word is a combination of gang and kill. The former meaning
leans more toward the word being a combination of grab and yank. Both of
these may have happened at the same time to make the same word.This
word may have been coined as a way to describe stealing in a more hip
way, or as a way to talk about stealing things without alerting
authority figures. The same goes for the 'killing' definition, as the
term could be used in front of a more conservative audience with
impunity. |
| type of word formation:blend of either gang and kill, or grab and yank |
| dictionary entry:gank [blend gang + kill OR grab
+ yank] Verb. 1. To steal someone's property with malicious intent. 2.
To gang up on and kill someone's character in a video game. |
| getcheroxoff |
| context and source:'Well if that's how you getcheroxoff, well ok.' (conversation in my room, week of 12/1, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:getting one's way, getting kicks or enjoyment out of something |
| type of word formation:blend |
| dictionary entry:getcheroxoff, v. to get one's
way; to get enjoyment or 'kicks' by doing a certain action ('I don't
like how you getcheroxoff') [blend; arising from 'get' X 'your' X 'rox'
(rocks in l33t lingo) X off'] |
| Gig'em |
| context and source:'gig'em Aggies'. Heard at a football game from fans in the bleachers (Fall, 2003). |
| apparent meaning:An encouraging cheer for Texas
A&M 'aggies', or athletes. 'Gig' is used as a shorter form of the
phrase 'go get' and 'em' probably refers to 'them', the opponents. The
'i' most likely functions as a filler to aid in pronunciation; 'gg' is
difficult to say. |
| type of word formation:Compound |
| dictionary entry:gig'em, v. To go and get [someone]. |
| GINORMOUS |
| context and source:'I have four ginormous loads of laundry to do!' ' Conversation in Hanszen College, 25 Nov 2003. |
| apparent meaning:Massive, huge, or large, in either a physical or metaphorical sense. |
| type of word formation:blend |
| dictionary entry:GINORMOUS, adj. Massive, huge,
or large, in either a physical or metaphorical sense. Composed of: GI
[GIGANTIC] + NORMOUS [ENORMOUS] |
| Ginormous |
| context and source:'Have you seen these toilets' They're ginormous'' Will Ferrell, Elf, (I saw it on November 7, 2003). |
| apparent meaning:Used to describe an extremely large object |
| type of word formation:blend |
| dictionary entry:Ginormous: adj. Describing a large and out of proportion object. |
| Ginormous |
| context and source:'That book bag is ginormous' Cousin opening birthday presents Nov 30, 2003 |
| apparent meaning:extremely large |
| type of word formation:giant and enormous blended together |
| dictionary entry:Ginormous, adj. very large; larger than expected [new blend; formed from 'giant' + 'enormous'] |
| Ginormous |
| context and source:Someone was surprised at the ginormous birthday cake he got (Nov. 20, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:very very large |
| type of word formation:blend |
| dictionary entry:Ginormous, adj. Very very large (That mountain is ginormous!) [new blend, formed from 'gigantic' + 'enormous'] |
| Giraffiti |
| context and source:: 'There's a ton of giraffiti
on the side of that building.' (Overheard in street conversation,
September 27th, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:: Used to describe graffiti that is located higher than normal. |
| type of word formation:: Blend (giraffe & graffiti) |
| dictionary entry:Giraffiti n. A drawing or
inscription made on a wall or other surface (graffiti) located in a high
location or altitude. [Blend compound formed from the words giraffe and
graffiti] |
| Giraffiti |
| context and source:[none given] |
| apparent meaning:The characteristic great height of a giraffe is taken here. |
| type of word formation:blending |
| dictionary entry:Giraffiti, n. graffiti that is drawn on a high position. |
| Gleek |
| context and source:'Ewww' did you seem him gleek'' elementary school child Aug 2003 |
| apparent meaning:the action of expelling saliva directly from the gland underneath the tongue out of the mouth. |
| type of word formation:unknown; perhaps playground slang |
| dictionary entry:Gleek, v. the action of
expelling saliva directly from the gland underneath the tongue out of
the mouth [origin unknown] |
| GLOMP |
| context and source:'When my sister met me at the airport, she glomped me.' Conversation; 10/4/03. |
| apparent meaning:When someone 'glomps' another
person that they like, it is almost like an attack hug. A glomp is often
predatory and lies somewhere between a caring embrace and a flying leap
to tackle someone. This word is often used when discussing Japanese
animation, as this type of hug is commonplace in anime. The term is also
used online in text form as just a different word for hug. This term
was probably coined to describe a more enthusiastic form of hugging
someone. |
| type of word formation:: blend of glom'grab hold
of' and '-omp,' which is sound symbolic of a rapid enclosing action as
in 'chomp' |
| dictionary entry:glomp [blend glom + -omp] Verb.
To hug a loved one enthusiastically, to the point of tackling them.
Noun. Such a hug. |
| GOOGLE |
| context and source:'According to my googling,
the caber is about 17 feet long and weighs around 150 pounds.' ' 'Gather
Round.' Online at < http://www.shauny.org/pussycat >. 14 Sep
2003. |
| apparent meaning:Some people apply this word
only to the use of the web-search service from which it derives,
www.google.com, but some use it to describe any Internet search. Google
became popular for its speed, relevance, and relative lack of corporate
pervasion, and so its name became synonymous with the act of searching
the Internet. |
| type of word formation:generic usage |
| dictionary entry:GOOGLE, v. To search the Internet for information. [verbal noun: GOOGLING] Composed of: GOOGLE |
| GOOGLE |
| context and source:'I don't need to look this up in my textbook, I should just google it.' Conversation; 11/10/03. |
| apparent meaning: This word means to look
something up using a search engine on the Internet, especially the
search engine Google. It was coined to describe looking something up on
the Internet succinctly. |
| type of word formation:zero derivation, from noun 'Google' to verb 'to google' |
| dictionary entry: google [from 'Google'] Verb. To look up something on an internet search engine, especially Google itself. |
| google |
| context and source:Person 1: 'Do you know a good recipe for punch'' Person 2: 'No, but you could google it and find out'' |
| apparent meaning:To 'google' something means to
use the popular online search engine, google.com to find anything on the
Internet that you don't have the address for. |
| type of word formation:zero derivation |
| dictionary entry:google, v. To use an online
search engine as the basis for looking up information on the World Wide
Web. [from google.com search engine in the Internet] |
| google |
| context and source:'You wanna bet' Let's google it right now,' (TV show, week of 9/29, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:to look up information quickly using a specific search engine |
| type of word formation:zero derivation |
| dictionary entry:google, v. to look up
information quickly using the search engine Google' ('spam slows the
internet down') [new zero derivation; arising from 'google', formally a
company name'] |
| google |
| context and source:'I was googling on my
computer last night but couldn't find what I was looking for, which is
rare for Google.' Something to this effect said by my Numerical Methods
professor in October 2003 |
| apparent meaning:the act of using the internet search engine google.com to search for information on the web |
| type of word formation:zero derivation |
| dictionary entry:google ' v. To perform an
internet search using the search engine Google.com. ('To find the right
information, just google it') [zero derivation; formed from the name
'Google'] |
| Google |
| context and source:'Whenever I find something I'm unfamiliar with, I google it.' (Kerry Greer, October 31, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:To 'google' something seems to
mean to look up its meaning, particularly on the internet, on Google or
other search engines such as Dogpile or Yahoo. |
| type of word formation:Brand generalization (coinage) |
| dictionary entry:Google, v. To use an internet
resource to look up or find out information. [formed by changing noun,
Google, into a verb.] |
| Googled |
| context and source:An advisor admitted he 'googled' his freshmen before O-Week (Sept. 8, 2003). |
| apparent meaning:Searched for someone/something on www.google.com |
| type of word formation:derivation |
| dictionary entry:Googled, v. To search on the
Internet (I'll google the hotel before we go.) [derivation, formed from
'Google' + 'ed'] |
| Governator |
| context and source:Seen as the headline on
several newspapers and on news websites the day that moviestar Arnold
Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California. |
| apparent meaning:Quippy nickname for the new governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| type of word formation:blending and clipping |
| dictionary entry:Governator ' n. nickname for
the present governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. ('The
Governator was sworn in today in front of a large crowd of cheering
Californians.') [blending and clipping; formed from 'governor' +
'terminator'] |
| Governator |
| context and source:'Here's a look at how al-Gaiyar and the Governator matched up over the years.' (Time 29 Oct 2003) |
| apparent meaning:Arnold Schwarzenegger, esp. after he was elected governor of California |
| type of word formation:blend of 'governor' + 'Terminator' |
| dictionary entry:Governator, n. Arnold
Schwarzenegger, esp. after being elected governor of California ('the
Governator won the election') [blend of 'governor' + 'Terminator'] |
| Governator |
| context and source:'Yeah, he's interviewing the
governator tonight.' (Overheard in a conversation while in the elevator,
October 9th, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:Refers to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the new governor of California. |
| type of word formation:Blend (governor & terminator) |
| dictionary entry:Governator n. The current
governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. [Blend compound formed
from the words governor and terminator] |
| gr8 |
| context and source:'That is a gr8 restaurant..' (IM conversation, 9/1/03) |
| apparent meaning:great |
| type of word formation:clipping |
| dictionary entry:gr8, adv., noun, adj. Great
('the weather today is gr8') [contraction of the ''eat' in 'great to
'8', due to similar pronunciation] |
| Gravy |
| context and source: 'It's all gravy.' used in conversation with roommate ' 9/17/03 |
| apparent meaning:good |
| type of word formation:c. word seems to meld 'great' + 'groovy' to make 'gravy.' |
| dictionary entry:Gravy ' good |
| GRINGOSITY |
| context and source:'The gringosity of the conspicuous white tourist was obnoxious.' Conversation; 10/29/03. |
| apparent meaning:This word expresses the quality
of being a gringo, as in a white American person. It was coined to
describe the quality, not just the person, as the sole word gringo does. |
| type of word formation:compound of gringo and -sity |
| dictionary entry:gringosity [gringo + -sity 'having the quality of'] Noun. The quality of being a gringo. |
| Groto |
| context and source:'My brother's bathroom is always so groto, even after mom cleans it,' (Gabby Chevez, November 26, 2003). |
| apparent meaning:Disgusting and dirty |
| type of word formation:coinage |
| dictionary entry:[none given] |
| GRUBBIFIABLE |
| context and source:'Wear grubbifiable clothes and tough shoes.' ' Hanszen Happy Funpage, Sec. 3, 1 Oct 2003. |
| apparent meaning:There isn't any single
common-usage word that captures the sense of 'going to get dirty,' so
suffixation made it happen. The sense of the word changes dramatically
as it goes from the adjective GRUBBY to the verb GRUBBIFY and then back
to an adjective, GRUBBIFIABLE. |
| type of word formation:blend |
| dictionary entry:GRUBBIFIABLE, adj. Intended for
becoming soiled as a result of labor. Composed of: GRUBBI [GRUBBY] +
-FI [-FY] + -ABLE |
| Gut |
| context and source:'When student call a course a
'gut,' often what they mean is that the exams haven't changed in a
decade, that all the fraternities have them on file and that they're to
be had for the asking.' (New York Times Online 9 Sep 2003) |
| apparent meaning:course in which cheating is especially easy Composed of: 'gut' (a narrow passage) |
| type of word formation:metaphorical extension
('gut' referring to a body part to 'gut' referring to a class in which
passing is as straightforward as passing through the body part) |
| dictionary entry:Gut, n. academic course in
which cheating (and passing) is especially easy ('that class is a gut')
[metaphorical extension of 'gut'] |
| guyish |
| context and source:'That pen's not a very guyish
pen. It's more girly-looking.' Conversation overheard during class, 10
Oct 2003. |
| apparent meaning:having the characteristics of masculinity |
| type of word formation:affixation |
| dictionary entry:guyish ' adj. Being associated
with masculinity or manliness. (a very guyish pen) [new derivation;
formed from 'guy' + '-ish'] |
| Gyp |
| context and source:'We got completely gypped this time.' (Nabiha Parvez, October 8th, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:A ripoff; something that is not worth what you're giving for it. To get 'ripped off.' |
| type of word formation:Clipping (Gypsy) |
| dictionary entry:Gyp v. To pull a scam or deprive of something by deception or fraud. [Clipping of the word Gypsy] |
| gzilcher |
| context and source:'But perhaps their most
significant technological advance is the pioneering of the halftime
Gzilcher' (found on MOB online forum in a discussion about school spirit
10/06/03) |
| apparent meaning:it is device very much like a
giant slingshot, which is used to hurl water balloons or other object
across a football field or other large distance. |
| type of word formation:creative new word |
| dictionary entry:gzilcher n. giant sling shot
used to hurl objects long distances ('the halftime Gzilcher') [new word
composition] |
| hacker |
| context and source:'You are such a hacker.' (A friend talking to my roommate, week of 9/8, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:a person who is technologically
savvy with computers and computer code; one who learns how to stretch
the limits of programmable systems, sometimes maliciously |
| type of word formation:zero derivation |
| dictionary entry:hacker, n. a technically savvy
person that stretches the limits of computers and spends a lot of time
trying to manipulate computer code ('the hackers broke my computer')
[new zero derivation; arising from 'hack' + 'er'] |
| halfie |
| context and source:· 'I, like six other advisors at Hanszen, am a halfie.' Declaration by E. M., 8-17-03. |
| apparent meaning:a person with parents of differing races or ethnicities |
| type of word formation:derivation |
| dictionary entry: halfie, n. An individual who
is half one ethnicity or race and half another. ('The self-designated
halfie was proud of his Asian and Caucasian roots.') [new derivation;
formed from 'half' + 'ie'] |
| Halo-style |
| context and source:'If he ever crashed my computer, I'd go off on him Halo-style.' |
| apparent meaning:using excessive force or violence to inflict damage or harm |
| type of word formation:affixation |
| dictionary entry:Halo-style ' adj. Performed
with gratuitous cartoon violence (as seen in the popular videogame)
('The group of boys destroyed the old computer parts Halo-style')
[affixation; formed from 'Halo' + 'style'] |
| handleable |
| context and source:'My palm pilot made medical school handleable.' (in conversation with a friend, 11/12/03) |
| apparent meaning:manageable, possible to handle |
| type of word formation:derivation |
| dictionary entry:Handleable, adj. Describing
that which is easy and manageable; won't require great effort or need
for help to complete. ('a handleable task') [This derivation formed from
very 'handle' and suffix 'able'] |
| hand waving |
| context and source:'And by a little hand waving, we arrive at the solution.' (CAAM 210 class, week of 11/10, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:the act of trying to get past a difficult situation or problem by ignoring it |
| type of word formation:compound |
| dictionary entry:hand waving, n. the act of
getting past a difficult explanation or moment by ignoring it or
skipping past it somehow ('and with some hand waving, we say the meaning
of life is 42') [compound; arising from 'hand' + 'waving', new usage of
older compound'] |
| hazmat |
| context and source: 'The hazmat team had to cleanup the chemical spill.' (TV news program, CNN, week of 10/20, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:just a quick and easy way of saying 'hazardous materials' |
| type of word formation:blend, clipping |
| dictionary entry:hazmat, n.adj. the team or
describing the team that cleans and or disposes of hazardous and
dangerous materials like chemicals ('the hazmat team was quick to arrive
on the scene') [blend and clipping; arising from 'hazardous' X
'materials'] |
| Head |
| context and source:'My lab is at five, so I'd better head.' (Phoebe Light, September 19, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:to head to, go go |
| type of word formation:zero derivation |
| dictionary entry:Head v. To depart, to leave in search of a particular destination. |
| Heat |
| context and source:'If you walk down Cullen Boulevard after dark, you best be packing heat.' ' Jones College Freshman |
| apparent meaning:gun |
| type of word formation:zero derivation |
| dictionary entry:Heat; N. -a firearm. |
| hecka |
| context and source:One of my friends is from the
West Coast and says 'hella' a lot. 'Hella' implies crude usage of the
word 'hell', and I do not like to curse excessively, so I changed it to
hecka. |
| apparent meaning:very |
| type of word formation:expletive softening (like darn and shoot) |
| dictionary entry:hecka - adv. - very, extremely, to a high degree. That bicycle trick was hecka cool! |
| Heinous |
| context and source:"That boy over there is such a heinous.' |
| apparent meaning:Someone or something that is repulsive. |
| type of word formation:Zero derivation from the adjective form of the word 'heinous.' |
| dictionary entry:Heinous: (N) Someone or something that is repulsive. |
| Heinosity |
| context and source:'The out of season shoes that
she was wearing with that out of style skirt was a heinosity.' Or 'I
can't believe that nasty guy tried to hit on me at the club; he is such a
heinosity.' |
| apparent meaning:Someone or something that is extremely repulsive or abhorrent. |
| type of word formation:A blending and clipping of heinous + monstrosity. (heinousmonstrosity) |
| dictionary entry:Heinosity: (N) Someone or something that is extremely repulsive or abhorrent. |
| HELLA |
| context and source:'Art history is hella hard.' Conversation; 9/14/03. |
| apparent meaning:This word, when placed before
an adjective, works as an intensifier just like the word 'extremely' or
'very.' When 'hella' is left on its own to describe something, as in
'That band is hella,' it means 'cool.' This word was created to be a hip
intensifier or another way of putting something in a positive light. |
| type of word formation:compound and clipping, as
hella probably began as 'hell of' changed to 'hellof' and then was
clipped to 'hella' |
| dictionary entry:hella [clipped compound hell + a < of] Adverb. Intensifier. Adjective. Having the connotation of 'cool.' |
| hella |
| context and source:'Pub pizza is hella good.' Paul Campbell, Martel College Freshman |
| apparent meaning:very, extremely |
| type of word formation:maybe a blend of 'hell' + 'yea' |
| dictionary entry:Hella; adv. - word used to describe a verb or an adjective meaning 'very' or 'extremely'. |
| hellway |
| context and source:'Are you gonna haunt the old hellways of SCA'' from an IM conversation, 10-1-03. |
| apparent meaning:a particularly hellish hallway |
| type of word formation:blending |
| dictionary entry:hellway, n. A corridor that
invokes fear in an individual ('The ex-convict dreaded treading the
prison's all-too-familiar hellways.') [New word by blending; formed from
'hell' x 'hallway'] |
| Herre |
| context and source: 'It's getting hot in herre.' Lyrics from a song by hip-hop artist Nelly |
| apparent meaning: Means 'here,' but pronounced 'her.' Seems to be the latest and coolest pronunciation of 'here.' |
| type of word formation:Means 'here,' but pronounced 'her.' |
| dictionary entry: Herre - here |
| hinglish |
| context and source:'People in India speak more Hinglish than either Hindi or English' (Conversation, 9/20/03) |
| apparent meaning:a combination of Hindi and English |
| type of word formation:blending |
| dictionary entry:hinglish, n. A combination, or
blend, of Hindi and English reslting in a language containing words from
both Hindi and English (' hinglish is popular') [blending: 'hindi' +
'english' -> hinglish] |
| Holla |
| context and source: 'He tried to holla at that girl.' Conversation ' 11/02/03 |
| apparent meaning:Probably rooted from cheese, as
in 'Say cheese!' while taking pictures, to make people having the
appearance of smiling. |
| type of word formation:Holla is the 'hip' way of saying 'holler.' |
| dictionary entry:Holla ' act of trying to talk to a girl or to get her phone number. Holla is the 'hip' way of saying 'holler.' |
| Holla |
| context and source:'Going out to dinner, so holla!' (Jessica Bofshever, November 3rd, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:To call someone up or get in touch, to return a call, respond via e-mail, etc. |
| type of word formation:clipping |
| dictionary entry:Holla v. To talk to someone or
telling somebody to 'hit you up later' (get in touch) [Clipping of the
word holler] |
| Hong Kongese |
| context and source:'So most of my friends were Hong Kongese.' (In a conversation with a friend on 12/1/2003) |
| apparent meaning:a native or resident of Hong Kong |
| type of word formation:affixation |
| dictionary entry:Hong Kongese, n. a native or resident of Hong Kong. |
| heroness |
| context and source:'I can see you've done many
great deeds and your heroness is awakening.' (overheard from a TV
program conversation, week of 10/6, 2003) |
| apparent meaning:very similar to heroism, courageous qualities, conduct, or behavior |
| type of word formation:derivation |
| dictionary entry:heroness, n. courageous
qualities, conduct, or behavior, with a slightly corny or campy
connotation ('super-great heroness') [new derivation; formed from 'hero'
+ '-ness'] |
| Hook'em |
| context and source:'hook'em horns'. Heard on a television broadcast of college football (9/15/2003). |
| apparent meaning:An encouraging cheer for the
University of Texas 'longhorns', or athletes. 'Hook' invokes the idea of
catching or beating an adversary and 'em' probably refers to 'them',
the opponents. There is a reference to the school's mascot, a cow, whose
horns are curved and sharp like a hook. |
| type of word formation:Compound |
| dictionary entry:hook'em, v. To catch or take down an opponent. |
| hookup chart |
| context and source:Several residential colleges
often make hookup charts to show which college members have dated, made
out with, or randomly slept with each other. |
| apparent meaning:chart that details the relationships between college members |
| type of word formation:compounding |
| dictionary entry:hookup chart - n. - diagram
detailing the personal relationships within a residential college at
Rice University. Shannon is so gross - she's the center of a huge circle
on the hookup chart. |
| Hops |
| context and source:'That guy has some major hops.' b. Conversation at the gym ' 11/06/03 |
| apparent meaning:ability to jump high |
| type of word formation: [none given] |
| dictionary entry:Hops ' ability to jump high. |
| Hot spot |
| context and source:'Visit mcdwireless.com to find a McDonald's hot spot near you.' (advertisement in Time 29 Oct 2003) |
| apparent meaning:location with wireless internet
access available Composed of: 'hot' (popular; very good; radioactive) +
'spot' (location in space) |
| type of word formation:rhyming compound of 'hot' + 'spot' |
| dictionary entry:Hot spot, n. location with
wireless internet access available ('where's the closest hot spot'')
[rhyming compound of 'hot' + 'spot'] |
| Hucka hucka |
| context and source:'Did you hear what happened
last night' hucka hucka.' (instant messenger conversation with
University of Texas sophomore 8 Sep 2003) |
| apparent meaning:indication of laughter or amusement |
| type of word formation:sound symbolism for laughter |
| dictionary entry:Hucka hucka, interj. indication
of laughter or amusement, esp. in instant messenger conversations ('did
you hear what happened' hucka hucka') [sound symbolism for laughter] |
| hungryness |
| context and source:My roommate was just starving
and the peak of her whinage occurred when she stated that she has spent
the last two hours in pure hungryness. |
| apparent meaning:state of being hungry |
| type of word formation:affixation |
| dictionary entry:hungryness - n. - state of
being hungry beyond hunger, a condition worse than hunger but not as
extreme as starvation. The servery really needs to open because I don't
know if I can stand any more hungryness. |
| Hum-dinger |
| context and source:'That was a hum-dinger of a question' (Student comment in class, 12/2/03) |
| apparent meaning:Something that is difficult or
abstract in content. The lengthy duration of pronouncing 'hum' suggests
that it is something that requires a considerable amount of thought. |
| type of word formation:Compound (V-N) |
| dictionary entry:hum-dinger, n. Something that is complex and novel to the mind. |
| hun |
| context and source:"good luck.' 'thanks you too hun,' IM conversation, 10-19-03 |
| apparent meaning:'honey,' 'sweetie' |
| type of word formation:clipping |
| dictionary entry:hun, n. honey, sweetie. ('Talk to you later, hun.') [New word formation by clipping from 'honey.'] |
| Hypotenize |
| context and source: '"Let's hypotenize across
here, I'm in a hurry." -Conversation while walking with friends, about 2
months ago. |
| Apparent meaning: to take a shortcut, i.e. to traverse a 'hypotenuse' of two paths at right angles. |
| type of word formation: Word Formation: Analogy to other verbs/Affixation |
| dictionary entry: Hypotenize, v. To take a
shortcut by traversing a path consisting of the longest leg of a right
triangle. [new derivation, fr. 'hypo' (under) + 'ten' (stretch) + 'ize'
(verb suffix) |
| Ice |
| context and source:'You can't wear a diamond
bellybutton ring until you hear a rap song about ice in the belly.'
