New Words Make Dictionary Cut

Here's a news item for word lovers: The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary has added its 2009 entries. Nearly one hundred new words have now been made Webster official.

So what's new? Here's a sample:

earmark: "a provision in Congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization" (who knew this originated with those tags my father-in-law puts in his cattle's ears?)
locavore: "one who eats foods grown locally whenever possible" (I thought it meant someone who ate large trains)
green collar: "of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment; as in, green–collar jobs" (or someone who doesn't do laundry well)
missalette: "a shortened form of a missal published periodically for congregational use" (I didn't know what a missal was, so I had to look it up. It's "a book containing all that is said or sung at mass during the entire year." Does that mean we Protestants will soon be getting "bulletinettes"?)
staycation: "a vacation spent at home or nearby" (formerly known as "a day or two off")

There's lots more. You can learn why you can have a shawarma for lunch, but why a pescatarian wouldn't join you. You can learn about how you can snack on a goji and an acai if you ever go to a flash mob.

And you can ponder the questions: "Hmmm, is BoundlessLine technically a vlog? Are there any sock puppets on BoundlessLine? And, if there are, are they frenemies?

Oh, and Tom will be happy. Mondegreen made the cut too.

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Comments

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1. khalil said the following at 12:35 PM on Jul 10:

I can have shawarma every day for lunch ;) But...you've never had a shawarma until you've had a sujuk shawarma.

2. Louise from Chicago said the following at 12:46 PM on Jul 10:

Is "missallette" actually new?

I remember hearing that one thirty-five years ago.

3. Carol said the following at 1:32 PM on Jul 10:

I wonder if the shawarma is related to the shaorma I ate in Romania. It was made with pork and cabbage, mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Slightly overwhelming, but still good.

4. Bethany D. said the following at 5:51 PM on Jul 10:

Lol, I read your alternate interpretation of locavores and the first thing that popped into my head was "Chugga-chugga-chew-chew!"

5. M.L. said the following at 9:32 PM on Jul 10:

As a tea fanatic, I highly recommend goji green tea. It's delicious.

6. Sarah (RS) said the following at 11:29 PM on Jul 10:

I'm surprised earmarks didn't make it in before. But "flash mob" sounds like some of the events in the movie "Step Up 2."

7. Frazer said the following at 4:59 AM on Jul 11:

LOL formerly known as" a day or two off"

I luvit!!!

8. Vincenzo said the following at 2:37 PM on Jul 11:

How about redefining a few old words?

Stimulus-Any wasteful allocation of financial resources by an elected or governing body for the futile purpose of reversing years of foolish and highly leveraged spending.

9. Kate said the following at 12:45 PM on Jul 14:

I had to laugh when I saw "shawarma"! I'm spending several weeks in Israel for missions and I recently had my first shawarma made by my host mother! THAT'S the real shawarma! :-)