THE YEAR IN WORDS

new term naming: chain mail, malice

Chain Malice^™

(CHAIN MAL-iss)

Description:

The need to create suffering by forwarding chain mail. Or to punish the person who hooks one into a chain. A hyperbolic term that can be used to bring a little lightness to addressing issues involving chain mail senders and recipients.

Usage Sample:

Alan has chain malice toward Becca, who keeps sending him emails that promise five years of bad luck if they're not forwarded to at least five people.

Inspired by:

The Express Tribune with The International Herald Tribune / "A Friend of/in Pakistan?"

(Photo credit: The Age)

new word naming: dementia, marital

Wedmentia^™

(wed-MEN-shuh)

Definition:

A type of "dementia" that some people claim their spouse has after they wed, when the honeymoon is over. May include losses of concentration, memory, and judgment that are unrelated to a medical condition. Can result in texting co-workers during intimate moments, forgetting to perform routine chores, or, in extreme cases, infidelity.

Sample Usage:

Jordana made light of her affair by saying she was suffering from wedmentia, but deep down she felt horrible about it.

Inspired by:

NPR / All Things Considered / "Can Social Media Break Up a Marriage?"

(Photo Credit: Vator News)

new word naming: hysteria, must buy

Buysteria^™

(bye-STAIR-ee-uh)

Definition:

Hysteria over buying. Commonly diagnosed in hoilday shoppers and/or shopaholics.

Sample Usage:

Every year on Black Friday, Drew has a fit of buysteria.

Inspired by:

Detroit Free Press / "Doorbuster Black Friday Shoppers Make Their Own Histories"

(Photo Credit: The Big Blog)

new word naming: dog, pessimistic

Pessimutt^™

(PEHS-uh-mutt)

Defintion:

A pessimistic mutt, such as a dog prone to negative thinking or despair. A slangy word, used to bring a little humor to talk of a sad pooch – or employed more sarcastically, as a doggy derogaterm.

Sample Usage:

The Morrisons got upset when their pet sitter referred to their lovely dog Barkley as a pessimutt.

Inspired by:

Los Angeles Times / Booster Shots / "Is Your Dog a Pessimist or an Optimist? It Could Explain His Behavior, Researchers Say"

 (Photo Credit: The Sun/UK)

new word naming: bachelor, eternal, vampire, werewolf

Superbacheloral^™

(soo-per-BASH-uh-ler-uhl)

 

Definition:

The quality of being both supernatural and super bachelorlike – as occurs in otherworldly males, such as vampires or werewolves who are forever on the prowl. Or: The quality of mortal men who are eternal bachelors, with lifestyles that are often either super sloppy or super stylish. 

Sample Usage:

Heddie doesn't want to go out with Frank, because she thinks he's superbacheloral and will never marry.

Inspired by:

MTV / "Cosmo Announces Their Bachelor of the Year...Here Are Some of Our Faves!"

(Photo Credit: HBO television show "True Blood" – image of vampire Eric Northman)

Talk About Toxic!: New Terms for Toxic People and Their Conversations

Talk About Toxic!

New Terms for Toxic People and Their Conversations

  

The term toxic people has become so popular, it's used in news articles across the world.

If you've somehow escaped hearing about toxic people, it refers to those who poison others' moods and self-esteem with their energy-sucking negativity.

To help identity toxic people and their conversations (and to bring some humor to this noxious subject), The Year in Words absorbed the names of conventional toxins and poisons, and spit out the new terms below.

Here's a little taste of who and what to avoid:

 

Funguycide^™ (FUN-gie-side) 

 A person who kills or limits the personal growth of a "fun guy." Not related to the fungicide that the guy may use on his athlete's foot. 

Strictwhine^™ (STRICT-whine) 

 A conversation strictly for the purposes of whining. May cause the listener to hunch over in pain. Compare to strictnine, which can cause a poisoning victim's back to arch.

Muster Gasp^™ (MUSS-ter gasp) 

When someone musters a gasp at a new idea that they hope will die. A toxic tactic that usually works within 12 hours. More of a drama queen maneuver than anything to do with the use of real mustard gas.

Artcynic^™ (ART-SIN-ick) 

 A killer of the artistic spirit, who views art as selfish and valueless. Compare to the even more awful arsenic, which could kill the humans who create art.

Botalks^™ (BOH-toks) 

 Deathly boring conversations about Botox. Can put anyone's face in danger of wrinkles, due to movement. Or lead to venomous accounts of recent injections appearing in a gossip rag.

 

(Photo Credits (top to bottom): Poison Ivy from the film "Batman & Robin," Sodahead,  Talking True Blue)

©2010 The Year in Words

new word naming: narcissist, snarky

Snarkissist^™

(SNARK-ih-sist)

Definition:

A snarky narcissist. Could be a great professional comedian, a tedious conversation partner, or both. If it's any consolation, she'd probably rather pick on herself than you.

Sample Usage:

Tomas was on yet another long, unpleasant date, with yet another long-winded snarkissist.

Inspired by:

The Globe and Mail / "'Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work': Joan of Snark, Warts and All"

(Photo Credit: New Haven Register)