(Kristen Kock, October 16, 2003). |
| apparent meaning:Diamonds or other shiny jewelry |
| type of word formation:zero derivation |
| dictionary entry:Ice n. A piece of shiny jewelry, sometimes fake, used to be showy. |
| identity theft |
| context and source:The new MasterCard
commercials advertise advanced security features on their credit cards
to protect against identity theft. |
| apparent meaning:the act of stealing someone's belongings and pretending to be them to enjoy what was stolen. |
| type of word formation:compounding |
| dictionary entry:identity theft - n. - crime
where a person steal not only someone's belongings, but also their
identity when trying to use the stolen property. Sandra Bullock has to
deal with a serious case of identity theft in The Net. |
| I-eat-babies |
| context and source:'She was wearing I-eat-babies make up.' Martel freshman Nov. 2003 |
| apparent meaning:an excessive amount to the point of being scary |
| type of word formation:compounding and metaphor |
| dictionary entry:I-eat-babies adj. Having excesses to the point of invoking fear [compounding: I, eat, and babies] |
| INTEGRALIZE |
| context and source:'Just like you derivatize something, you can integralize it as well.' Conversation; 10/29/03. |
| apparent meaning:Similar to derivatize,
integralize simply means to integrate a function. While integrate is not
as radical a formation as differentiate, it still follows to use the
same verb forming suffix as in derivatize. This term was coined to
follow the pattern of forming complex technical terms more easily. |
| type of word formation:back formation, from integral to integrate back to integralize |
| dictionary entry:dictionary entry: integralize [integral- +ize V] Verb. To integrate a function. |
| ILCH |
| context and source:'The children of the world
have no heroic figure to emulate, so the future of mankind continues on
its downward spiral into entropy and mass extinction until all that was
once great about the human race lies buried in the primordial stew, to
which we will most certainly return, thanks to you and your ilch refusal
to reach for the stars, and you'll forever be remembered as the sad
footnote in the book of life, the wimpy little scumbag who could've
breached the chasm of becoming and being but instead opted to cover his
own ass - and foot - in the process." ' Kevin Smith, 'The Flying Car' |
| apparent meaning:This word occurs in the middle
of a long rant in which a smart-aleck character is trying to sound very
profound, and the more educated words or novel formations he uses, the
closer he gets to his goal. |
| type of word formation: back formation of ZILCH |
| dictionary entry:ILCH, adj. Total, all-encompassing. Composed of: ILCH |
| imho |
| context and source:'Biology is much more interesting than math, imho..' (conversation, 10/02/03) |
| apparent meaning:In my humble opinion |
| type of word formation:acronym |
| dictionary entry:imho Phrase that indicates
modesty about one's opinions, acronym for 'in my humble opinion'. ('You
shouldn't do it this way, imho') [acronym: in my humble opiinion] |
| indipop |
| context and source:'I enjoy listening to indipop..' (conversation, 9/30/03) |
| apparent meaning:popular Indian music |
| type of word formation:blending |
| dictionary entry:indipop, adj., n. Popular
Indian music ('Indipop is a new genre of music') [blending: 'indian',
ADJ. + 'popular' (also shortened to 'pop') ADJ. -> indipop] |
| INTERGENDERFICATION |
| context and source:'Can we get some intergenderfication in our rows, please'' ' Rice Philharmonics music director, 4 Nov 2003. |
| apparent meaning:Once again, a young adult
creates the illusion of erudition by using multiple affixes, this time
for the sake of humor as much as practicality. |
| type of word formation:derivation |
| dictionary entry:INTERGENDERFICATION, n. Mixing
of men and women, specifically arranging them in order to prevent gender
segregation. Composed of: INTER- + GENDER + -FY + -CAT [-ATE] + -ION |
| IRAQIFICATION |
| context and source:'Everyone seems to be in favor of Iraqification.' ' Newsweek, 10 Nov 2003. |
| apparent meaning:This word appears much more
commonly that what would appear to be its predecessor, IRAQIFY. The act
of Iraqifying, however, follows the same linguistic pattern of
suffixation that we use with other -IFY verbs and their related acts:
FORTIFY and FORTIFICATION, TRANSMOGRIFY and TRANSMOGRIFICATION, etc. |
| type of word formation:compound |
| dictionary entry:IRAQIFICATION, n. The process
of controlled supervision of government reconstruction based on the
formula used in Iraq. Composed of: IRAQ + -IFI [-IFY] + -CAT [-ATE] +
-ION |
| iraqification |
| context and source:'Iraqification ' a losing strategy' (title of an article on the current war in Iraq on MSNBC, 11/11/03) |
| apparent meaning:Giving power to the Iraqi people |
| type of word formation:affixation |
| dictionary entry:iraqification, n Transfer of
power to the people of Iraq ('process of iraqification') [derivation:
'iraq' + -'ify' V. + -'cate' V. + -'ion' N.] |
| Irsay |
| context and source:'The Baltimore Orioles had
been America's most sensational team in the 19th century, but in the
fall of '02 the franchise was Irsayed to New York, becoming the
Highlanders (although they would subsequently earn somewhat more renown
as the Yankees).' --Sports Illustrated, vol. 99, no. 8, Sept. 1, 2003.
p.43. |
| apparent meaning:: To relocate a sports franchise to another city for monetary gains |
| type of word formation:metonymy |
| dictionary entry:Irsay ' v. To relocate a sports
franchise from a city for purely monetary reasons, as was done by the
late Baltimore Colts owner Bob Irsay (who moved the team to
Indianapolis). ('Bud Adams Irsayed the Houston Oilers to Nashville
several years ago, where they became the Titans') [metonymy; formed from
Irsay, the Baltimore Colts owner's surname] |
|
jackie
|
|
context and source:"Can I borrow a jackie to walk to the gym'' A. A., 11/21/03
|
|
apparent meaning:lightweight hooded zip-up sweatshirt
|
|
type of word formation:derivation
|
|
dictionary entry:jackie, n.
A hooded zip-down sweatshirt suitable for cool fall weather. ('The kids
started wearing their jackies to school as the leaves began to turn.')
[New derivation from jacket + -ie]
|
|
Jesus-time
|
|
context and source:'Do you want to go to Jesus-time with me this
Sunday'' (A college student inviting a friend to Catholic mass 11/16/03)
|
|
apparent meaning:Jesus-time is synonymous with 'mass' or 'church',
attended by a large number of Rice students on Sundays at 5pm. Because
it is a time when you get in touch with, speak of and think about Jesus,
etc, the word is somewhat self-explanatory.
|
|
type of word formation:from 'Jesus' and 'time', a form of blending and zero derivation at the same time.
|
|
dictionary entry:Jesus-time, n.
A catholic mass, the building in which mass is held, or the concept of
spending time with Jesus in an institution ('jesus-time made me feel so
much better last week')
[Blend, formed from 'jesus' and 'time']
|
|
JIHADIST
|
|
context and source:'U.S. intelligence officials… suggested that
Baathist dead-enders had hired foreign jihadists… to drive the suicide
vehicles.' – Newsweek, 10 Nov 2003
|
|
apparent meaning:Native English speakers do not typically employ an
-I suffix to denote 'participant or adherent of,' so the Arabic suffix
was regularized to the English -IST.
|
|
type of word formation: regularizasion of JIHADI
|
|
dictionary entry:JIHADIST, n.
A person engaged in or supporting a jihad. [also used as adj.]
Composed of: JIHAD + -IST
|
|
JIP
|
|
context and source:Something to the effect of 'We're going to JIP the
President's speech from the Rose Garden' -- Used by Rush Limbaugh on
his radio program
|
|
apparent meaning:to join an audio broadcast that is in progress
|
|
type of word formation:acronym
|
|
dictionary entry:JIP – v. to join an audiovisual broadcast already
in progress; join in progress. ('On the show, the Pentagon press
briefing was JIPped.') [acronym; formed from 'join in progress']
|
|
John
|
|
context and source:'I'm going to pick up my john paper' (Statement by a friend, 11/24/03)
|
|
apparent meaning:Irritating, annoying, or frustrating in nature. A
common word 'john' is used to describe something that the speaker does
not like. Perhaps the speaker wishes to equate the value of the thing he
or she is describing with crap, hence making use of the word 'john'
meaning toilet.
|
|
type of word formation:derivation
|
|
dictionary entry:john, interj. Irritating, annoying, unpleasing
|
|
Jones
|
|
context and source:'My buddy here has a major jones for Bianca
Stratford.' (Ten Things I Hate About You, November 20th, 2003)
|
|
apparent meaning:Can be used as a verb (Jonesing) or a noun (a jones). Equiv. "to fancy" "crushing on" "to want."
|
|
type of word formation:Metonymy
|
|
dictionary entry:Jones
n. Describes a state in which one experiences strong desire or attraction, often of a sexual nature.
v. To desire or want for oneself.
[Metonymic formation from the phrase 'Keeping up with the Jones's']
|
|
Joshin'
|
|
context and source:'I'm just joshin' with you' (Best friend talking with boyfriend, 11/24/03)
|
|
apparent meaning:A verb used to defend or explain a person's intent, such as joking or kidding.
|
|
type of word formation:Blend
|
|
dictionary entry:joshin', v. To joke with, or fool around with a friend, usu. in coversation
|
| Kegoff |
| context and source:'Do you know when the kegoff starts'' (conversation with Lovett junior 26 Sep 2003) |
| apparent meaning:contest in which teams compete to see which can finish a keg of beer in the least amount of time |
| type of word formation:blend of 'keg' and 'run-off' |
| dictionary entry:Kegoff, n. Contest in which
participants compete in teams to see which can finish a keg of beer in
the least amount of time ('the seniors won the kegoff') [blend of 'keg' +
'run-off'] |
| Kickin' |
| context and source:"That party was kickin'; I had such a good time." said by Sid Rich freshman male, November 2003. |
| apparent meaning:Something that is awesome, enjoyable, or great. |
| type of word formation:A clipping of the word 'kicking,' by dropping the 'g.' (Kicking --> kickin') |
| dictionary entry:Kickin': (ADJ) Something that is awesome, enjoyable, or great. |
| Kicks |
| context and source:a. 'It's time for me to buy some new kicks.' Conversation at the mall ' 11/12/03 |
| apparent meaning:shoes, especially sneakers, tennis shoes. |
| type of word formation:[none given] |
| dictionary entry:Kicks ' shoes, especially sneakers, tennis shoes |
| Kicks |
| context and source:'Your new kicks are so much whiter than your old ones'. - Martel Sophomore James Barnes IV |
| apparent meaning:shoes |
| type of word formation:zero derivation. |
| dictionary entry:Kicks; N. -shoes |
| killage |
| context and source:: 'So begins the season of deer killage' -- Seen on my friend's, an avid hunter, AIM away message. |
| apparent meaning:to hunt an animal for sport and/or food |
| type of word formation:affixation |
| dictionary entry:killage ' v. the act of hunting
and killing an animal for sport and/or food. ('Plenty of deer killage
occurred on the hunting trip, with three deer being taken.')
[affixation; formed from 'kill' + '-age'] |
| KGB |
| context and source:'If you want KB talk to George; if you want KGB talk to Budik.' Frat boy Aug 2003 |
| apparent meaning:KB stands for kind bud; KGB could mean kind good bud, but generally means marijuana with a high THC content |
| type of word formation:abbreviation |
| dictionary entry:KGB, n. marijuana with high THC content [abbr. kind good bud] |
| LATINLY |
| context and source:'If you want to find a
species wholly new to science and have your name inscribed Latinly in
some secular version of an eternal rollbook, then your best bet is to
come to the southern Appalachians' and start turning over rocks.' '
Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek |
| apparent meaning:The standard -LY adverb suffix
is applied here to make a proper adverb, a very uncommon English
construction but one that gets the point across simply. |
| type of word formation:derivation |
| dictionary entry:LATINLY, adv. In a manner resembling the Latin language. Composed of: LATIN + -LY |
| laughgasm |
| context and source:'You can even get a laughgasm from laughing so hard' (a friend after a long bout of laughter 11/30) |
| apparent meaning:an orgasm incurred from laughing too much, for too long, or too hard. |
| type of word formation:blend of 'laughter' and 'orgasm' |
| dictionary entry:Laughgasm, n. An orgasm from laughing [A blend, derived from 'laughter' and 'orgasm'] |
| LeBron-a-thon |
| context and source:'Just to break things up,
allow me to add up the numbers and share my Thirty-One Things I Want To
See That Have Little Or Nothing To Do LeBron. Trust us: the
LeBron-A-Thon will still be splashed across your TV when we're done' --
from an espn.com article by Mark Stein on October 23, 2003 |
| apparent meaning:the saturating sports media coverage of all things LeBron |
| type of word formation:blending and clipping |
| dictionary entry:LeBron-a-thon ' n. the
saturating sports media coverage of all things having to do with LeBron
James's first season in the NBA. ('The LeBron-a-thon continued tonight
with a five-minute segment on the design of his new signature shoe.')
