New Dictionary Words: Let's Use Them as Often as Possible!

"Hey, pass the zaibatsu. I'm starving!" Or use them correctly. Up to you.

Merriam-Webster has added almost 100 new words to the 2005 edition of their Collegiate Dictionary. I envision them driving themselves to distraction trying to think of just one or two more words, trying to get to 100. Probably ordered in a lot of pizzas, while they watched hour after hour of press conferences and laugh-track-"enhanced" sitcoms trying to find new invented words. And yet, still no "strategery". One day, my fun-to-say friend. One day.

There's a chance it's in there, though. The folks at Merriam-Webster are crafty. They've made a list of eighteen new words and four new senses available online. To see all the new entries, why, you know what to do... buy their dictionary. Hey, they just now chose "bikini wax" and "chick flick", and they want us to buy their dictionary. I'm not so sure about them anymore. Shouldn't both either have been words long ago or not at all?

They're not all closed-off over at Merriam-Webster, though. In fact, they want people to add entries for their Merriam-Webster's Open Dictionary. If it isn't already in their "regular" online dictionary, they'd like you to submit it and share it with others (but let's not get silly and take advantage of a cool thing, now...). You can browse recent entries, or look at them alphabetically or by category. Epinion is one recent entry... good one.

Back to that collegiate dictionary!

Some of the new words:

civil union (noun) 1992: the legal status that ensures to same-sex couples specified rights and responsibilities of married couples

cybrarian (noun) 1992: a person whose job is to find, collect, and manage information that is available on the World Wide Web

metadata (noun) 1983: data that provides information about other data

retronym (noun) 1980: a term consisting of a noun and a modifier which specifies the original meaning of the noun ["film camera" is a ~]

steganography (noun) 1985 1 archaic: cryptography 2: the art or practice of concealing a message, image, or file within another message, image, or file

Wi-Fi (certification mark) -used to certify the interoperability of wireless computer networking devices

zaibatsu (noun) 1947: a powerful financial and industrial conglomerate of Japan

And two of the new "senses":

chatter (noun): electronic and esp. radio communication between individuals engaged in a common or related form of activity; also : such chatter regarding future hostile activities

neoconservative (noun): a conservative who advocates the assertive promotion of democracy and U.S. national interest in international affairs including through military means

MP3:Papa Joe - Chick Flick (from Open Mike. Through October, all proceeds from the sale of the $10 CD will go to the Red Cross. You can get it at CD Baby and listen to song samples there or at Papa Joe's website)

MP3:April March - Chick Habit (from April in Paris and Chick Habit. Just because "chick flick" reminded me of this song. Yeah, it's weak, I know it. There's a song called "metadata", but I don't have it, alas)

MP3:Dictionaraoke - Word Up (Cameo cover)

MP3:Dictionaraoke - She Blinded Me With Science (Thomas Dolby cover)

MP3:Dictionaraoke - Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode cover)

(all from Dictionaraoke, many more MP3s there)