Merriam-Webster has just released nearly 100 new words that will appear in the fall in the best-selling 'Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.' Check these out...maybe you'll know what they mean when they turn up in another, hipper blog than mine. And yes, ginormous is one of the added words. Now my friends, who are less pop-cultured than I am, will know that I don't actually make these words up on my own. I just soak them in. Of course, I still have the benefit of being able to translate words like "cracker" (in the vernacular) and "quotidian" (in the let's-just-impress-everyone-with-how-many-big-words-I-can-throw-around manner) for them at lunch. Of course, once it's made it into the dictionary, we can stop using right? Shouldn't "bling-bling" just rest in peace?
mouse potato (n) 1993: slang: a person who spends a great deal of time using a computer
ringtone (n) 1983: the sound made by a cell phone to signal an incoming call
spyware (n) 1994: software that is installed in a computer without the user's knowledge and transmits information about the user’s computer activities over the Internet
soul patch (n) 1991: a small growth of beard under a man’s lower lip
supersize (vt) 1994: to increase considerably the size, amount, or extent of
labelmate (n) 1981: a singer or musician who records for the same company as another
wave pool (n) 1977: a large swimming pool equipped with a machine for making waves
drama queen (n) 1979: a person given to often excessively emotional performances or reactions
unibrow (n) 1988: a single continuous brow resulting from the growing together of eyebrows
manga (n) 1951: a Japanese comic book or graphic novel
qigong (n) 1974: an ancient Chinese healing art involving meditation, controlled breathing, and movement exercises
agritourism (n) 1979: the practice of touring agricultural areas to see farms and often to participate in farm activities
big-box (adj) 1990: of, relating to, or being a large chain store having a boxlike structure
aquascape (n) 1954: 1: a scenic view of a body of water 2: an area having a natural or constructed aquatic feature (as a pond or fountain)
polyamory (n) 1994: the state or practice of having more than one open romantic relationship at a time
sandwich generation (n) 1987: a generation of people who are caring for their aging parents while supporting their own children
bling-bling also bling (n) 1999: flashing jewelry worn esp. as an indication of wealth; broadly: expensive and ostentatious possessions
bodyboard (n) 1982: a short surfboard on which the rider lies prone
degenderize (vt) 1987: to eliminate any reference to a specific gender in (as a word, text, or act)
dreamscape (n) 1948: a dreamlike usu. surrealistic scene; also: a painting of a dreamscape
empty suit (n) 1950: an ineffectual executive
google (vt) 2001: to use the Google search engine to obtain information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web
himbo (n) 1988: an attractive but vacuous man
text messaging (n) 1982: the sending of short text messages electronically esp. from one cell phone to another
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