[blending and clipping; formed from 'Lebron' + 'marathon'] |
| LEET, also in print: 133+ |
| context and source:'I'm a 133+ hax0r ninj4!' Website; 11/16/03. |
| apparent meaning:133+ has several meanings. As
in the example above, it means elite or above others in ability or
stature. Otherwise, 133+ refers to the practice of replacing letters
with numbers in a kind of internet jargon, which also has some
specialized words, like 'hax0r' for hacker. This kind of writing is used
primarily by people who are very computer literate, or who play
computer games a lot. 133+ was invented by a webcomic author and its use
picked up from there. The term was coined to describe an elite group of
internet and computer users. |
| type of word formation:clipping of elite to
'lite,'which came to be phonetically spelled 'leet' and written in leet,
became '133+.' |
| dictionary entry:leet or 133+ [clipping of
elite] Adjective. Elite, especially in computer usage. Noun. The
practice of replacing letters with numbersand using some unique
terminology with this quality. |
| light-loafer |
| context and source: 9-2-03 'My dad thinks that my roommate is a light-loafer.' ' Suitemate Mark Mendenhall |
| apparent meaning:someone who is rather light or small and therefore his loafers do not carry much weight. |
| type of word formation:compound |
| dictionary entry:Light-loafer, N. - a person who is rather effeminate or homosexual. |
| lin al |
| context and source:'Do you think I should take lin al next semester'' (conversation with a sophomore enquiring about classes) |
| apparent meaning:linear algebra |
| type of word formation:clipping |
| dictionary entry:lin al, n Denotes linear
algebra, a field of mathematics ('lin al is interesting') [clipping:
(linear -> lin) + (algebra -> al)] |
| Linestub |
| context and source:'Most Ticketmaster locations
in the Houston area will be distributing linestubs beginning at 9 a.m.,
Saturday, Nov. 22.' (Click2Houston.com, 11/20/03) |
| apparent meaning:one of many sequentially
numbered slips of paper given to those standing in a queue in order to
determine or preserve the order of service |
| type of word formation: compound |
| dictionary entry:linestub, n. One of many
sequentially numbered slips of paper given to those standing in a queue
in order to determine or preserve the order of service. ('the
distribution of linestubs') [new compound; formed from 'line' + 'stub'] |
| LPAPing or lpap-ing |
| context and source:'Its almost time to go LPAPing.' 'conversation with roommate, early September |
| apparent meaning:the action of participating in an LPAP class at Rice |
| type of word formation:analogy |
| dictionary entry:LPAPing, v/n The act of
participation in a Lifetime Physical Activity Program course at Rice
University. [new derivation, fr. 'LPAP' + '-ing'] |
| logisticalize |
| context and source:"That's a nice way to logisticalize your way out of it.' (N-Y L., 10-29-03) |
| apparent meaning:rationalize |
| type of word formation:derivation |
| dictionary entry:logisticalize, v. to
rationalize ('She successfully logisticalized herself out of performing
CPR on the dying octogenarian by telling herself that, at his age, he
couldn't possibly have anything left to live for.') [new word derivation
from logistic + al + ize.] |
| LOL |
| context and source:'LOL' (Instant messenger, 8/25/00) |
| apparent meaning:A response to something that is funny or makes you laugh. 'Laugh out loud'. |
| type of word formation: Acronym |
| dictionary entry:LOL, n. A state of amusement in response to one's words or actions. |
| Lonelified |
| context and source:a. 'Sometimes your house gets
lonelified.' Lyrics from song by hip-hop artist Andre 3000, from the
group Outcast |
| apparent meaning:act of being in solitude or lonely |
| type of word formation:Word combines lonely + -ified |
| dictionary entry:Lonelified 'act of being in solitude or lonely. Word combines lonely + -ified |
| Maddenating |
| context and source: 'It is so maddenating that my History final isn't until the 18th.' (Samantha Cheung, November 28, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Frustrating |
| type of word formation: Blend, maddening and infuriating |
| dictionary entry: Maddenating. ppl. a. Causing frustration and extreme anger. [It is a combination of maddening and infuriating] |
| Magriffic |
| context and source: 'The Christmas decorations at the Galleria during this season are magriffic!' (11/30) |
| apparent meaning: amazing, terrific,
fascinating, and awesome. Carries specific connotations and magnificent
(referring to sight) and terrific (referring to the emotional aspect of
it). |
| type of word formation: Blend, magnificent and terrific |
| dictionary entry: Magriffic, adj. Amazing to
behold, as well as providing for an exceptional emotional experience.
('a magriffic reception') [Blend, formed from 'magnificent' and
'terrific'] |
| Make Groceries |
| context and source: "I'm going to make groceries" (Saying of a New Orleans native, Fall, 2002) |
| apparent meaning: Making groceries seems to mean
collecting and purchasing of food products. There is probably a strong
regional influence of the phrase that initially sounds funny to people
from a different place. 'Making' could possibly mean 'having', as in
'making love' being equivalent to 'having sex'. 'Having' is the outcome
of the act of going to the grocery. |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Make groceries, v. To obtain and purchase products from a grocery store. |
| Manscape |
| context and source: Cable TV program 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'. 2003. Ex: ''Today we will discuss the art of manscaping'' |
| apparent meaning: Artful shaving and trimming of a man's body hair |
| type of word formation: Blend, man and landscape |
| dictionary entry: Manscape, v. To artfully shave and trim a man's body hair. [man + landscape] |
| Martha Stewart |
| context and source: 'Don't freaking Martha-Stewart me!' (Actress in Sugar & Spice, November 16th, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Organize and help clean up an area such as a room or an apartment. to fix it up. |
| type of word formation: Eponymy |
| dictionary entry: Martha Stewart v. To perform
domestic chores such as cleaning or organizing a house or room in order
to improve the aesthetic appearance (of room) and the quality of life
(of owner). [Eponymous derivation from celebrity Martha Stewart] |
| Matterful |
| context and source: Rolling Stone magazine
11/13/03. Julian Casablancas of the NY band, The Strokes: 'I'd like to
just get to a point where maybe we [the band] can say something that
will be matterful. That's definitely not a word, by the way.' |
| apparent meaning: 'important', 'significant' |
| type of word formation: I think it is a cross
between a compound and a blend. 'Matter' meaning 'stuff', or in its verb
form 'to be important, have significance' + -ful meaning 'full of'. |
| Mayhaps |
| context and source: Friend's response to a question on AOL Instant Messenger (Oct 29, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: something that is questionable |
| type of word formation: Blend, maybe and perhaps |
| dictionary entry: Mayhaps, adv. Maybe, perhaps (Mayhaps I'll be there.) [new blend; formed from 'maybe' + 'perhaps'] |
| McJob |
| context and source: 'I don't want another McJob!' (in conversation with a friend, 11/11/03) |
| apparent meaning: A low-paying, temporary job
that doesn't offer any future. Those with McJobs are possibly seeking
other employment, since their position is also not the most prestigious.
Low paying and dead-end service industry work |
| type of word formation: Blend, McDonald's and job, and analogy |
| dictionary entry: McJob, n. A job that is
low-paying, temporary and offers no incentives or benefits. ('I'm tired
of this mcjob') [An analogy blend formed from 'McDonald' and 'job'] |
| McMansion |
| context and source: 'The houses just to the north of campuses are mostly McMansions' Brown RA Nov. 2003 |
| apparent meaning: An average uninspiring large
house. Putting Mc in front of mansion gives the impression that they are
mass-produced in the exact same way i.e. every McMansion looks like the
next McMansion. |
| type of word formation: Blend, McDonald's and mansion |
| dictionary entry: McMansion, n. a mansion that is similar to most other mansions. |
| Mecha |
| context and source: 'The mecha in the new Matrix movie were so awesome!' Conversation; 11/22/03. |
| apparent meaning: Mecha is a term that describes
a range of fantastical machines, especially in Japanese animation.
These machines, especially mobile suits, are giant robots built as
weapons and are designed to be piloted by one person. Mecha is both the
singular and the plural form of the word. The word was coined to
describe this kind of robot. |
| type of word formation: Clipping of mechanical |
| dictionary entry: Mecha n. 1. A humanoid shaped
robot used as a weapon and piloted by one person. 2. Any number of the
aforementioned robots, as this is also the plural form. [clipping of
mechanical] |
| Meetsheet |
| context and source: "Hold on let me get the meetsheet, so we can look her up." said by Brown College freshman. Heard Sept. 2003 |
| apparent meaning: A book with the names and pictures of the freshman class at Rice University |
| type of word formation: Compounding |
| dictionary entry: Meetsheet n. a book with the
names and pictures of the freshman class at Rice University [compound:
meet the gain acquaintance +sheet paper] |
| Megafauna |
| context and source: 'So what we can say is this:
finding mountain ranges isn't terribly hard. But making pictures of
extraterrestrial megafauna is.' (SPACE.com, 11/21/03) |
| apparent meaning: Large or relatively large animals, especially those of a specific region or period |
| type of word formation: Compound |
| dictionary entry: megafauna, n. Large or
relatively large animals, especially those of a specific region or
period. ('the megafauna of the Serengeti') [new compound; formed from
'mega' + 'fauna'] |
| Mejorest |
| context and source: 'Thanks for helping me, you're the mejorest.' -friend, after I helped her with an assignment |
| apparent meaning: Another way of saying 'best.' |
| type of word formation: Borrowing/Analogy |
| dictionary entry: Mejorest, adj. Informal term for 'best,' from Spanish 'mejor' (better). |
| Melancholic |
| context and source: 'as played by Viggo Mortenson with an understated melancholic potency' Delta Sky magazine winter edition |
| apparent meaning: Being in a somber serious
state invokes blend with alcoholic, or at least the 'holic semi-morpheme
meaning an addiction. |
| type of word formation: Melancholy and given the adjectival affix -ic |
| dictionary entry: Melancholic, adj. Being in a
somber serious state [melancholy + -ic adj. Suffix OR blended word:
melancholy + alcoholic] |
| Merkin |
| context and source: 'We should merkin that girl' Baker male freshman Oct 2003 |
| apparent meaning: The noun 'merkin' means a
female pubic wig, so it seems as if the zero derivation would mean to
place the pubic wig on the direct object. |
| type of word formation: Zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: Merkin, tr. v. to place a
pubic wig on to [zero derivation, merkin, Middle English, Malkin
diminutive of Matilda] |
| Metrosexual |
| context and source: 'My friend isn't gay, but he is kind of metrosexual.' Conversation; 11/4/03. |
| apparent meaning: Metrosexual is used to
describe heterosexual males who spend a lot of time grooming themselves,
which is stereotypically a trait of gay males. This also extends to a
knowledge of fashion. Basically, a metrosexual guy is exactly like a gay
guy, but he is straight. The term was coined to make just this
distinction. |
| type of word formation: Blend, metro and homosexual |
| dictionary entry: : Metrosexual [blend
metropolitan + sexual] Adjective. Describing a heterosexual man who
displays the stereotypical traits (fashion sense, well-groomed
appearance, etc.) of a gay man. |
| Mexican't |
| context and source: 'Are you a Mexican or Mexican't'' (Johnny Depp in the film Once Upon a Time in Mexico) |
| apparent meaning: A Mexican who does not dare or is not able to do anything. |
| type of word formation: Blend, Mexican and can't |
| Michael Jackson |
| context and source: Joking around with Sid freshmen 11/03. 'You better watch out or I'll Michael Jackson you.' |
| apparent meaning: To Michael Jackson somebody is
to touch or fondle somebody inappropriately in a joking,
non-threatening manner. |
| type of word formation: Zero Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Michael Jackson, v. To touch
or fondle somebody inappropriately in a joking, non-threatening manner.
[Michael Jackson, singer, b. 1958] |
| Midlatitude |
| context and source: 'Depending on the storm's
magnetic orientation, it could set off a dramatic display of colorful
northern lights well into midlatitudes of the United States and Europe.'
(MSNBC.com, 10/28/03) |
| apparent meaning: A region of the earth approximately halfway between the equator and one of the two poles |
| type of word formation: Compound |
| dictionary entry: Midlatitude, n. A region of
the earth approximately halfway between the equator and one of the two
poles. ('the midlatitudes of North America and Europe') [new compound;
formed from 'mid-' + 'latitude'] |
| MOBcestious |
| context and source: Overheard in a conversation
in which someone was saying that members of the MOB tend to do
everything together (early Sept. 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Someone who spends all of their time with other MOBsters |
| type of word formation: Blend, MOB and incestuous |
| dictionary entry: MOBcestious, adj. Spending
one's time solely with other MOBsters (Since she joined the MOB, she's
become so MOBcestious.) [new blend, formed from 'MOB' + 'incestuous'] |
| Mondo |
| context and source: Looking toward the last week
of classes, a friend said she was going to have a mondo bad week (Nov.
30, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Very large |
| type of word formation: Unknown |
| dictionary entry: Mondo, adj. Very large (They got me a mondo cake for my birthday.) [Unknown] |
| Moonscape |
| context and source: 'Moonscape, on Earth.' (SPACE.com, 11/21/03) |
| apparent meaning: A view of or resembling the surface of moon, characterized by rockiness and barrenness |
| type of word formation: Compound |
| dictionary entry: moonscape, n. A view of or
resembling the surface of the moon, characterized by rockiness and
barrenness. ('the moonscapes of certain regions of Idaho') [new
compound; formed from 'moon' + 'scape'] |
| Mosh |
| context and source: 'Since I was sick, I didn't
think it would be a great idea to be stuck in a place where everyone
would be moshing.' (KR, November 15th, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: An activity that involves
hitting into people either by jumping into them, usually occurring at a
rock concert. |
| type of word formation: Blend , mash and squash (pronunciation, not letters) |
| dictionary entry: Mosh v. To repeatedly jump or
bounce in many different directions, usually in an excited state. [Blend
compound formed from the words mash and squash] |
| Muchly |
| context and source: 'Thank you muchly.' (conversation with suitemate 10/20/03) |
| apparent meaning: : A great amount of the something. In this case a great amount of thanks. Used instead of very much. |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Muchly adv. a large amount ('thank you muchly') [new derivation; formed from 'much' + 'ly'] |
| Mug Down |
| context and source: 'He was inappropriate enough
to send her a message saying 'Do you wanna come mug down with me' (s
story of a girl being hit on by a guy 11/26) |
| apparent meaning: To mug down means to 'make
out' with someone. It is a more vulgar and base way of implying the act
of persistent kissing, to some sense debasing it and giving it
definitely sexual and animalistic connotations. |
| type of word formation: Folk etymology |
| dictionary entry: Mug down, v. To engage in the
act of prolonged kissing, to make out ('let's mug down') [folk etymology
of yet unknown origin] |
| Mushrooming |
| context and source: Nov. 24, 2003 Time Magazine
article stated: 'PC Doctor, his diagnostic software company based in
Emeryville, Calif., was mushrooming with clients like IBM,
Hewlett-Packard and Intel.' |
| apparent meaning: Spreading out |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Mushrooming, v Spreading over
an area (Her clout within the team was mushrooming.) [derivation, formed
from 'mushroom' + '-ing'] |
[Top]
| Naderite |
| context and source: 'The other candidate for
mayor in San Francisco is a Naderite' ? as seen on rushlimbaugh.com on
December 2, 2003 |
| apparent meaning: A person who has followed Ralph Nader and joined the Green Party |
| type of word formation: Affixation |
| dictionary entry: Naderite ? n. a member of the
Green Party ('Naderites were blamed for taking some votes away from Al
Gore in the 2000 presidential election.') [affixation; formed from
'Nader' + '-ite'] |
| Neocon |
| context and source: Word to describe someone's political leanings in the Sept. 9, 2003 New York Times |
| apparent meaning: A modern type of conservative |
| type of word formation: Clipping of conservative |
| dictionary entry: Neocon, n. A person with
modern, conservative views (I vote against all neocons.) [clipping,
formed from 'neo' + 'conservative'] |
| N.C. |
| context and source: 'Getting an F on this assignment would be so n.c.' Conversation; 11/10/03 |
| apparent meaning: This term stands for 'not cool' and was coined to shorten this phrase. |
| type of word formation: Acronym |
| dictionary entry: N.c. adj. Not cool. [acronym of 'not cool'] |
| Negatize |
| context and source: 'And then you just negatize
those two.' Statement by J. G., overheard in a conversation between
suitemates on 10-30-03. |
| apparent meaning: TO switch a number's sign |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Negatize, n. To make a
positive number negative. ('When the sign on her answer for calculus
homework came out wrong, she tended to just negatize where necessary
without further ado.') [new derivation, formed from 'negate' (possibly +
'-ive') + '-ize'] |
| Nerdoid |
| context and source: "This little nerdoid has some studying to do......' B. F.'s AIM away message, 11-1-03. |
| apparent meaning: A nerdy person |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Nerdoid, n. nerd ('This little nerdoid has some studying to do.') [New derivation formed from 'nerd' + '-oid'] |
| Neomaxizoomdweebie |
| context and source: "That place is filled with neomaxizoomdweebies." High school student Jun 2003. |
| apparent meaning: Someone who is smart hard
working and generally tries hard to be a good person. It also appears to
be somewhat derogatory. |
| type of word formation: Affixation, Blend, Unknown |
| dictionary entry: Neomaxizoomdweebie n.
derogatory term for intelligent hard working people [affixation neo new +
maxi maximum +zoom to move about rapidly + dweeb a smart person who is
not in the popular crowd + ie a filler originally from The Breakfast
Club.] |
| Netmeet |
| context and source: 'I was about to netmeet my family.' (In a conversation with my friend on 9/23/2003) |
| apparent meaning: An internet meeting |
| type of word formation: Compound |
| dictionary entry: Netmeet, v. to meet somebody through the internet |
| Newb |
| context and source: 'A lot of these newbs are
becoming n00bs, claiming they read all the rules when they violate many
of them in nearly every post of theirs.' (read on online forum 11/26/03) |
| apparent meaning: In this context, a newb is someone new to the forum. It has a positive connotation. |
| type of word formation: Clipping of newbie |
| dictionary entry: Newb n. a newcomer,
particularly to an online forum ('newbs are becoming n00bs') [new
clipping; formed from 'newbie'] |
| Newbie |
| context and source: 'I hate newbies who try to ruin the game.' (conversation with suitemate, week of 11/24, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: A person who is new to a video game usually, who doesn't know how to act properly |
| type of word formation: Zero Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Newbie, n. a person new to a
technological genre, often acting in a childish manner ('the newbies are
playing unfairly') [new zero derivation; arising from 'new' + 'bie'] |
| Newton |
| context and source: "Newton the complex number
until it is less than the tolerance" Computational and applied MATH 221
professor Sept 2003 |
| apparent meaning: To take a Newton iteration step |
| type of word formation: Clipping |
| dictionary entry: Newton v. to take iterations of Newton's method [zero derived: Newton from clipping: Newton iteration] |
| Nine-Eleven |
| context and source: 'Just as everyone remembers
where they were when Kennedy was assassinated, now everyone recalls the
same for nine-eleven.' Television program; 11/21/03. |
| apparent meaning: This term refers to the events
of September 11, 2001. Because the World Trade Center had been bombed
before, the happenings on that date could not be called the 'World Trade
Center bombing.' Therefore, the events were referred to by their date,
'September 11th.' This was further clipped to nine-eleven, the spoken
form of 9/11 in print. This term was coined to name the tragedy which
occurred on September 11th. |
| type of word formation: Compound of September
and eleventh, acronymical representation of September using nine,
clipping of eleventh to eleven |
| dictionary entry: Nine-eleven (alternate spelling 9/11) [compound nine + eleven] Noun. The events of September 11, 2001. |
| Ninja Skills |
| context and source: 'Man that acrobat has crazy ninja skills.' (conversation with roommate, week of 11/17, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: High-level skills that are almost super-natural, not necessarily in fighting |
| type of word formation: Compound |
| dictionary entry: Ninja skills, n. high-level
skills that border on super-natural yet that don't necessarily pertain
to fighting or ninjas ('My roommate has ninja skills when it comes to
the computer') [new compund; arising from 'ninja' + 'skills'] |
| Niveau |
| context and source: 'Disturbing questions? about
the aesthetic niveau of the culture industry's emissions are
repressed?' ? Theodor W. Adorno, 'The Culture Industry Reconsidered.' |
| apparent meaning: Quality, Status |
| type of word formation: Borrowing, from French or German niveau 'level' |
| N.O.D. |
| context and source: "Hey, you goin to NOD or what?" (conversation with suitemate, 10/25/03) |
| apparent meaning: Refers to a party held at Rice University |
| type of word formation: Acronym |
| dictionary entry: N.O.D., n. the name of a party
held annually in Weiss College, Rice University. This new meaning of
the word is formed by acronyms 'Night Of Decadence) |
| n00b |
| context and source: 'Alot of these newbs are
becoming n00bs, claiming they read all the rules when they violate many
of them in nearly every post of theirs.' (read on online forum 11/26/03) |
| apparent meaning: A newcomer who is annoying and gets on people's nerves. Someone who is not liked. |
| type of word formation: Clipping and Orthography Change |
| dictionary entry: n00b n. an annoying newcomer
to a forum that disobeys rules ('newbs are becoming n00bs') [new
clipping; formed from 'newbie'] |
| Nut Up |
| context and source: : 'C'mon, nut up and go ask
them for the next game!' (at lunch a friend telling me to be brave and
go claim the ping-pong table next 10/10/03) |
| apparent meaning: To have courage, be brave |
| type of word formation: Blend, 'Grow some nuts' and 'Buck Up' |
| dictionary entry: Nut up, v. To be courageous
and brave, to venture towards new and scary realms ('nut up already,
it's game time') [A blend of 'grow some nuts' and 'buck up] |
|
Ofer
|
|
context and source: Heard frequently in a sporting context, as I
heard on Baseball Tonight this summer. 'Ending his 30-game hitting
streak, Albert Puhols went ofer on the day, with two strikeouts, a
groundout and a popout.'
|
|
apparent meaning: To not be successful in a series of attempts at a task
|
|
type of word formation: Blending and clipping
|
|
dictionary entry: Ofer – v. to come up empty or be completely
unsuccessful in a series of attempts at a task. ('The lowly Washington
Generals were ofer against the Harlem Globetrotters for many years until
finally winning a game recently.') [blending and clipping; formed from
'zero' + 'for']
|
|
One-downmanship
|
|
context and source: 'White Sox fans have suffered longer than Red Sox
fans without winning a world series. But Red Sox fans -- who think of
themselves aggrandizingly as a Nation, not a family -- have suffered
more grotesquely. This is a critical distinction in their game of
one-downsmanship.' Sports Illustrated article on p. 54 of October 27,
2003 issue.
|
|
apparent meaning: To try to outdo someone else in a negative way
|
|
type of word formation: New derivation
|
|
dictionary entry: One-downsmanship – n. the practice of out-doing
another in a more negative manner or performing less well than another.
