I have to admit, I didn't know the definition of pescatarian or some of the other 100 new words that Merriam-Webster will be adding this year. I suppose they have to add something so they can sell the new book or cd-roms.
http://www.kptv.com/education/16808112/detail.html#-
100 New Words
Ohhh Dark Energy. Sounds so ominous. And then the definition ruins it.
I love the word Racino. Horse track with slot machines.
Also, I find it amusing that they're adding subprime now that the realestate market has gone under.
Blisspath wrote:I suppose they have to add something so they can sell the new book or cd-roms.
http://www.kptv.com/education/16808112/detail.html#-
Well yeah they have to keep selling new ones or these they'd go out of business. But also language evolves over time. Some words we use on a daily basis didn't exist or had a different meaning only 30 years ago. If we used a dictionary from the 1800's, it would be boarderline useless.
Yeah, I don't really see how one could maintain a dictionary without adding new words every year - and I'm not even talking from a business perspective, I just mean that it'd quickly become obsolete. Sure, some of those words are frivalous, especially the more slang terms, but come on, you have to include things like dark energy, which is an important part of modern astrophysics.
"Air quotes"?! Everyone involved should now lose four fingers!
I've always found it fascinating to follow this area. Any other Scrabble players here?
I have a good vocabulary but I suck at scrabble.