Sunday, February 24, 2008

Neologisms

I received a list of neologisms via email the other day (thanks E). In this instance they appear to be the "a new word, usage, or expression" type rather than "a meaningless word coined by a psychotic" [thanks SlovoEd - which sandwiches neologism between "neolithic: (1) cap of or relating to the latest period of the Stone Age characterized by polished stone implements, and (2) belonging to an earlier age and now outmode" and "Neo-Malthusian: sdvocating control of population growth (as by contraception)".]
The Neologisms email appears to have been generated as "The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly neologisms, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words."
Some of the winners are:
Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp. (E's favorite)
Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
But the word-play talent of people doesn't stop there. The email also notes "The Washington Post's Style Invitational also asked readers to take any word  from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition."
And some of the winners are:
Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease.
Karmageddon (n): Its like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.
Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an a**hole.

1 comment:

Deb said...

Can I add one more Kaz?
Working in the Legal world as I do I see this happening all the time.
Litagious - contagious litigation