('the two underperforming students seemed to be having a competition of
one-downsmanship') [new derivation; formed from 'one' + 'down' + 'man'
+ 'ship']
|
|
Onside
|
|
context and source: 'They shouldn't onside it now, they should wait until they score again.'
-overheard at Rice football game, 11/15
|
|
apparent meaning: A verb used in football that means to kick the ball
off in such a way that the kicker's team may recover the ball.
|
|
type of word formation: Zero Derivation
|
|
dictionary entry: Onside, v.
In football, to kick the ball only a short distance on a kickoff in
order to allow the kicking team an opportunity to recover the ball (to
onside kick).
|
|
Orgasmatron
|
|
context and source: : 'The married woman who tested the machine,
dubbed an orgasmatron, had not had an orgasm for four years. But during
the nine days she used it, she had several.'
(http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/custom/fringe/chi-0312030386dec03,0,4804792.story?coll=sfla-news-fringe
12/03/03)
|
|
apparent meaning: From the context of the article, an orgasmatron is
the newly developed medical electronic device that gives instantaneous
orgasms upon insertion of electrons under one's spine and under the
skin.
|
|
type of word formation: Blend, orgasm and cyclotron
|
|
dictionary entry: Orgasmatron, n.
An electronic machine that gives real orgasms through electrodes stimulating specific nerves in the spine and subcutaneously
[A blend, formed from 'orgasm' and the suffix '-tron', implying a machine]
|
|
Out-enthusiasmed
|
|
context and source: 'We were simply out enthusiasmed.' (Sports radio 610 AM, 10/11/03)
|
|
apparent meaning: Indication of a loss or poor performance. The new
word has taken the noun 'enthusiasm' and added '-ed' to form a verb
|
|
type of word formation: Derivation
|
|
dictionary entry: Out-enthusiasmed, v. Losing due to an inferior display of passion, spirit, and drive to win a competition.
|
|
Overcooked
|
|
context and source: 'At times, in fact, you feel like you're watching
cookie-cutter action sequences with overcooked buddy-movie dialogue.'
(Click2Houston.com, 11/05/03)
|
|
apparent meaning: Overused, corny, cliché
|
|
type of word formation: Compound
|
|
dictionary entry: Overcooked, adj.
Overused, corny, cliché. ('the overcooked excuses of an indolent student')
|
|
O-Week
|
|
context and source: 'Get ready for O-week 2003' Letter from Brown Master to freshman July 2003
|
|
apparent meaning: Rice University orientation week
|
|
type of word formation: Clipping
|
|
dictionary entry: O-week n. freshman orientation week at Rice University [clipping: orientation week]
|
|
Own
|
|
context and source: "Oh I totally owned you!!' (Suitemate's victory yell, week of 11/3, 2003)
|
|
apparent meaning: To completely dominate over someone in terms of video or computer gameplay
|
|
type of word formation: Zero Derivation
|
|
dictionary entry: Own, v.
to completely and utterly dominate over someone, especially in a computer game ('Please don't own me this time.')
[new zero derivation; arising from 'own']
|
|
Ownage
|
|
context and source: 'Oh, wow, you just got dunked in a big barrel of
ownage.' – Conversation in Hanszen College, 21 Oct 2003.
|
|
apparent meaning: In computer- or video-gaming circles, the verb OWN
means to display superiority over someone or something, based on the
concept of property holders as powerful figures. The suffix merely makes
the verb into an abstract noun (used metaphorically above).
|
|
type of word formation: Derivation
|
|
dictionary entry: Ownage, n.
Domination or superiority, usu. in a computer game.
|
|
P.A.
|
|
context and source: 'Please keep your seatbelts fastened until I give
the appropriate p.a." -flight attendant, Houston to Atlanta, 11/26
|
|
apparent meaning: A message delivered over a loudspeaker system.
|
|
type of word formation: Acronym
|
|
dictionary entry: P.A., n.
A 'public address'; an informative message delivered over a loudspeaker system. [Acronym of Public Address)
|
|
Packed
|
|
context and source: 'When he tried to make the lay-up, he got packed.' Conversation at the gym – 11/06/03
|
|
apparent meaning: Act of having a shot blocked while playing basketball.
|
|
Padna
|
|
context and source: 'How ya doin' padna' (Greeting used by a group of my friends)
|
|
apparent meaning: : This appears to be a word to refer to someone as a
friend, boy(girl)friend, or buddy. The word was derived from the
existing word 'partner', meaning 'someone who is associated with another
person'.
|
|
type of word formation: Derivation
|
|
dictionary entry: Padna, n. A friend, classmate, significant other,
or some other person with whom one has a unique relationship.
|
|
Pastability
|
|
context and source: 'Think of all the pastabilities'. (Black-eyed Pea chalk-board menu, 11/1/03)
|
|
apparent meaning: Having a variety of pasta dishes to choose from for
a meal. The unit pasta is used in its entirety and blended with the
ending of the word possibility. The substitution for the first part of
the word is also interesting because the only difference in sound seems
to be the addition of 't'.
|
|
type of word formation: Blend, pasta and possibility
|
|
dictionary entry: Pastability, n. That state of choosing any variety or combination of pasta dishes for a meal.
|
|
Peace
|
|
context and source: 'I'm gonna peace.' (A farewell from M. d'S., 9-30-03).
|
|
apparent meaning: To make one's exit
|
|
type of word formation: Zero Derivation
|
|
dictionary entry: Peace, v.
to make one's exit from a social situation ('I'll have to peace in a few.')
[New word by zero derivation from noun 'peace']
|
|
Peops
|
|
context and source: 'Come chat with your peops, eat good food and listen to good music.' From an e-mail from A. S., 10-30-03.
|
|
apparent meaning: People, friends
|
|
type of word formation: Clipping/Back Formation
|
|
dictionary entry: Peops, n.
People, especially friends. ('I'm meeting some peops at the movies in a few.')
[new formation by clipping and back formation of 'people']
|
|
Perty
|
|
context and source: 'There were some really perty broads at my old high school."
Suitemate Mark Mendenhall
|
|
apparent meaning: Pretty
|
|
type of word formation: Folk Etymology
|
|
dictionary entry: Perty, adj. Pretty or attractive
|
|
Pfun
|
|
context and source: 'Life is pfun in Pflugerville!' (billboard 24 Oct 2003)
|
|
apparent meaning: Fun
|
|
type of word formation: New alliterative spelling
|
|
dictionary entry: Pfun, adj.
fun, pleasant ('life is pfun in Pflugerville') [new alliterative spelling (alliterative with 'Pflugerville')]
|
|
Phat
|
|
context and source: 'That blond chick from the soccer team is so phat.' – Suitemate Josh Forester
|
|
apparent meaning: Attractive
|
|
type of word formation: Acronym
|
|
dictionary entry: Phat, adj
Acronym for Pretty Hot And Tempting. Used to describe someone who is attractive or something that is popular at the time.
|
|
Phisher
|
|
context and source: "Users are directed towards the Web site by a
'phisher' e-mail." (read in online article
http://www.msnbc.com/news/974015.asp?0si=- 9/30/03)
|
|
apparent meaning: Fake email that looks like it came from a current
legitimate company, used to draw people to a site that looks legitimate
and steal their personal information. The scammers are looking for the
person to take the 'bait.'
|
|
type of word formation: Derivation
|
|
dictionary entry: Phisher n.
official looking online document used to trick people into giving personal information. ('phisher email')
[new derivation; formed from 'fish' + '-er']
|
|
Phishing
|
|
context and source: 'I got an email from a fraud the other day phishing for my credit card number.'
|
|
apparent meaning: A rapidly spreading internet scam where scam
artists send spam emails disguised as collectors from big companies
asking for billing information so that someone's credit can be used.
|
|
type of word formation: Suffix ph- + fishing
|
|
dictionary entry: Phishing: (N, V)
A rapidly spreading internet scam where scam artists send spam emails
disguised as collectors from big companies asking for billing
information so that someone's credit can be used.
|
|
Phonicon
|
|
context and source: 'I started going through the phonicon with Chloe
in July,' Searching for Aboriginal Languages, Robert Dixon, p.148.
|
|
apparent meaning: A list of all the possible combinations of sounds
in a particular language that could, according to that language's
phonology, be meaningful words.
|
|
type of word formation: Blend, phonetics and lexicon
|
|
dictionary entry: Phonicon, n.
A collection of all possible combinations of sounds of a language
that could, according to that language's phonology, be meaningful words.
[new word formation by blending from 'phonetics' x 'lexicon'.]
|
|
Photog
|
|
context and source: 'I was the top photog my senior year. I got to
take all the fun pictures!' (Alison Zientara, October 25, 2003).
|
|
apparent meaning: A photographer, one who takes pictures as part of a group of photographers that form a group.
|
|
type of word formation: Clipping
|
|
dictionary entry: Photog n. A person adept at taking photographs, usually for a hobby or club.
|
|
Pimp
|
context and source: 'Man, Brad Pitt is so pimp in this movie. I mean, look at that suit!' (Grant Chen, November 7th, 2003)
After an exam, my best friend and I either state that we pimped an exam or that it sucked.
|
|
apparent meaning: Someone or something with especially flamboyant style. To do very well at something
|
|
type of word formation: Zero Derivation
|
dictionary entry: Pimp
Adj. Consisting of a favorable appearance or a flamboyant style.
[Zero derivation of noun to adjective]
pimp - v., n. - to excel in a particular field or someone who
excels in a particular field. I thought that test was going to be hard,
but I totally
pimped it.
|
|
PITA
|
|
context and source: 'I started calling him PITA because he would do
things to annoy me pretty often' (a friend talking of a guy she knows
and their interactions 11/30)
|
|
apparent meaning: PITA stands for 'pain in the ass'
|
|
type of word formation: Acronym
|
|
dictionary entry: PITA, n.
Pain In The Ass ('stop being such a PITA')
[an acronym]
|
|
Pizzle
|
|
context and source: The University of Iowa had nicknamed the
president pizzle in order to make student/administrator interactions
more fun. They changed the name when students said it referred to a
bull's sex organs. (Omaha World Herald, Nov. 17, 2003)
|
|
apparent meaning: A bull's sex organs
|
|
type of word formation: Unknown
|
|
dictionary entry: Pizzle, n.
A bull's sex organs (Man, that animal has a large pizzle.) [slang, formation unknown]
|
|
Plasma
|
|
context and source: 'I will have a new plasma in my new house.' (In a conversation with my friend on 11/20/2003)
|
|
apparent meaning: As the new kind of television is produced by making
use a collection of charged particles (i.e. plasma), the television
itself becomes known as a plasma TV or simply a plasma. This is an
example of synecdoche in which the name of a part is used to refer to
the entire object.
|
|
type of word formation: Clipping
|
|
dictionary entry: Plasma, n. a new kind of television which is very thin and has a big screen.
|
|
Play Fantasy
|
|
context and source: 'We play fantasy' (Magazine College Football Preview, August 2003 issue)
|
|
apparent meaning: To participate in a game modeled for fun and
imagination. Expresses possession of a 'fantasy' or made-up team in the
form of a verb. Refers to a sports team.
|
|
type of word formation: Compound
|
|
dictionary entry: Play fantasy, v. To participate in a fantasy football league with a chosen team make up
|
|
Playlist
|
|
context and source: 'Send me your music playlist; I want to get some of the songs you listen to.' (heard new word circa 1997)
|
|
apparent meaning: An arrangement of music titles one owns on a digital music player/computer
|
|
type of word formation: Compound
|
|
dictionary entry: Playlist, n.
an arrangement of songs one owns, to be played on a digital music player ('your playlist has a lot of jazz songs')
[new compound; formed from 'play' X 'list']
|
|
Playlistism
|
|
context and source: 'There are new social implications to sharing
music; playlistism can occur.'
(http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,61177,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2,
week of 11/6, 2003)
|
|
apparent meaning: Discrimination based upon ones music library or 'terrible taste in music'
|
|
type of word formation: Derivation of a compound
|
|
dictionary entry: Playlistism, n.
discrimination not based on age, sex, or race but on a person's taste in music ('sharing music causes playlistism')
[new derivation of a compund; formed from 'playlist' + '-ism']
|
|
Pooter
|
|
context and source: 'This is not Charles, I just commandeered his
pooter and had my way with it.' (e-mail from V. O., 10-5-03.)
|
|
apparent meaning: Same as computer, synonym.
|
|
type of word formation: Clipping, with pronunciation and orthography change
|
|
dictionary entry: Pooter, n.
computer ('If that pooter crashes again I will personally make sure that it never needs to be rebooted again.')
[new word formation by clipping; formed from 'computer.']
|
|
Popcrack
|
|
context and source: "It smells like popcorn. Or, as we usually say, popcrack.' (E., Sid Rich freshman. 10-18-03.)
|
|
apparent meaning: Popcorn
|
|
type of word formation: Blend, popcorn and crack
|
|
dictionary entry: Popcrack, n.
popcorn. ('I'm sorry, but you have something I need. Hand over the
popcrack.') [New word formation by compounding; formed from 'popcorn' x
'crack'.]
|
|
Pop Rock
|
|
context and source: I use this term to describe a new genre of music
that has been emerging for the past few years and has now firmly
established itself.
|
|
apparent meaning: Mainstream rock, usually not as hardcore as classic rock
|
|
type of word formation: Compound
|
|
dictionary entry: Pop rock - n. - type of music characterized by
being less abrasive than heavy metal or classic rock and more popular in
the mainstream. This pop rock revolution has made bands like Good
Charlotte and Puddle of Mudd very
successful.
|
|
Posterize
|
|
context and source: 'In the basketball game, he got posterized.'
Conversation – 11/16/03
|
|
apparent meaning: Making the opponent look very poor
|
|
type of word formation: Derivation (Affixation)
|
|
dictionary entry: Posterized, v.
-making an incredible play against a defender who is captured on a metaphorical poster.
|
|
Pre-zactly
|
|
context and source: "Pre-zactly, that's just what I was thinking.' Online conversation with friend 11/03.
|
|
apparent meaning: It can be used to describe an action, or can be
used as an interjection in speech, the same way some people might
interrupt and say 'right. (blah blah blah)'. So the thing you are
talking about can be precise, and exact, two very close synonyms. They
work in conjunction with each other to enhance the meaning of your
point.
|
|
type of word formation: Cross/blend of two adverbs: precisely + exactly = pre-zactly.
|
|
dictionary entry: Pre-zactly, interj., adv.
In a precise, exact matter, or exclamation for a precise, exact occasion. [precise + exact]
|
|
Prosumer
|
|
context and source: Seen in a product review for a computer photo product in Sept. 2003 PC Magazine
|
|
apparent meaning: A consumer shopping for items for professional, not personal, use
|
|
type of word formation: Blend, professional and consumer
|
|
dictionary entry: Prosumer, n.
Someone shopping for professional needs. (Prosumers do the shopping
for companies.) [new blend, formed from professional + consumer]
|
|
Provacawhoritive
|
|
context and source: 'Look at that girl! I've never seen anyone so provacawhoritively dressed!
(Ashley Salassi, November 8, 2003)
|
|
apparent meaning: Immodest and improper
|
|
type of word formation: Blend, provacative and whore
|
|
dictionary entry: Provacawhoritive adj. Extremely immodest behavior,
dress, or language. [A combination of provocative and whore]
|
|
Psychoneuroimmunology
|
|
context and source: Discussed in a Nov. 28, 2003 Houston Chronicle
article: 'To experts in the young medical field called
psychoneuroimmunology, or PNI, it is no surprise that many people get
sick or experience flare-ups of chronic illnesses while struggling to
cope with the stress-inducing demands of the holiday season.'
|
|
apparent meaning: Study of how the nervous system, immune system and emotions interact
|
|
type of word formation: Compounding
|
|
dictionary entry: Psychoneuroimmunology, n.
Study of how the nervous system, immune system and emotions interact
(Psychoneuroimmunology has been studying how people are affected by the
holidays.) [compound word, formed from 'psycho' + 'neuro' + 'immuno' +
'-ology']
|
|
Punk
|
|
context and source: : 'You've just been punked!' (Ashton Kutcher, host of Punked, MTV, October 5th, 2003)
|
|
apparent meaning: To play a practical joke on someone, to fool a person
|
|
type of word formation: Metonymy
|
|
dictionary entry: Punk
v. To prank, fool, play a practical joke that usually results in some form of humiliation.
