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Invent a new word.

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Azimov | 03:51 Sun 04th Apr 2004 | Phrases & Sayings
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What would be the best way to invent a brand new word and have it so widely accepted that it makes it into the dictionary within say, a year or two? Any ideas? Incidentally, I heard that the word 'Quiz' is an example of just such an endeavour, but that may be an urban legend..
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Avatar Image Quizmonster
In case you have not heard the details of the supposed invention of the word 'quiz', you'll find the story by clicking http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-qui1.htm That website - run by Michael Quinion, a noted etymologist/lexicographer - dismisses the tale out of hand. So, too, does The Oxford English Dictionary, the 'bible' in such matters. It merely says the origin is obscure. The reason I've suggested the site, is that the myth as to how 'quiz' supposedly originated certainly seems to be a potential method of achieving what you want. Give it a go!
06:26 Sun 04th Apr 2004
Avatar Image jjf2003
New words or phrases (that become widely used) are invented by journalists, columnists, scriptwriters and authors, so the answer is: get published, and it might catch on.
09:27 Sun 04th Apr 2004
Avatar Image Ember
Just invent one and use it often it will catch on. My new word is "Kamerooing" i.e. adjusting speed rapidly between speed cameras, do you think it will catch on!
12:29 Sun 04th Apr 2004
Avatar Image IndieSinger
A lot of new words are neologisms, especially in the world of science. So grab, say, a Latin prefix, maybe an Old English infix and even a Greek suffix and away you go! Teleology (the study of seeing far?!)
16:23 Sun 04th Apr 2004
Avatar Image IndieSinger
Actually it appears I wasn't the first to think of that one. Balls. How about Webism? A term coined solely to explain something on the internet (blogging, for example). Just googled that, and it's already an art movement based around computer and digital art.

I give up!
16:29 Sun 04th Apr 2004
Avatar Image thewillow
I like testiculating - waving your arms round and talking b*llocks.
16:29 Sun 04th Apr 2004
Avatar Image anthomson
The real trick is to invent a new word that isn't based on any existing words. One article I read suggested that there are actually very few truely new words. Most 'new' words that make it in to the dictionary are based on one or more existing words. Curiously the example they gave of a true new word was 'strimmer', but isn't this just a variant of trimmer ?
18:27 Sun 04th Apr 2004
Avatar Image IndieSinger
Yes I agree, strimmer is simply a contraction of grass trimmer.
21:40 Sun 04th Apr 2004
Avatar Image mucko
whatever you do - don't try to invent words like that tw*t Peter Andre! C'mon what the hell is insania?!
14:53 Tue 06th Apr 2004
Avatar Image Azimov
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All good answers folks, but I should have put the emphasis on the "having it accepted" part of the question. Making up a new word should really be the easy part. How about something like "Rojintsed"? I made that by randomly tapping the keys (in much the same way as they do in movies while pretending to type proficiently) then modifying the result, removing unlikely letter combinations to produce what might pass as a "real" word. Getting it out there and into the dictionary is an altogether more difficult proposition! My guess is that applying a meaning to your new word is the key. I'm sure there are many concepts or situations that have no word to describe them. Perhaps that would be a good place to start, what do you think?
12:53 Wed 07th Apr 2004
Avatar Image Azimov
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Sorry to be a pain for posting so often, but I just thought of one such situation! What would you call that blister you get on your thumb when your lighter refuses to light more often than one out of twenty attempts? Surely that's a situation that deserves a word!
15:54 Wed 07th Apr 2004
Avatar Image orangepeel
a litster of course or nolitster as it didn't light or whatabout lightster - oh dear I have a lightster
13:41 Fri 09th Apr 2004
Avatar Image Azimov
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Or a "Blighter" perhaps?
17:54 Fri 09th Apr 2004
Avatar Image pj_
Please can somebody come up with a good meaning for the word 'Frib'? It rolls off the tongue nicely and but as far as I know doesn't mean anything. Yet.
08:50 Thu 15th Apr 2004
Avatar Image Azimov
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FRIB: That uncomfortable, ticklish feeling you get on the tip your tongue after blowing a rasperry.
11:30 Thu 15th Apr 2004
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It's taken almost 4 years to come up with another, but how about a word describing that paranoid feeling gentlemen get (specifically when in company), they get the sudden dread that their flies are wide open?
03:10 Sat 01st Mar 2008

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