Planning a Staycation this year?

• Leslie Valeska Nov 05, 2015

  Personally, I don’t find slang to be necessary for a dictionary. For example, I can see the need for waterboarding in the new dictionaries. Someone who may come across the term while researching a report that would include that practice, may need to know the definition. However, other words that have been made up as a “catch” word or phrase I am not sure should be included, such as locavore, sock puppet, and frenemy. I have a word I invented that many use now and I don’t expect it to end up in any dictionary, ever.

  This said, perhaps future generations will need these definitions? Above all, I find that the inclusion of them speaks volumes about our culture today.

• ---

• jojosblog Nov 05, 2015

  Some of the words have to do with technology, but most of them have to do with the environment. Some say each year’s additions are enriching our language and reflecting the changing times. Others say they are silly and becoming too politically correct. What do you think?
  ===========

  acai: a small dark purple fleshy berrylike fruit of a tall slender palm (Euterpe oleracea) of tropical Central and South America that is often used in beverages ; also : the palm

  carbon footprint: the negative impact that something (as a person or business) has on the environment; specifically the amount of carbon emitted by something during a given period

  cardioprotective: serving to protect the heart <a drug’s cardioprotective effect rel="nofollow">

  earmark:
  1: a mark of identification on the ear of an animal
  2: a distinguishing mark
  3: a provision in Congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization

  fan fiction: stories involving popular fictional characters that are written by fans and often posted on the Internet —called also fan fic

  flash mob: a group of people summoned (as by e-mail or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing

  frenemy: one who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy

  goji: the dark red mildly tart berry of a thorny chiefly Asian shrub (Lycium barbarum) that is typically dried and used in beverages

  green-collar: of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment <green–collar jobs>

  haram: forbidden by Islamic law

  locavore: one who eats foods grown locally whenever possible

  memory foam: a dense polyurethane foam that becomes more pliable when in contact with heat

  missalette: a shortened form of a missal (a book containing all that is said or sung at mass during the entire year) published periodically for congregational use

  naproxen: an analgesic and antipyretic NSAID C14H14O3 often used in the form of its sodium salt

  neuroprotective: serving to protect neurons from injury or degeneration

  pharmacogenetics: the study of how genetic differences among individuals cause varied responses to a drug

  physiatry: physical medicine and rehabilitation/a medical specialty concerned with treating disabling disorders and injuries by physical means (as by the use of electrotherapy, therapeutic exercise, or pharmaceutical pain control) —called also physiatry physical medicine

  reggaeton: popular music of Puerto Rican origin that combines rap with Caribbean rhythms

  shawarma: a sandwich especially of sliced lamb or chicken, vegetables, and often tahini wrapped in pita bread

  sock puppet:
  1: a hand puppet made with a sock
  2: a false online identity used for deceptive purposes

  staycation: a vacation spent at home or nearby

  vlog: a blog that contains video material

  waterboarding: an interrogation technique in which water is forced into a detainee’s mouth and nose so as to induce the sensation of drowning

  webisode: an episode especially of a TV show that may or may not have been telecast but can be viewed at a Web site

  zip line: a cable suspended above an incline to which a pulley and harness are attached for a rider

• ---

• Christine Nov 05, 2015

  Okay -

  webisode – a video/show in the web.

  sock puppet – please we’ve made our share of them! puppets made from socks!

  staycation – stay at home vacation. :p

  frenemy – friend who is more like an enemy?

  acai – isn’t that some kinda tree?

• ---

• Gidget Nov 05, 2015

  Most of them I know. Some, thanks to my former job at a pharmacy. Many, from the internet. I got haram confused with harem until I looked it up. I had to look up about 5 total. I’m still trying to figure out missalette. I grew up Catholic, so that is not a new word…but does it mean something different than what I think.

Leave a comment