[Metonymic formation from the original neologism 'punk']
|
|
Queasishness
|
|
context and source: Online conversation with friend, 11/03. 'This
morning I felt a bit of queasishness, but that could have been hangover
or illness…'
|
|
apparent meaning: Embodies the feeling of being queasy or sick to one's stomach.
|
|
type of word formation: 'Queasy' (feeling nauseous), the root of
'queasishness' was first modified into the adjective 'queasish' and the
noun-forming –ness was added.
|
|
dictionary entry: Queasishness, n.
The feeling of being sick to one's stomach. [queasy + -ish (adj) + -ness (v)]
|
|
Quippmanship
|
|
context and source: So far most of our intelligentsia have been more
eager to explain what this war is not than what it is. Yet the conflict
is not a hash-it-out in the faculty lounge, nor a brainstorm over a
headline in the newsroom, nor flashy quippmanship in a political debate.
– from a NationalReviewOnline editorial by Victor Davis Hanson on
November 7, 2003
|
|
apparent meaning: The ability to produce a catchy soundbyte, witty remark, or clever turn of phrase
|
|
type of word formation: Affixation
|
|
dictionary entry: Quippmanship – n. the art, skill, or ability to
create a catchy soundbyte, witty remark, or clever turn of phrase. ('In
the recent Democratic presidential debates, the candidates in a nasty
battle of quippmanship.') [affixation; formed from 'quip' + 'manship']
|
| RaWoman |
| context and source: 'I'm an easy mac pro. you? or are you a RaWoman?' L. A. S., IM conversation, 11-21-03 |
| apparent meaning: A woman skilled in the arts of cooking Ramen noodles |
| type of word formation: Blend, ramen and woman |
| dictionary entry: RaWoman, n. A woman who knows
her Ramen and cooks it up right. ('The RaWoman shunned cafeteria food
and ate for thirty cents a day ? Ramen morning, noon, and night.') [New
formation by blending, from 'Ramen' x 'woman'] |
| Registrar |
| context and source: 'He said he was going to be
registraring for a few minutes, then he'd get ready for rugby practice.'
? Conversation in Hanszen College, 16 Nov 2003. |
| apparent meaning: To fill out and submit forms to the Office of the Registrar. |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Registrar, v. To fill out and submit forms to the Office of the Registrar. |
| Renice |
| context and source: '[The technical thug] writes
a suite of scripts to monitor processes, maintain a database of CPU
usage, identify processes more than a standard deviation over the norm,
and renice offending processes.' ? 'Know Your Sysadmin!' Online at <
http://quark.physics.uwo.ca/~harwood/sysadmin.html >. Last updated 01
Dec 1996. |
| apparent meaning: The command renice arranges
various processes on a computer network according to priorities
determined by software and hardware settings; when it enters the
language as a valid English word, RENICE implies human involvement a
little bit more than just the raw computer command. |
| type of word formation: Borrowing (from computer coding language) |
| dictionary entry: Renice, v. To prioritize processes on a computing system. |
| Republicrat |
| context and source: 'The current Republicrats in
office have rammed the prescription drug bill that most people don't
want through Congress.' -- seen on rushlimbaugh.com in November 2003. |
| apparent meaning: A Republican member of
Congress who tends to frequently support and vote for traditionally
Democratic issues, such as the expansion of entitlement programs. |
| type of word formation: Blend and Clipping |
| dictionary entry: Republicrat ? n. A Republican
Congressman that frequently supports and votes in favor of traditionally
Democratic issues. ('House Republicrats recently passed the
prescription drug bill to the Senate for deliberation.') [blending and
clipping; formed from 'Republican' + 'Democrat'] |
| Retro-Tech |
| context and source: 'Those retro-tech toys are
still around, but this holiday season also offers plenty of electronic
twists on the old traditions.' (read online on msnbc.com 12/01/03) |
| apparent meaning: Toys whose technology isn't as advanced as it used to be; non-digital or electronic related |
| type of word formation: Compound |
| dictionary entry: Retro-tech adj. technology of years past ('retro-tech toys') [new compound; formed from 'retro' + 'tech'] |
| Rice Rocket |
| context and source: 'That Celica is such a rice rocket.' (conversation with friend, week of 11/24, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: An import car that has had modifications in order to look faster or be faster |
| type of word formation: Compound |
| dictionary entry: Rice rocket, n. a import car
(Asian) that has had modifications to be faster or superficially 'look'
faster ('My friend turned his Celica into a rice rocket') [compound;
arising from 'rice' + 'rocket'] |
| Ricoculous |
| context and source: 'Wow, that was absolutely ricoculous!' (Overheard during a movie, October 30th, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Same meaning as ridiculous, just a new way of saying it |
| type of word formation: Clipping and Replacement |
| dictionary entry: Ricoculous Adj. absurd,
preposterous; syn ridiculous [Clipping of ridiculous and replacement of
'dic' with 'coc'] |
| Ridiculosity |
context and source: 'Their project was just a
ridiculosity ? they had put no work into it!' (A man referring to a
presentation done by his colleges 10/25/03)
'My bug bite is ridiculosity.' (conversation with roommate 22 Sep 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Something that is huge and absurd. |
| type of word formation: Blend, ridiculous and monstrosity |
| dictionary entry: Ridiculosity, adj. Something
of an outrageous and unreasonable nature ('your life is the epitome of
ridiculosity') [Back formation from the adjective 'ridiculous'] |
| Ripple |
| context and source: 'The fact that we are going
to get more East Coast exposure just means that nationally, we will
ripple in more directions and farther.' ?Rice basketball coach, quoted
in 11/7 issue of the Thresher. |
| apparent meaning: Create a name for oneself; cause others to notice |
| type of word formation: Zero Derivation |
| dictionary entry: Ripple, v. To cause others to
take notice of your accomplishments; to increase one's reputation
through noticeable accomplishments |
| Rivered |
| context and source: 'You would not believe how much money I lose getting rivered like that.' ? Kyle Perkins. |
| apparent meaning: Beaten |
| type of word formation: Analogy |
| dictionary entry: Rivered; v. - getting beaten on last card in a game of No Limit Texas Hold 'em. |
| Roll |
| context and source: 'Rule 1 that I learned from
working in Congresswoman Sanchez's office: staff must never roll her
decisions.' (David Scatterday, September 2, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: To bring down or overrule |
| type of word formation: Zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: Roll v. To overrule a superior's authority in an underhanded fashion. |
| Romcom |
| context and source: 'I thought you considered romcoms below you,' T. C.-S. 11-03. |
| apparent meaning: Romantic comedy |
| type of word formation: Clipping and rhyme compounding |
| dictionary entry: Romcom, n. a romantic comedy
('Like any stereotypical middle-aged housewife, she is an admitted
romcom enthusiast.') [New formation by clipping and compounding from
'romantic' + 'comedy'.] |
| Roton |
| context and source: 'I got a new roton in my lab today.' |
| apparent meaning: A rotating first year graduate student |
| type of word formation: Clipping and affixation |
| dictionary entry: Roton, n. A 1st year grad
student in the biochemistry department who rotates between labs
[clipping: rotating-first-year graduate student + -on Greek neuter noun
suffix |
| Roxority |
| context and source: Online at googlism.com 11/20/03 "Thanks for the total roxority that is googlism" - Greg Pallis |
| apparent meaning: Something that 'rocks' i.e. is cool, awesome |
| type of word formation: Mainly a case of
affixation, 'roxority' takes the root 'rocks', the youthful expression
that describes something as being cool, and n-forming suffix ?ity and
sticks them together to form a compound/blend (like 'seniority'). |
| dictionary entry: Roxority, n. The state of being cool, great, wonderful. [rocks + -ity] |
| Runners |
| context and source: 'My mom bought me new runners for track.' (Emily Black, December 1, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Running shoes |
| type of word formation: Coinage |
| dictionary entry: Runners n. a pair of shoes
especially made and used for running. [Used by naming an object by what
it is used for] |
| sample-slug |
| context and source: 'I used to work in Godiva,
and could always pick out the sample-slugs from a mile away.' (a friend
reminiscing on her experiences 12/01/03). |
| apparent meaning: because Godiva is a moderately
expensive chocolate store, it often gives out free samples, and of
course there are those people know who know about this and watch in for
the samples. This word is referring to the type of person would comes
into the store thinking 'I'm gonna get the sample and leave', and does
that exactly. The human mind is sitting impatiently, waiting for any
occasion to categorize things and people. If there is a specific group
of people who do the same thing (for example, come into a store to get a
sample and leave), then it is natural for us to label them. That is
what's happened here. |
| type of word formation: a compound analogy |
| dictionary entry: Sample-slug, n. One who goes
into a chocolate store only to get free sample chocolate, with no
intentions of making a purchase ('sample-slugs are bad for the
business') [a compound analogy] |
| School |
| context and source: 'Well, I got a 92, but you schooled me,' conversation with D., November 2003. |
| apparent meaning: to outshine or 'show' someone.
the word sounds ghetto and therefore hip. The meaning derives from
associations with school and competing to see who can perform better.
Could also refer to teaching, as in outshining. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation 'school' (place of learning) |
| dictionary entry: School, v. To do noticeably or
substantially better than someone. ('I thought my article on fungi
growth would make the front page, but the girl who got the scoop on the
martian landing sure schooled me.') [New word from zero derivation of
'school'.] |
| Schooled |
| context and source: 'A minute ago, he got schooled by the player with the blue shorts.' Conversation at the gym ? 11/06/03 |
| apparent meaning: act of having someone make a
great play against you, or consistently make better plays than you. Can
be used for many sports. Probably comes from being taught or educated on
how to play, as the word 'school' connotes being educated. |
| Scoundrelism |
| context and source: 'His science kept equal pace with his scoundrelism?' (chemistry lecture 6 Oct 2003) |
| apparent meaning: the practice of being a
scoundrel, or unscrupulous person. The speaker was trying to find a noun
to describe the state of being a scoundrel and so added on a common
noun suffix to achieve this goal. |
| type of word formation: derivation of 'scoundrel' 'scoundrel' (an unscrupulous person) + '-ism' (N [practice]) |
| dictionary entry: Scoundrelism, n. practice of
being a scoundrel, or unscrupulous person ('his scoundrelism knew no
bounds') [derivation of 'scoundrel'] |
| Screamy |
| context and source: 'I just hate screamy films. I can't stand the sharp voices' (In a conversation with a friend on 11/24/2003) |
| apparent meaning: full of scream |
| type of word formation: Derivation of an
adjective from the noun 'scream' by adding adjective suffix ?y. There
may also be an analogy between the new word and a similar-looking word
'creamy'. |
| dictionary entry: Screamy, adj. full of scream. |
| scrumlicious |
| context and source: 'Dinner yesterday was scrumlicious?' (conversation, 9/15/03) |
| apparent meaning: very good food. The speaker
wanted to convey that the food was significantly better than usual.
Therefore, she blended scrumptious and delicious to form scrumlicious,
to add emphasis to her statement for the description of the food. |
| type of word formation: blending 'scrumptious' ADJ. + 'delicious' ADJ. -> scrumlicious |
| dictionary entry: scrumlicious, adj. Used to
describe very good food ('dinner was scrumlicious') [blending:
'scrumptious' ADJ. + 'delicious' ADJ. -> scrumlicious ADJ.] |
| SHMOO |
| context and source: 'Foraging beside me [the
muskrat] walked very humped up, maybe to save heat loss through
evaporation. Generally, whenever he was out of water he assumed the
shape of a shmoo; his shoulders were as slender as a kitten's.' ? Annie
Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek |
| apparent meaning: A small, tight curve or arch. I
have no idea how this came about. In context, it makes a modicum of
sense to presume that the shape is some kind of bunching-up or a curve,
but SHMOO honestly has no precedent other than sounding really funny. |
| type of word formation: invention |
| dictionary entry: SHMOO, n. A small, tight curve or arch. |
| Servery |
| context and source: 'The north college servery is now the best on campus.' Brown Senior Aug. 2003 |
| apparent meaning: a place where food is served
but not eaten. Cafeterias usually have a place to sit and eat. Also
cafeterias are cliché and generally not good. |
| type of word formation: affixation |
| dictionary entry: Servery, n. place where cafeteria style food is served but not eaten |
| sexationship |
| context and source: 'He has never had a long
term girlfriend, but rather 1 week sexationships.' (A friend speaking of
another's habits 11/15/03) |
| apparent meaning: A short-term relationship
based solely on sexual attraction and relations. For a lack of a more
specific description, this word was used to distinguish between
relationships based on genuine care and feelings and those based on sex. |
| type of word formation: A blend, formed from 'sex' and 'relationship'. |
| dictionary entry: Sexationship, n. A temporary
relationship that is based solely on physical attraction and sex. ('he
never took her seriously, to him it was nothing but a sexationship') [A
blend, formed from 'sex' and 'relationship'] |
| sexcellent |
| context and source: 'These potatoes are simply sexcellent tonight.' ?dinner conversation with friend, week of 11/9 |
| apparent meaning: Amazingly, almost unbelievably
good. This word appears to be an intensified version of 'excellent.'
Assuming that the speaker has a favorable view of sex, which is likely,
adding this element to the word seems to take 'excellent' to another
level. By combining the assumed ecstasy of sex with the already strong
word 'excellent,' a word of very high intensity is created. As with most
blends, the last sound in 'sex' and the first sound in 'excellent' are
the same, making for an easy transition to the blended word. |
| type of word formation: blending |
| dictionary entry: Sexcellent, adj. Extremely pleasing; a higher degree of excellent [new derivation, fr. 'sex' + 'excellent'] |
| Sexile |
| context and source: 'I got sexiled by my
roommate last night because she had her boyfriend over.' I began hearing
this word in the beginning of my freshman year, 2002, but I am positive
that the word has been around for some years before this. So, an
estimated guess is that the word came out in the later 1990's. |
| apparent meaning: In college dorms, where one
roommate locks another out of the room for the night because they are
having someone spend the night. |
| type of word formation: A blend of sex + exile. |
| dictionary entry: Sexile: (V, N) In college
dorms, where one roommate locks another out of the room for the night
because they are having someone spend the night. |
| Sexile |
| context and source: 'My friend was sexiled for the whole night.' |
| apparent meaning: to banish from one's own room when his or her roommate is having sex in the room. |
| type of word formation: A blend between 'sex' and 'exile' |
| dictionary entry: Sexile, v., to banish from one's own room when his or her roommate is having sex in the room. |
| shazbot |
| context and source: 'I missed the bus; oh shazbot.' (An episode of The Simpsons, week of 10/27, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: an exclamation of frustration
in place of a dirtier word. An alien on the The Simpsons used this weird
word, plus I believe it was coined on the TV show Mork and Mindy. I
think sense the speaker was alien in both situations, the writers came
up with a exclamation and/or curse word that is appropriate for all
viewers. Not only is the alien not saying a real curse word, it comes
off as funny to the audience with it is said, possibly because the word
sounds awkward and funny to hear and say. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: shazbot, exclamation. An
exclamation in place of a harsher curse word, meant to be funny ('Oh
shazbot! I'm late!') [new zero derivation; arising from 'shazbot', what a
weird word'] |
| She-male |
| context and source: 'He is a she-male' saw word in a web conversation ? 9/18/03 |
| apparent meaning: transsexual, a male that has undergone a gender change |
| shibby |
| context and source: 'That girl is so shibby!' (from the movie, Dude, Where's My Car?, circa, 2000) |
| apparent meaning: when a person wants to express
something cool or awesome, he or she would exclaim, 'Shibby!' I
remember this word first being used in the movie Dude, Where's My Car?
(2000). In the movie, whenever the main characters thought something was
cool or awesome, they would say or shout, 'Shibby!!' It can also be
used in place of 'awesome' or 'cool'. I am not sure the origin of the
word, but it sounds like a word that was made up on the spot and sounded
cool. Also, it might be related to some drug users, specifically
marijuana, which describes main characters of the movie. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: shibby, exclamation, adj.
Slang- An exclamation used in response to something awesome or cool
('Dude, that was so shibby!') new zero derivation; arising from
'shibby', some new sort of slang word'] |
| Shite |
| context and source: 'Don't shite up the play,
man! You better make that free throw!' as heard in the Halloween Hoops
Rice Men's Basketball Team game on October 31, 2003. |
| apparent meaning: 1) n. Something bad,
unfortunate, displeasing. Ex: 'This cafeteria food is some nasty-tasting
shite.' 2) v. To mess something up, ruin. Ex: 'Don't shite up the
entire project with your awful handwriting! Just type it for Christ's
sake.' 3) expl. Similar or equal to the meaning of 'damn,' 'damn it,'
'shit,' or 'f**k.' Ex: 'Oh shite! I forgot to turn in my Spanish paper
on time! What am I going to do?' I began hearing this word in the noun
and expletive forms in the mid to late 1990's, during high school and
middle school. We used the word at such a young age because it was a way
of using the word 'shit' without having to say a bad word in front of
parents and adult figures. More recently, beginning around fall 2003, I
have heard the word used as a verb. |
| type of word formation: The word is a blend of the word 'shit' + the compound '-e.' |
| dictionary entry: Shite: (N, V, expletive) 1)n.
Something bad, unfortunate, displeasing. Ex: 'This cafeteria food is
some nasty-tasting shite.' 2)v. To mess something up, ruin. Ex: 'Don't
shite up the entire project with your awful handwriting! Just type it
for Christ's sake.' 3)expl. Similar or equal to the meaning of 'damn,'
'damn it,' 'shit,' or 'f**k.' Ex: 'Oh shite! I forgot to turn in my
Spanish paper on time! What am I going to do?' |
| shnot |
| context and source: 'Shnot! I forgot my keys!' (a friend walking to her car, expressing discontent 10/15/03) |
| apparent meaning: a mild, relatively harmless
expletive used as a clever replacement for more vulgar inappropriate
curse words and expressions. |
| type of word formation: blend of 'shit' and 'snot' |
| dictionary entry: Shnot, n. A mild expletive
implying discontent ('Shnot! I didn't mean to offend her!') [A blend,
derived from 'shit' and 'snot'] |
| shopathon |
| context and source: 'Come to Foley's on Friday
for an all day shopathon!' (A TV advertisement for a post-thanksgiving
sale 11/29-03) |
| apparent meaning: used in this context,
shopathon implies a long, continuous day completely filled with
shopping. In fact, based on the original words, it might even imply
difficulty and exhaustion. However, I don't think this was a desired
implication. Commercials must be exciting and catchy. Otherwise, there
are so many of them, that they won't even be noticed. Making up new
words is a great way of catching peoples' attention. |
| type of word formation: blend of 'shopping' and 'marathon' |
| dictionary entry: Shopathon, n. A marathon of
shopping; a long continuous day or period of time filled with nothing
but shopping ('I bought a lot during today's shopathon') [A blend,
derived from 'shopping' and 'marathon'] |
| Shweater |
| context and source: 'It's a shweater!' (What Not to Wear 17 Oct 2003) |
| apparent meaning: sweater with attached shirt
collar and cuffs. This type of garment (a sweater, usually fitted, with
shirt collar and cuffs attached) has only recently come into fashion and
therefore does not have a commonly accepted name yet. The television
show it was discussed on advises people how to dress fashionably, so the
host, upon seeing the above-mentioned garment, and perhaps not wanting
to appear ignorant by not having a name for it, dubbed it a 'shweater'
for its component parts. |
| type of word formation: blend of 'shirt' +
'sweater' 'shirt' (a garment, often with collar, cuffs, and a button
front, to cover the upper half of the body) + 'sweater' (a knitted
garment for the upper part of the body) |
| dictionary entry: Shweater, n. sweater, usu.
fitted, with attached shirt collar and cuffs ('try on that shweater')
[blend of 'shirt' + 'sweater'] |
| sick |
| context and source: When my computer has a virus, I describe it as sick. |
| apparent meaning: no longer in working order due
to a virus or bug (electronics). Electronic pathogens and viruses and
bugs are the technological equivalent of human disease, so I use sick to
describe my computer when it is infected just like I would use the term
for a person. |
| type of word formation: semantic change of known word |
| dictionary entry: sick - adj. - impaired by an
electronic virus or bug. Once my computer was so sick that I had to send
it back to Hewlett Packard to get the hard drive re-imaged. |
| Signage |
| context and source: 'I can have somebody look at
that specific intersection to see if there are things that we can do to
enhance the understanding of what the messages are being communicated
by the signage.' (METRO Police Chief Thomas Lambert, quoted on
Click2Houston.com, 11/20/03) |
| apparent meaning: signs (of a particular type or
area) considered as a group. In order to regulate traffic, there must
be signs on the road. Evidently, the plural form of the word 'sign' was
not an adequate label for a collection of signs of a particular region
or category, so someone took the morpheme '-age' (with its specific
meaning of 'collection, mass, or amount') and tacked it onto 'sign' to
create a new word with the desired meaning. |
| type of word formation: compound 'sign' (posted
notice bearing a designation, direction, or command) + '-age' (N, A,
collection, mass, amount, condition, state, action, result of an action) |
| dictionary entry: signage, n. Signs (of a
particular type or area) considered as a group. ('the signage along Main
Street') [new compound; formed from 'sign' + '-age'] |
| SKACORE |
| context and source: 'Yo dude, that shirt you're wearing is skacore.' Conversation; 9/13/03. |
| apparent meaning: This term is a variation of
hardcore, which simply means intensely cool. Skacore is basically a less
intense version of this idea. The word comes from ska music, which is a
kind of punk rock that involves classical instruments like the trumpet.
Because of the inclusion of these other instruments, ska is less
intense than punk and thus being skacore is less intense than being
hardcore. This is why it was coined. |
| type of word formation: blend of ska and hardcore |
| dictionary entry: skacore [blend ska + hardcore] Adjective. Having the quality of being cool, but not in an extreme way. |
| skeeze |
| context and source: 'I won't go into too much
detail because I don't want to skeeze you out.' (A phone conversation
with a friend 11/26/03) |
| apparent meaning: to freak someone out, to
scare, to turn off. This strange word is becoming popular in the teenage
population and often is heard in the place of 'to freak out' or 'be
disgusted or scared by'. There was absolutely no ulterior motive to this
word being used. It was simply what came to the mind of the speaker and
seemed natural and common enough to freely use in the same conversation
3-4 times. |
| type of word formation: unknown |
| dictionary entry: Skeeze, v. The act of scaring
or creating feelings of disgust through verbal communication ('stop
talking about that, it's skeezing me out') [of unknown etymology] |
| sketch |
| context and source: Conversations with various
friends. Since 9/03. 'I don't know about that milk in the fridge, but I
wouldn't drink it. It looks a little sketch.' |
| apparent meaning: 'Sketch' has essentially the
same meaning as 'sketchy' (incomplete, imperfect) although the meaning
of sketchy has broadened somewhat to include things that are strange,
off-kilter. To say that something is 'sketch' means that you are unsure
of and uncomfortable with it to some degree. With preexisting words, I
think there is a tendency to either simplify, like from sketchy to
sketch, or make them needlessly long, like fetishization and
queasishness. I don't know why, but these seem to be underlying patterns
of formation. |
| type of word formation: This is an example of a
clipping: from sketchy, the ?y is taken away and the word is shortened
to a blunter, monosyllabic form: sketch. |
| dictionary entry: sketch, adj. Characterized by unfamiliarity, incompleteness. [sketch from Gk schedios drawing] |
| Sketch |
| context and source: 'Valhalla is completely sketch.' (conversation with roommate 29 Aug 2003) |
| apparent meaning: questionable, unsavory. The
speaker perhaps wanted a shorter, quicker, more 'modern' way to use the
word 'sketchy' and so clipped the 'y' off of the original word. |
| type of word formation: clipping 'sketchy' (questionable, iffy) |
| dictionary entry: Sketch, adj. questionable, unsavory ('that neighborhood is so sketch') [clipped form of 'sketchy'] |
| sketch |
| context and source: My friends and I use this term all the time, especially when we notice odd people around Rice. |
| apparent meaning: shady, weird. Just like a
sketch is usually unclear, it is unclear as to whether you can trust a
person or place that is sketch. It conveys the uncertainty and wariness
that one feels when around unfamiliar things. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: sketch - adj. - disturbingly
unusual, not to be trusted. It's kind of sketch that he always wears
those sunglasses, even when it's raining. |
| SKETCHY |
| context and source: 'A bunch of sketchy townie boys showed up at the party.' Conversation; 9/29/03. |
| apparent meaning: The apparent meaning of
'sketchy' in this context is descriptive of people of dubious
reputation. This word can also be used in other contexts to impart the
same idea for things. As in, an ill-lit parking lot in a bad part of
town could be described as 'sketchy.'This term was coined to better
describe the reputation of a person or thing as undefined, possibly in a
negative light. |
| type of word formation: none, new meaning for an old word |
| dictionary entry: sketchy [English sketch + y ADJ] Adjective. Of dubious reputation. |
| skrilla |
| context and source: 'Havin skrilla is the only way to deal with this. If it ain't green it ain't me.' Scarface, Rapper 9-5-03 |
| apparent meaning: money. Rappers often try to
use new words for money. This was a novel word at the time and became
popular in hip hop communities after this. |
| type of word formation: entirely new. |
| dictionary entry: Skrilla; N. money |
| Slambulance |
| context and source: Conversation between
friends: 'Wow, you just got made fun of?do you want me to call a
slambulance?' (late Sept. 2003) |
| apparent meaning: a vehicle to take care of
someone who has just been insulted (been slammed). The idea of an
ambulance taking care of someone who is physically hurt has been put
onto verbal insults in this instance. |
| type of word formation: blend slam + ambulance |
| dictionary entry: Slambulance, n. A vehicle that
comes to the aid of someone who has been insulted (Man, you must be
insulted. Need a slambulance?) [new blend; formed from 'slam' and
'ambulance'] |
| Sleppy |
| context and source: 'I'm feeling very sleppy now.' Dayton University freshman Nov 2003 |
| apparent meaning: After inquiring I found that
it was a blend between sleepy and slaphappy. A blend to describe the
feeling of being both tired as well as hyper. |
| type of word formation: blend |
| dictionary entry: Sleppy, adj. Being in the
state where one is tired to the point of being very hyper [blend: sleepy
and slap-happy] |
| slowbie |
| context and source: 'Don't be such a slowbie.' (conversation with suitemate, week of 11/24, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: a person that isn't very fast,
especially when it comes to reaction time in computer and video games.
Again, my suitemate was in a technological lingo mode when I was talking
to him. This time I was playing a game with him, and he was commenting
on my speed and reaction time in the game and how it was slowing him
down. Like the word 'newbie', 'slowbie' is a product of a technological
lingo type of speech, where the suffix 'bie' can be added to any number
words to form 'techie' terms. I've also heard this term used to describe
procrastinators. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation 'slow' (not very fast) + 'bie' (N) |
| dictionary entry: slowbie, n. A person with slow
reaction time and or procrastinator, especially in computer games
('stop being a slowbie, you newbie!') [new zero derivation; arising from
'slow' + 'bie'] |
| SLUMBITCH |
| context and source: 'He's nicer seeming, but he's still a slumbitch inside.' Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card; 9/22/03. |
| apparent meaning: Literally, this means a bitch
from a slum. But taking its connotation into account, it seems to be a
universal way of describing a person negatively, whether they be male or
female, rich or poor. This word was probably coined as a more extreme
or insulting way of describing someone as a bitch. |
| type of word formation: compound of slum and bitch |
| dictionary entry: slumbitch [compound slum + bitch] Noun. A person who behaves like a bitch in an extreme fashion. |
| Slurority |
| context and source: 'Yea, Sarah joined this really wild slurority at UT.' 10-24-03 |
| apparent meaning: a sorority notorious for its
members' promiscuous behavior. the speaker wanted to emphasize that the
sorority was known for the promiscuity of its members. |
| type of word formation: blending 'slut' + 'sorority' |
| dictionary entry: Slurority; n. a sorority notorious for its members' promiscuous behavior. |
| Smore |
| apparent meaning: a snack with marshmallow placed between crackers |
| type of word formation: The word is derived by
clipping the letter 's' from 'some' and then blending it with 'more'. It
is probably formed by shortening the phrase 'some more' to 's'more' in
daily conversation. The snack is so delicious that everybody says
's'more!' after eating it. Gradually people take 'smore' as the name of
the snack. |
| dictionary entry: Smore, n. a snack with marshmallow placed between crackers. |
| Snizzle |
| context and source: 'Today's forecast calls for a 20% chance of snizzle.' Weather Channel 11/24/03 |
| apparent meaning: light snow. Word is a combination of the words 'snow' + 'drizzle' |
| snozzle |
| context and source: Conversation with friend 9/03 (don't remember exact context) |
| apparent meaning: To snozzle means to caress or
pet, as when cuddling a cat. Sound symbolism comes into play with
'snozzle'; the sn- in 'snuggle' evokes a cozy feel while the ?zz- in
'nuzzle' evokes a soft feel. The result is a soft, cuddly gesture, very
similar to 'snuggle' but more particular to household pets than to
people. |
| type of word formation: Snozzle is a blend of the verbs 'snuggle' and 'nuzzle'. |
| dictionary entry: snozzle, v. To pet or caress, as with a cat. [snuggle + nuzzle] |
| snurfling |
| context and source: 'Aww, listen to Buzz [my dog] snurfling.' ?my brother, 11/26 |
| apparent meaning: A term for the distinctive
sound made by my Boston Terrier. As a Boston Terrier, my dog is apt to
make very distinctive sounds for which there is no common name. The term
'snurfling' seems to accurately describe one of his more common sounds.
The first part of the word is similar to 'snuffle,' which is another
term that could be used to describe the sound. The word fits well
together phonetically, as the 'ur' sound flows nicely into the last
syllable. |
| type of word formation: Onomatopoeia was used to
create the noun 'snurfle,' while 'snurfling' was formed through analogy
to other verbs formed from nouns. Snurfle (onomatopoeia) + -ing (verb
suffix) |
| dictionary entry: Snurfling, v. The act of
making distinctive sounds using the nose and internal airways,
especially in the Boston Terrier breed of canine. |
| Sonize |
| context and source: 'As Christians, we are children of God, but we are daily being Sonized.' November 10, 2003. |
| apparent meaning: Through daily experiences,
Christians are made more like Jesus, the Son of God. This word was used
to describe a process of becoming like, or taking on the characteristics
of the Son. Using the word 'Son' with the verbal ending 'ize' was able
to accomplish this meaning in one word. |
| type of word formation: affixation |
| dictionary entry: Sonize: v. to become like, and take on the characteristics of the Son. |
| Spainglish |
| context and source: George isn't fluent in Spanish, he practically speaks Spainglish. ? Suitemate 10-30-03 |
| apparent meaning: a mixture between the Spanish
and English languages. The spear succinctly described George's
perversion of the Spanish language that resembled the English language. |
| type of word formation: blending. 'Spain' + 'English'. |
| dictionary entry: Spainglish; N. a type of hybrid language that consists of Spanish and English. |
| spam |
| context and source: 'Dang it, my mailbox is full of spam.' (conversation with roommate, week of 11/3, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: unwanted email messages,
usually sent my mass email, for no apparent reason. My roommate had not
checked his email mailbox for several days, and when he checked it, it
was full of dozens and dozens of random emails from people he didn't
even know. These messages ranged anywhere from 'buying a credit card'
messages to 'Stop smoking in 5 easy steps' messages. Anything and
everything you could think of to sell or solicit, you could find in
'spam' email. This word probably comes from the previously newly formed
word 'spam' as in the food 'spiced ham.' Many people claim spam (the
food) to be nasty or an acquired taste at best; I believe the unwanted
or 'nasty' email term arose from this. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation 'spam' (nothing else, just spam, spam, spam, eggs, bacon, sausage, and spam) |
| dictionary entry: spam, n. unwanted or
unsolicited messages or email sent to a person over the internet ('spam
slows the internet down') [new zero derivation; arising from 'spam, as
in the food people love to hate'] |
| spam rage |
| context and source: 'Several men have been
arrested for spam rage.' (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/031121/80/eemvv.html,
week of 11/17, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: a fit of intense anger and
threatenings after receiving a deluge of spam. I was looking at various
sites on the internet when I came across this article about several
people being arrested for making threats to companies and other people
sending out spam and other unsolicited email messages. This term is very
similar to the more common 'road rage,' although it pertains to a
person getting steamed about receiving a lot of spam email. |
| type of word formation: compound 'spam' (unwanted email messages) + 'rage' (intense anger) |
| dictionary entry: spam rage, n. a state of
extreme anger and frustration caused by getting numerous unwanted or
unsolicited emails ('the torrent of spam caused numerous counts of spam
rage') [compound of a zero derivation; formed from 'spam', + 'rage'] |
| Spank bank |
| context and source: 'Put her in your spank bank and forget about her.' (Heath Ledger in Ten Things I Hate About You) |
| apparent meaning: A memory bank of people one
finds sexually attractive. This movie starred and catered to youth. By
using words young people associate with, they better reach the audience.
It is also an inventive way of advising someone to store up an image of
an attractive person, one they might like to have sex with (presumably
where 'spank' comes from). |
| type of word formation: compounding |
| dictionary entry: Spank bank n. A catalog of people one is sexually attracted to |
| specialer |
| context and source: 'We are specialer to them (grandparents) ? ' (during a conversation, 11/26/03) |
| apparent meaning: extremely special (note: the
speaker intentionally said 'specialer'; it wasn't a mistake). The
speaker wanted to convey that our grandparents consider us to be very
special. The speaker intentionally said this, and it wasn't a mistake.
Also, the word wasn't intended as a comparator, i.e., it needn't be
followed by 'than'. |
| type of word formation: derivation (affixation) 'special' + -'er' (denote 'very' in this case) ADJ. ? specialer |
| dictionary entry: specialer, ADJ very special, more special than usual ('she is a specialer friend') |
| Spim |
| context and source: 'America Online, the largest
instant-messaging provider, has a number of roadblocks in place to halt
spam IM, or spim.' (Houston Chronicle, Nov. 17, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: large numbers of unwanted
instant messages. Spam has been adopted into English as a word to
describe mass, unwanted, junk e-mails. IM is becoming more and more
mainstream and those who send out spam are beginning to use IM as an
avenue as well. Thus, a new, more specific word has been formed to
describe the new online annoyance. |
| type of word formation: blend spam + IM (instant message) |
| dictionary entry: spim, n. unwanted mass instant
messages (Spim slows down my computer.) [blend, formed from 'spam' +
'IM' (instant message) |
| spirmitment |
| context and source: -'It's a spirit, it's a
commitment?.it's a spirmitment.' -commercial for wireless phone service,
week of 11/24 |
| apparent meaning: A feeling of intense
enthusiasm and commitment. This is a deliberate attempt to create a word
by jamming two nouns together. In this case, the blend does not seem to
flow easily from one root word to the other; the mouth must form two
completely different shapes to go from 'spir-' to '-mitment.' This may
have been by design, as it almost seemed as if the commercial was a
spoof of other companies' attempts to win customers. |
| type of word formation: Blending 'spirit' + 'commitment' |
| dictionary entry: Spirmitment, n. An idea or
strong feeling of committed enthusiasm, especially shown by a company
for its customers. [from 'spirit' + 'commitment'] |
| Spit game |
| context and source: 'What do you say we go down to pub and spit game.' |
| apparent meaning: To look for people of the opposite sex to talk to. |
| type of word formation: unknown |
| dictionary entry: Spit game, v. to look for a sexual partner [origin unknown] |
| Spoco |
| context and source: 'Come see Spoco and the
Philharmonics perform'. Seen on a flier this semester for a dual
performance by the Philharmonics and Spontaneous Combustion. |
| apparent meaning: abbreviated name for,
Spontaneous Combustion, the improv troupe at Rice University. Again,
when things are used and said often, the tendency is to want to shorten
them. Also, Spontaneous Combustion is a long name, and they may have
needed to conserve space on the flier |
| type of word formation: blending and clipping spontaneous 'occurring randomly' + combustion 'burning' |
| dictionary entry: Spoco ? n. The abbreviated
name for Spontaneous Combustion, the improv comedy troupe at Rice
University. ('The show I saw last night by Spoco was fantastic!')
[blending and clipping; formed from 'spontaneous' + 'combustion'] |
| spoon |
| context and source: 'I have to sleep with my back to the wall so my roommate won't spoon with me.' Suitemate 9-10-03 |
| apparent meaning: bother or molest. This word
has become rather trendy lately and is often used as a substitute for
the word 'cuddle.' The speaker probably used this word to appear hip and
sound comical. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: spoon; V. to cuddle or snuggle while both individuals face the same direction |
| squarify |
| context and source: 'We need to squarify our images' (IM conversation, 11/15/03) |
| apparent meaning: to make an image square.
Square images are easier to conduct experiments with. The speaker wanted
to convert the rectangular images obtained to square images in order to
be able to conduct experiments more easily. |
| type of word formation: analogy 'square' (pertaining to a square) + -'ify' V. ? continuify |
| dictionary entry: squarify, v. Process of making
something square ('squarify an image') [analogy: 'square' (pertaining
to a square) + -'ify' V.] |
| STILLNESSWAY |
| context and source: 'Now the speedway was a stillnessway.' ? Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek |
| apparent meaning: A path marked by quietude and
lacking any disturbance (esp. manmade invasion). The following quotation
illustrates the reason the coinage came about; the absence of motor
vehicles from a certain area changed the atmosphere of the place, and
Dillard wished to play with the morphemes of the original word in order
to capture the essence of the contrast wittily. |
| type of word formation: compound and derivation STILL + -NESS + WAY |
| dictionary entry: STILLNESSWAY, n. A path marked by quietude and lacking any disturbance (esp. manmade invasion) |
| Stirrage |
| context and source: 'Stirrage increased.' (Conversation about lab with lab partner, 11/11/03) |
| apparent meaning: The act or motion of stirring.
The morpheme '-age' seems to have become rather fashionable (especially
among American adolescents) as a readily available noun ending for many
verbs. Because of this morpheme's newfound fame, it is not surprising
that a young college student would attach it to a verb (such as 'stir')
that is often spoken during the laboratory period. The new word
'stirrage' has the same meaning as the noun 'stirring.' |
| type of word formation: compound 'stir' (to pass
an implement through (a liquid) in circular motions so as to mix the
contents) + '-age' (N, A, collection, mass, amount, condition, state,
action, result of an action) |
| dictionary entry: stirrage, n. The act or motion
of stirring. ('the stirrage of the reagents in a flask') [new compound;
formed from 'stir' + '-age'] |
| Str8 |
| context and source: 'I am a str8 male' saw word in a chatroom conversation 9/18/03 |
| apparent meaning: means 'heterosexual,' just an alphanumeric way of saying 'straight.' |
| Straight |
| context and source: Asked whether my roommate
needed anything about Target and she responded negatively, stating 'I'm
straight' (Nov. 12, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: everything is in order. Just a more modern way of saying 'ok.' |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: Straight, adj. Doing ok (No worries, I'm straight.) [zero derivation, formed from 'straight'] |
| strategery |
| context and source: 'Sum up in one word why you
should be elected President.' 'Strategery.' -Saturday Night Live skit,
originally aired in 2000 but constantly rerun now |
| apparent meaning: A mangling of the word
'strategy.' This word was likely just an attempt to poke fun at George
W. Bush's speaking habits, but it is representative of how some words
may be formed. The correct word is 'strategy,' but 'strategery' has been
used because it sounds similar to other, fancy words that might be used
to impress people. This word entered the language as a joke, but it has
been repeated so often since the original airing of the show that it
may become a legitimate word. |
| type of word formation: Blending/Analogy |
| dictionary entry: Strategery, n. A form of the word 'strategy'; using cunning for the achievement of a goal |
| stupendulous |
| context and source: 'That chicken in the cafeteria at lunch was stupendulous.' Martel Sophomore 10-24-03 |
| apparent meaning: wonderful. The speaker wanted
to describe just how incredible the chicken was so she blended two words
to emphasize how amazing or incredible the chicken was. |
| type of word formation: blending. 'Stupendous' + 'fabulous' |
| dictionary entry: Stupendulous; adj. describes something that is amazing or incredible. |
| Stupious |
| context and source: 'I'm being stupious by doing my orgo homework.' -online conversation with friend, 10/1 |
| apparent meaning: The condition of studying too
much to do any good. 'Stupious' is a highly useful term that seems to
describe quite a few students at this university. There is currently no
widely accepted term describing a student who studies to the point of
ludicrousness. Stupious is ideal because it combines the two ideas,
stupid and studious, perfectly into one word. It is also ideal because
the first syllable is the same in both words. Therefore, only the 'd' in
'studious' must change to a 'p.' This change from an alveolar sound to a
bilabial sound is a relatively easy transformation. |
| type of word formation: Blending 'Stupid' (lacking intelligence) + 'studious' (studying often) |
| dictionary entry: Stupious, adj. The condition
of studying too much to do any good; stupidly studious. [new derivation,
fr. 'stupid' + 'studious'] |
| suckage |
| context and source: Conversations with friends,
since spring 2003. 'I'm going to be up half the night working on this
project?it's going to be major suckage' |
| apparent meaning: Suckage takes it's meaning
from the extremely common slang word 'suck' (v), meaning 'to be
terrible, horrible, etc.' and turns it into a noun, so that everything
that 'sucks' can now be deemed 'suckage'. It is to be used in the most
informal setting. |
| type of word formation: Another example of affixation: suck + age (n-forming). |
| dictionary entry: suckage, n. Anything that is terrible, unpleasant. [suck + -age] |
| Superbug |
| context and source: 'Bio-engineered superbug stirs debate.' (MSNBC.com, 10/31/03) |
| apparent meaning: A particularly drug-resistant
disease-producing microorganism (especially one that has been
genetically or otherwise engineered), said especially of
antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Because of the popularity of the
Superman comic books and subsequent films and television series, the
morpheme 'super' used as a prefix has acquired the connotation of
describing the 'super-thing' as unusually strong and resistant. Thus, it
was only natural for the new word 'superbug' to arise when our
technology had advanced to a point where bacteria and viruses could be
genetically engineered to be resistant to most, if not all, antibiotics
and vaccines. |
| type of word formation: compound 'super-'
(large, great, extreme) + 'bug' (disease-producing microorganism or the
disease produced by this microorganism) |
| dictionary entry: superbug, n. A particularly
drug-resistant disease-producing microorganism (especially of the
genetically engineered variety), generally said of antibiotic-resistant
bacterial strains. ('a bio-engineered superbug') [new compound; formed
from 'super-' + 'bug'] |
| Supermax |
| context and source: 'New thinking on 'Supermax' prisons.' (MSNBC.com, 11/05/03) |
| apparent meaning: Possessing technologically
advanced security precautions for the containment of exceptionally
violent and dangerous criminals, said of prisons. The existence of
criminals warrants the existence of prisons. When there are criminals
who are exceptionally dangerous, they are kept within maximum-security
prisons. When the criminals in question are 'the worst of the worst,'
they are contained within supermax prisons. The new adjective 'supermax'
probably makes use of a peculiar connotation of the 'super-' morpheme.
This meaning is associated with the Superman of graphic novels, films,
and television series, and it is used to describe things as unusually
strong and resistant. Therefore, adding this morpheme to a clipped
version of 'maximum-security' produces an adjective that accurately
describes this nation's newest high-tech prisons. |
| type of word formation: compound/clipping 'super-' (large, great, extreme) + 'max' (maximum, maximal) [from 'maximum-security'] |
| dictionary entry: supermax, adj. Possessing
technologically advanced security precautions for the containment of
exceptionally violent and dangerous criminals, said of prisons.
('authorities were transferring the infamous serial killer to the newest
supermax prison') [new compound/clipping; formed from 'super-' + 'max'
(maximum-security)] |
| surflet |
| context and source: 'Lets call these new
representations surflets?.' (ECE advisor, during a conversation with
research group, 10/16/03) |
| apparent meaning: surface-lets ? little surfaces
used to approximate large complex surfaces. In the ECE community, an
active area of research is to represent a large complicated 'object'
using smaller objects. These smaller objects usually have the suffix
'?let', like wavelets (little waves), wedgelets (little wedges), etc.
Our group came up with a new representation which uses little surfaces
to approximate big surfaces. Hence, following the tradition, we decided
to name our little surfaces surflets. |
| type of word formation: blending 'surface' + -'let' (little, N.) ? surflet (little surface) |
| dictionary entry: surflet, n. A little surface
('Surflets provide good approximation properties') [blending: 'surface' +
'let -> surflet] |
| Swish |
| context and source: 'He swished that last shot.' Conversation in gym ? 11/06/03 |
| apparent meaning: to make a shot in basketball
shot that does not hit the iron hoop, and only touches the net. From the
sound produced by the aforementioned act: SWISH. |
| Swoosh |
| context and source: 'The swoosh sign on the shoe was black.' Conversation in shoe store ? 11/12/03 |
| apparent meaning: name of 'check' symbol for Nike products. |
| TA |
| context and source: 'I'm now TAing one class only' (In a conversation with my friend on 11/23/2003) |
| apparent meaning: to be the teaching assistant of a class |
| type of word formation: TA is originally the
acronym of 'teaching assistant' and is a noun. But by zero derivation,
it is now used also as a verb. |
| dictionary entry: TA, v. to be the teaching assistant of a class. |
| tabloidification |
| context and source: 'There has been a marked
tabloidification of the Indian media over the last few years' (social
commentator on the state of Indian society, Star TV interview, 8/18/03) |
| apparent meaning: media selling more
'tabloid'-type news, as opposed to 'broadsheet' news. The speaker was
referring to a trend in the media towards more 'tabloid'-type news
(usually sensationalistic news, often not true), than conventional
'broadsheet' news |
| type of word formation: derivation (affixation) 'tabloid' + -'ify' V. + -'cate' V. + -'ion' N. |
| dictionary entry: tabloidification, n Refers to a
shift towards more tabloids, or tabloid-type news, by the media
('tabloidification of newspapers') [derivation: 'tabloid' + -'ify' V. +
-'cate' V. + -'ion' N.] |
| Tag-whore |
| context and source: 'Andrea is a self-proclaimed
tag-whore. She won't buy anything that's not from Abercrombie.
Sometimes, she buys outfits she doesn't even like, as long as the tag is
in an obvious place." (November 17, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: One who actively pursues brand
names. Whore has come to mean someone who shamelessly pursues another.
In this application, it refers to a person who pursues glitzy name
brands, i.e. tags for the sake of social status. This is an inventive
way of getting across a common idea. |
| type of word formation: compounding |
| dictionary entry: Tag-whore n. A person who buys
name-brand items for the sake of portraying a certain image. [a
compound of tag (marked with a brand name) and whore] |
| Technocrats |
| context and source: '?the classic fight between
new boys and the old crowd; the pragmatists against the ideologues; the
technocrats against the Reagan loyalists.' (The Power game, p. 314) |
| apparent meaning: A group of people especially
proficient in technology, who are also firm believers in it.
'Technocrats' was probably used to categorize people who are members of
the technology 'in-group,' who use technology to solve most problems and
who stubbornly hold to the view that it is the most efficient and
modern way. |
| type of word formation: blend |
| dictionary entry: Technocrat n. A person who is
knowledgeable and skilled in new technologies, who usually believe
technology is the answer. [a blend between technology and crat (meaning
'member')] |
| Technolust |
| context and source: 'The Canon A70 makes me crazy with technolust.' (November 18, 2003). |
| apparent meaning: Yearning after the newest
technology. This creative word combines two distinct concepts,
technology and lust, into a word that describes how we all must feel at
times?the desire to have the latest. |
| type of word formation: Compounding |
| dictionary entry: Technolust n. The desire or
craving for ownership of the newest, shiniest, or fastest models in
technological development. |
| Temporicide |
| context and source: 'These days I did nothing but temporicide.' (In my friend's letter received on 11/22/2003) |
| apparent meaning: the killing of time |
| type of word formation: From the novel
concatenation of the Latin morphemes 'tempor' meaning 'time' and 'cide'
which means 'cut or kill'. |
| dictionary entry: Temporicide, n. the killing of time. |
| texify |
| context and source: 'Click here to texify' (in WinEdt, an editor for Latex, 11/01/03) |
| apparent meaning: to convert a regular text
document to Latex (pronounced La-tech)format. Latex is a document format
used for technical documents. WinEdt is an editor which allows one to
convert regular text to Latex format. 'tex' is analogized with 'Latex'. |
| type of word formation: analogy 'tex'
(pertaining to Latex) + -'ify' V. ? texify (pronounced 'techify', with
'tech' as in technology) |
| dictionary entry: texify, v. Converting regular text to Latex format ('texify a document' |
| Text me |
| context and source: 'Text me later' (Conversation on a shuttle, 9/20/03) |
| apparent meaning: To send a written message
electronically from a cellular phone. It seems to be a more modern
version of 'call me later', and expresses a person's desire to be
contacted in the near future. The speaker was asking for later
communication, in reference to a technological function or feature. |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| dictionary entry: to text, v. To send a written message for social communication from one cellular phone to another. |
| Thumpa-thumpa music |
| context and source: 'That club just plays thumpa-thumpa music.' Brown freshman Sept. 2003 |
| apparent meaning: music played with a lot of
base especially at a club or other place where music may be played for
the sole purpose of having lots of base. The rhythm is clear and strong.
Use a descriptive onomatopoeia word for the style of music played at
this specific dance club. |
| type of word formation: onomatopoeia |
| dictionary entry: Thumpa-thumpa music, n Music that is played solely for the purpose of having a lot of base [onomatopoeia] |
| tick-tock |
| context and source: 'Don't forget to put on your tick-tock.' ?my mom, 11/28 |
| apparent meaning: wristwatch. This word may have
been formed through metonymy. The term 'tick-tock' describes the sound
made by the watch, but my mom used it to refer to the watch itself. The
term for one idea became a term for a different but related entity,
which describes metonymy. This word was probably used just for a change
of pace from 'watch.' |
| type of word formation: Possibly metonymy.
'Tick' and 'tock' are both examples of onomatopoeia: they are sounds a
watch makes as the second hand progresses. |
| dictionary entry: Tick-tock, n. Another term for
a wristwatch [derived from the sound made by the inner workings of some
watches]. |
| Tight |
| context and source: 'The graphics in that new video game are so tight.' 10-24-03 |
| apparent meaning: very good or cool. instead of
using the common descriptive words such as 'cool' or 'awesome' the
speaker decided to use some more novel lingo. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation. |
| dictionary entry: tight; adj. good or awesome. |
| to flip a lid |
| context and source: 'When I saw the grade I got
on that test, I flipped a lid!' (a college student describing her
reaction 11/30) |
| apparent meaning: to panic, to freak out,
carries specifically negative connotations. The test score was not so
pleasing, thus the reaction was that of becoming irritated and upset. in
order to correctly express the level of upsetness, a humorous
interesting expression is used. |
| type of word formation: analogy |
| dictionary entry: Flip a lid,v. To react
negatively to a stressor, to get upset and irritated, to freak out ('he
flipped a lid when he saw her standing there') [An analogy] |
| tonk |
| context and source: 'Calling us for no reason,
what a tonk!' (An HCESD (Harris county east side district) paramedic,
frustrated at a man calling 911 for no good reason 11/29) |
| apparent meaning: when asked, the paramedic said
that all the poor population of that part of Houston are tonks. No
linguistic or logical explanation was given. this seems to be an
arbitrary name assigned to a specific population of the city of Houston.
There is no reason for this word to be used, other than that it has
been designated to represent the people of the low socioeconomic layers. |
| type of word formation: unknown |
| dictionary entry: Tonk, n. A poor or homeless
person belonging to or living in the East Side District of Harris
County, TX ('go back to your area, tonk') [of unknown etymology] |
| tool |
| context and source: Online conversation with friend, 11/03. '?.he cheated on his girlfriend, what a tool?' |
| apparent meaning: A tool is someone who is a
real loser- mean and nasty. I honestly have no idea where 'tool' is
from, I suspect it is some sort of Pacific NW slang, as it is another
word from my friend who goes to Whitman College. |
| type of word formation: What to call people you
don't like: another popular category to create neologisms in. These
words seem to move in fads though, the words that are not ingrained
expletives don't seem to stick around for very long. |
| dictionary entry: tool, n. A despicable, nasty person. |
| toolish |
| context and source: A friend of mine could not
think of the adjective form of the word tool, so he decided to make one
up. Of the several options he provided, this one is my favorite. |
| apparent meaning: as a tool, like a tool. In the
absence of an obvious adjective form of a common word, the speaker made
several, such as toolic, toolesque, and toolish. Toolish seems the most
appropriate because of its phonetic similarities to foolish (another
adjective to be used in an insulting manner). |
| type of word formation: known stem with alternate ending |
| dictionary entry: toolish - adj. - similar to a
someone who is used by someone or something for the user's purposes,
usually derogatory. Formed from tool and -ish (an adjective forming
suffix). Some politicians may describe Colin Powell's actions for the
President as toolish while others see them as signs of loyalty and
patriotism. |
| Tracking |
| context and source: 'Are you tracking?' (conversation with University of Pennsylvania sophomore 7 Sep 2003) |
| apparent meaning: understanding the speaker's
line of thought, argument, or directions. The speaker was trying to
ensure understanding and so posed his question. The common form of the
word 'to track' means to follow the trail of something. From there, it's
just a metaphorical jump from physically following something to keeping
up with a conversation or argument. |
| type of word formation: metaphorical extension
('tracking', v. in a physical sense to 'tracking', v. in a mental sense]
'track' (to follow the trail of) + '-ing' |
| dictionary entry: Tracking, v. understanding the
speaker's line of thought, argument, or directions ('are you tracking')
[zero derivation of 'track', v.] |
| Tragical |
| context and source: 'I have always thought the
ending of Romeo and Juliet to be quite tragical.' Classmate, Poli 210
October 15, 2003. |
| apparent meaning: Used to describe a situation
in which a tragedy occurs. the speaker was trying to explain the
situation as a tragedy, changed the form of the word (n) to make it into
a descriptor (adj). It may also have been a blend between tragedy and
debacle. |
| type of word formation: blend, derivation |
| dictionary entry: Tragical adj. A word used to describe situations that are an extreme misfortune, a terrible tragedy. |
| trickeration |
| context and source: '?and the coach employs a bit of trickeration?' -announcer on football broadcast, 11/27 |
| apparent meaning: Trickery or deceptiveness.
Trickeration seems to be a word that one who is uncomfortable speaking
to an audience might use when trying to come up with a word like
'trickery.' It is formed by taking the last letter off of 'trickery' and
adding the noun suffix '-tion.' The linker 'a' is included so the
speaker can more easily progress from the long a sound to the 'sh' sound
in the word. This is analogous to words such as concentration or
affixation (of which this word is an example). |
| type of word formation: Blending or Analogy/affixation 'trickery' + 'a' (linker) + '-tion' (noun suffix) |
| dictionary entry: Trickeration, n. A synonym for trickery; deceptive behavior in an attempt to gain an advantage |
| Trippin |
| context and source: Why you trippin today? Server at Martel cafeteria 10-30-03 |
| apparent meaning: literally stumbling. (this is
deceiving because of the short sentence in which the word is used.)
Instead of telling the woman that she was acting foolish, 'trippin' is
much more efficient because it is so concise. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation and ananolgy 'trip' + '-ing' (v. 'the act of') |
| dictionary entry: Trippin; v. acting foolish. |
| trippy |
| context and source: 'That is so trippy, he
should go smoke something.' (comment by friend while watching Meet the
Parents 11/29/03) |
| apparent meaning: in a drug context, trip means
bad hallucinations, so trippy is having the property of having a bad
hallucination; like a bad hallucination. The speaker was trying to
describe a scene in Meet the Parents where the father was trying to get
the daughter's boyfriend to admit that he does drugs. The way he did
that is to describe the scene as having the quality of a bad 'trip' or
hallucination. |
| type of word formation: derivation 'trip' (to stumble) + '-y' (n) |
| dictionary entry: trippy adj. having the
qualities of a bad hallucination ('that is so trippy') [new derivation;
formed from 'trip' + '-y'] |
| Trow |
| context and source: "Drop trow for Brown" Brown College cheer. |
| apparent meaning: based on the actions of the
people chanting trow is short for trousers. clipping of the word
trousers for poetic reasons. |
| type of word formation: clipping |
| dictionary entry: Trow n. a garment worn to cover ones legs [clipping: trousers pants] |
| True |
| context and source: 'I love that new P. Diddy song, it is so true.' - Suitemate 10-17-03 |
| apparent meaning: good, cool. the word 'true' is
often used in the African American and hip-hop communities. Because the
speaker was describing a hip-hop song, he probably felt that 'true'
would be an appropriate word choice. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation. |
| dictionary entry: True, adj. a word used to describe someone or something that cool or good. |
| TWENTY-FOUR-SEVEN, also in print: 24/7 |
| context and source: 'I feel like I study twenty-four-seven.' Conversation; 9/10/03. |
| apparent meaning: This phrase literally means
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It has a connotation that
imparts the idea of all the time or constantly. This word was probably
coined to shorten the long phrase 'twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week.' |
| type of word formation: compound of twenty-four and seven; clippingof 'hours a day' and 'days a week' out of longer phrase |
| dictionary entry: twenty-four-seven (alternate
spelling 24/7) [compound twenty-four + seven] Noun. 1. Twenty-four hours
a day, seven days a week. 2. All the time or constantly. |
| Twentysomething |
| context and source: In an article about obesity in USA Today on 10/13/2003 |
| apparent meaning: a person in his or her twenties |
| type of word formation: Compounding of the word
'twenty' and 'something'. By extension, people who are in their thirties
can be called 'thirtysomethings' and so on. |
| dictionary entry: Twentysomething, n. a person in his or her twenties. |
| Twofer |
| context and source: 'She's pulling a twofer.' (9/22/03) |
| apparent meaning: something that yields a dual
return for a single expense. There has long been a saying, 'two for the
price of one,' meaning that the consumer would receive two of the item
he wanted by paying only the price of one of the items. This DJ probably
began using this word recently after hearing it from another source.
The original person who coined the word probably did so because he or
she wanted a noun to convey the sense of 'two for the price of one.'
However, the entire phrase was apparently too long, so it was shortened
to the first two words, and the spelling of the second changed to closer
represent the actual sound pronounced. |
| type of word formation: compound/clipping 'two'
(cardinal number equal to 1 + 1) + 'fer' (altered spelling of 'for,'
clipping of phrase '[two] for (the price of) one,' dual return for a
single expense) |
| dictionary entry: twofer, n. An offer or
arrangement in which one expense yields two returns. ('to pull a
twofer') [new compound/clipping; formed from alteration of 'two (for the
price of) one'] |
| übernice |
| context and source: 'We took our project to Kinko's so now it looks übernice.' -overheard at lunch table, 11/26 |
| apparent meaning: Extremely good or pleasing.
This is a very interesting formation, and the exact reasons for its
usage are unclear. The speaker could easily have used another English
suffix, such as 'super,' in place of the noticeably foreign '¸ber.' A
likely explanation is that '¸bernice' is just fun to say. However, this
may be a sign that the prefix '¸ber' is slowly making its way into
mainstream English and will eventually become an everyday borrowed
prefix, just as 'super' is today. Another interesting feature of this
word is the apparent difference in tone between the prefix and root.
'Nice' has evolved to become a relatively bland adjective, usually used
to describe something that does not evoke much excitement. Adding an
intensifying prefix like '¸ber' is seemingly contradictory; it would
probably make more sense to use an already intense root, like 'amazing.'
It will be interesting to see if '¸bernice' manages to work its way
into everyday use. |
| type of word formation: Compounding Composed of '¸ber' (German 'super') + nice (native) |
| dictionary entry: 9bernice, adj. Extremely
pleasing or good; good-looking; very nice [new derivation, fr. Ger.
'¸ber' (super-) + nat. 'nice' (pleasant) |
| ULTRATRIBAL |
| context and source: ''This is an ultratribal
area,' Mirabile explained to Newsweek. 'We understand that there's no
winning this battle without winning the hearts and minds of the people,
and you don't do that without winning the sheiks.'' ñ Newsweek, 10 Nov
2003. |
| apparent meaning: Having extremely strong tribal
affiliation; characterized by a great emphasis on the importance of the
tribe. This word was no challenge to create; ULTRA- denotes extremity
or a going-beyond, modifying the stem TRIBAL. |
| type of word formation: derivation ULTRA- + TRIBAL |
| dictionary entry: ULTRATRIBAL, adj. Having
extremely strong tribal affiliation; characterized by a great emphasis
on the importance of the tribe. |
| unabout |
| context and source: 'stories unabout college'
(on graph of stories about college and stories not, created for the
100th college story of a friends blog 10/13/03) |
| apparent meaning: not relating to stories about
college. On the graph, the writer was showing the number of stories on
his webpage that aren't about college. Using the morpheme 'un-' flows
better than saying not. |
| type of word formation: derivation 'un-' (not) + 'about' (relating to) |
| dictionary entry: unabout prep. not relating to. ('stories unabout college') [new derivation; formed from 'un-' + 'about'] |
| unAustralian |
| context and source: 'It was certainly unAustralian in its forms.' (Searching for Aboriginal Languages, Robert Dixon, p. 107.) |
| apparent meaning: erring from the majority of
Australia's aboriginal tongues. Dixon wanted to denote the language in
question as substantially different from those addresses thus far in his
narrative, so he affixed the ubiquitous 'un-' prefix to the adjective
Australian. The new word is particularly striking because of the capital
'A' at the boundary between morphemes, which visually symbolizes the
contrast between languages that follow the usual Australian language
pattern and those that don't. |
| type of word formation: derivation 'un-' (not) +
'Australia' (continent southeast of Asia and west of the Americas) +
'-an' (adj. suffix) |
| dictionary entry: unAustralian, adj. Not
following the usual Australian norms, especially relating to the
indigenous languages of the continent. ('Mbabaram's lexicon was
distinctly unAustralian in its makeup.') [New derivation from 'un-' +
'Australia' + '-an'.] |
| uncelebratory |
| context and source: 'To celebrate the
uncelebratory event of telling one-hundred stories, I have composed
these charts and graphs for all the critics of the site.' (read from
online blog of friend 10/13/03) |
| apparent meaning: something that is not, cannot,
or should not be celebrated. The writer was talking about how 100
stories about college isn't really anything to celebrate about. So he
used celebratory and the morpheme 'un-' in order to convey not
celebratory. |
| type of word formation: derivation 'un-' (not) +
'celebrate' (to observe an event with ceremony or festivity) +
'-ary/-ory' (adj/noun) |
| dictionary entry: uncelebratory adj. something
that cannot or is not celebrated ('uncelebratory event') [new
derivation; formed from 'un-' + 'celebrate' + '-ary/-ory'] |
| uncouple |
| context and source: On Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
two couples physically separated (uncoupled) when approaching a girl
who had just been through a devastating breakup. |
| apparent meaning: to move apart from your loved
one. The two couples were caught by surprise by the appearance of their
friend, and they needed a quick signal to stop holding each other's
hands and acting as a couple. Uncouple was a short and easily understood
term, and they avoided appearing insensitive to Buffy's recent
struggles with love. |
| type of word formation: affixation |
| dictionary entry: uncouple - v. - to physically
separate oneself from his/her significant other, to cease the habits of a
typical couple. Could you guys uncouple for just a little bit? It's not
like you're eating alone! |
| Unitonal |
| context and source: 'My physics professor is unbearably unitonal.' (November 29, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: monotone and extremely boring.
This word is a variation of monotone. However, adding a prefix and
suffix gives it a more 'intelligent' sound. This may have been the feel
Chrissy was trying to get across, intelligent but boring. 'Unitonal'
might also be a way to create a new word in expressing her frustration. |
| type of word formation: blend |
| dictionary entry: Unitonal adj. Words delivered
orally in one tone, which begins to grate on the listener, quickly
becoming boring. [A combination of prefix uni- + monotone + al] |
| unpossible |
| context and source: 'It would be unpossible for us to spell it wrong.' (read on online forum for the MOB on 11/6/03) |
| apparent meaning: something that is not
possible; not capable of happening. The speaker was trying to anger a
person on the online forum. He wanted to use a word that is not standard
English, but still made sense. So the morpheme 'un-' was substituted
for 'in-/im-'. His process created a new word. |
| type of word formation: derivation 'un-' (not) + 'possible' (capable of happening, existing) |
| dictionary entry: unpossible adj. not capable of
happening or existing ('it would be unpossible') [new derivation;
formed from 'un-' + 'possible'] |
| Upper-middlebrow |
| context and source: 'But trying to sell sex as
'classy' or upper-middlebrow can backfire.' (In The Dallas Morning News
on 11/23/2003) |
| apparent meaning: belonging to the upper and/or middle class |
| type of word formation: Formed by the
concatenating the words 'upper', 'middle' and 'brow', which means 'the
projecting upper part of a steep road'. |
| dictionary entry: Upper-middlebrow, adj. belonging to the upper and/or middle class. |
| vampification |
| context and source: Fashion and Style advice on
msn.com: http://women.msn.com/196488.armx. 11/26/03. 'Entrenched in the
routine of office wear, respectable Mom attire and good old sweats, a
woman may not know where to begin the 'vampification.'' |
| apparent meaning: 'Vampification' means the act
of vamping- to vamp (or vamp up) is to give something a new appearance
using a patch, or to concoct or invent. A second definition for 'vamp'
stems from the word vampire: a seductive woman who uses her sensuality
to exploit men. Vampification suggests something sexy, desirable,
seductive, and maybe a little more appealing than the traditional
makeover to the older women at which the column was directed. |
| type of word formation: Vampification, like
fetishization, requires the nonexistent verb 'vampify'. It is an
affixation, with the noun-forming suffix ñion on the end. |
| dictionary entry: Vampification, n. The act of inventing a seductive style/manner. [vamp + -ify (v) + -ion(n)] |
| Velcro language |
| context and source: 'English is a velcro language.' (linguistics lecture 2 Sep 2003) |
| apparent meaning: language that picks up words
from other languages. The speaker was trying to convey some idea of
English as a language that readily picks up words from other languages.
Velcro is often thought of as something 'sticky' that picks up bits and
pieces from everywhere, much like the English language. |
| type of word formation: compound of 'velcro' +
'language' 'velcro' (name brand of hood-and-loop fastener) + 'language'
(words, their meanings, and the ways of putting them together that are
used and understood by a specific community) |
| dictionary entry: Velcro language, n. language
that readily incorporates words from other languages ('English is a
velcro language') [compound of 'velcro' + 'language'] |
| viewtiful |
| context and source: ' Wow your fighting style is
like poetry in motion; it is so viewtiful.' (overheard from a TV
program conversation, week of 10/6, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: Greater meaning than
beautiful, highly stylized; awesome. The speaker was trying to convey
how great his opponent's techniques and fighting moves were, and
'beautiful' would sound too soft or weak. So, he blended the words
'view' and 'beautiful' to add strength and meaning to what he was
saying. His opponent had just beaten him, so he wanted to show his
appreciation in a manner that was both masculine and reverent of the
highly stylized and awesome techniques (like they were truly a sight to
see) |
| type of word formation: blend 'view' (meaning to watch or look at) X 'beautiful' (meaning good-looking or pleasing to the sight) |
| dictionary entry: viewtiful, adj. highly
stylized and/or awesome; 'poetry in motion'. ('viewtiful fighting
techniques') [new blend; formed from 'view' X 'beautiful'] |
| Vinsanity |
| context and source: Something similar to 'the
Raptors unleashed the Vinsanity in their game last night, as Vince
Carter scored 30 Ö' ñ heard on Sportscenter in November several times |
| apparent meaning: the spectacular and
high-flying play of NBA-star Vince Carter and the excitement it
generates. It's a catch combination of his name and the common slang
description of 'insane' for some of his dunks and highlight reel plays.
Some of them truly are incredible feats of athleticism. Also, when he
makes these plays the whole crowd becomes excited. |
| type of word formation: blending and clipping Vince 'Vince Carter' + insanity 'madness' |
| dictionary entry: Vinsanity ñ n. the spectacular
play of Vince Carter and the excitement it generates. ('The Vinsanity
was on full display as Vince Carter put on a dunking clinic to easily
win the Slam-Dunk contest.') [blending and clipping; formed from 'Vince'
+ 'insanity'] |
| Vomitous |
| context and source: 'My mom made me a
turkey-and-stuffing shake for Thanksgiving, which was the day after I
got my braces. It was vomitous.' (conversation with Lovett freshman 1
Oct 2003) |
| apparent meaning: something that is vomit
inducing. The speaker was trying to describe the meal her mother had
prepared for her the day after she'd gotten her braces (and couldn't eat
solid food). She was trying to convey that not only was it disgusting,
but it had made her want to vomit. She therefore derived the noun
'vomit' into an adjective. |
| type of word formation: derivation 'vomit' (stomach contents ejected during the act of vomiting) and '-ous' (A) |
| dictionary entry: Vomitous, adj. something that
is vomit-inducing ('the turkey-and-stuffing shake was vomitous')
[derivation: 'vomit' + '-ous'] |
| Vomitrocious |
| context and source: 'The color of that car is vomitrocious!' heard in conversation ñ 9/30/03 |
| apparent meaning: repugnant. Vomit + -rocious. |
| Wall-mate |
| context and source: 'We were not only hallmates. We were wallmates.' (In a conversation with a friend on 11/4/2003) |
| apparent meaning: a person that lives next door or literally shares the same wall with you |
| type of word formation: Compounding of the word 'wall' and 'mate', which means 'companion, friend' |
| dictionary entry: Wall-mate, n. a person that lives next door or literally shares the same wall with you. |
| Warchalk |
| context and source: 'There was only one explanation: I'd been warchalked.' (Time 29 Oct 2003) |
| apparent meaning: to indicate where a wireless
internet network exists and how it can be accessed. Often, wireless
internet networks are not protected with a password, and are therefore
open to anyone with a computer and wireless card within a certain radius
of the wireless hub. With an ever-increasing number of
non-password-protected wireless internet networks, it is becoming
possible for people to roam streets trying to detect an open network to
which they can then connect to for free. Once this spot is found, the
user may make a mark outside of the building with chalk to indicate to
future passers-by where and how to connect to the network. This is
referred to as 'warchalking.' The origin of the second half of the
compoundó'chalk'óis obviousóthat is what is used to make the mark. The
reason for using the first part is a little more uncertain. Perhaps
'war' refers to the continuing struggle between those who own and pay
for the wireless hub and service and those who access the network for
free. |
| type of word formation: compound of 'war' +
'chalk' 'war' (to be in active and vigorous conflict) + 'chalk' (to mark
something with chalk (a soft powdery stick used esp. to write on
chalkboards)) |
| Webinar |
| context and source: Webinar was overheard in a
conversation in the RMC to describe a seminar that someone was taking
online. (late Sept. 2003) |
| apparent meaning: a course composed of a small
number of people who are taking it online. the word flows quite well and
as the two words of the blend can be distinctly heard in the new word,
the meaning is easily conveyed. |
| type of word formation: blend Web (Internet) + seminar (type of class situation) |
| dictionary entry: Webinar, n. A seminar taken
online (I've got to do the homework for my webinar.) [new blend; formed
from 'web' and 'seminar'] |
| WHACK |
| context and source: 'That is whack.' Not Another Teen Movie; 9/30/03. |
| apparent meaning: Whatever is being described is
somehow wrong or bad, in the speaker's opinion, in that it is
incomprehensible, unbelievable, or outrageous. This word was probably
shortened from 'whacked' which means crazy or high on drugs. 'Whack' was
probably coined to give a slightly different or more general meaning to
the word 'whacked.' |
| type of word formation: clipping, as 'whack' is probably a shortened form of 'whacked' |
| dictionary entry: whack [clipping of whacked] Adjective. Being incomprehensible, unbelievable, or outrageous in a negative way. |
| whinage |
| context and source: television sitcom Clueless. Lead character discourages complaining by telling her friend, 'Cut the whinage!' |
| apparent meaning: whining, sound of whining. On
this show, students of certain cliques use a slang comprised of made up
words, so someone's social status can be determined by the creativity
and uniqueness of his idiolect. Cher, the lead character, uses this word
among other made-up words to show her coolness. |
| type of word formation: known stem with alternate ending |
| dictionary entry: whinage - n. - act of whining
or the sound of whining. Formed from whine (a sound of pain or distress)
and - age (a conceptual noun forming suffix). Military officials have a
low tolerance for whinage. |
| white bread |
| context and source: In my high school, the
majority of people were plain and average and predictable. Those who did
not fall into that category described them as white bread, and the term
is becoming popular again. It is a bit derogatory among some groups,
but my friends and I never use it in reference to race. |
| apparent meaning: ordinary and bland. People
usually think of white bread as nothing spectacular, and each slice of
white bread is very similar to the other. That is exactly how each of
these people were. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: white bread - adj. - not very
different from the ordinary and average, uninteresting. The kids on
Dawson's Creek were so white bread sometimes. |
| White-hat |
| context and source: 'Are you going to white-hat
this game?' Asked this question at the Regional NIRSA Flag Football
tournament ñ 11/03 |
| apparent meaning: n. head referee, v. to be the
head referee. Usually, with a crew of officials, only the head referee
wears a white hat. |
| wingaling |
| context and source: 'He's a wingaling dragon' (heard off of online flash cartoon 9/30/03) |
| apparent meaning: a creature with wings. The
character in the cartoon was drawing wings. He wanted to describe the
dragon now that it had wings, but wanted it to sound cool. Thus he used
rhyming to come up with a new word that describes the dragon. |
| type of word formation: rhyming formation 'wing' (a structure used for flying) + 'aling' (a rhyming of wing) |
| dictionary entry: wingaling adj. a creature with wings ('he's a wingaling dragon) [new rhyming formation; 'wing' + 'aling'] |
| Wrangler |
| context and source: 'Is the wrangler around?' (Question asked to me by a friend on the phone, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: It is a reference to a person
or living being. It is most likely a person who is tough and scrappy
because of the meaning of 'to wrangle', to wrestle or quarrel with
someone or something. The components are the verb 'to wrangle' and the
addition of an 'r' to change the word to a noun standing for a person or
thing. To nickname a pal in an endearing manner by describing his
appearance and demeanor. |
| type of word formation: Derivation |
| dictionary entry: wrangler, n. A of nickname for someone, usu. a male, who has a reputation of being rowdy, tough, and loud. |
| WTF |
| context and source: 'So then I was like WTF? How could he give us that much homework?' Sid Rich Freshman |
| apparent meaning: What the fuck? Seems to be
used in an indirect question form. It is part way between an
interjection and an interrogative. Its increased use in internet chat
rooms and instant messages has spread from typed English to spoken
English. |
| type of word formation: Abbreviation |
| dictionary entry: WTF, indirect question showing general displeasure for something; why. [Abbr. of 'what the fuck'] |
| Yada-yada |
| context and source: 'yada-yada, yada-yada, Ö' (Seinfeld episode, 1999) |
| apparent meaning: It appears to be a saying that
is used as a sort of filler in discourse. The repetitions indicate the
size of the gap in the conversation. The word 'yada', which has no
standard meaning reveals that whatever is being relayed lacks importance
or value. The phrase is spoken by a person who is relaying a story to a
third party and gives him or her a way of skipping over unimportant or
boring information. |
| type of word formation: Compound |
| dictionary entry: yada-yada, n. Expression for lengthy and/or unimportant information in a conversation. |
| Yarn |
| context and source: 'I miss you. We'll yarn soon, hopefully.' (November 9, 2003) |
| apparent meaning: To talk, to have an informal
and social conversation. 'Yarn' may have been used because women in
knitting circles engage in informal conversation. It takes connections
the action of talking to the yarn used during their conversation. |
| type of word formation: zero derivation |
| dictionary entry: Yarn v. to engage in informal
conversation with a friend or close acquaintance. [formed by altering
part of speech from a noun to a verb] |
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