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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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Fun with New Words
Desne
1
2008/12/23 - 1:49pm

Hello and happy holidays!

I read the article, Buzzwords for 2008. The list of new words made me think of one I coined in 1976 (to the best of my knowledge, this coining is accurate): "traumatose." This is "traumatize" + "comatose," the way I felt as a young, exhausted, new college grad breaking off my wedding engagement.

Everyone with whom I've shared this word connects immediately! Anyone who's lived long enough has had an experience for which this word is perfect. Death, divorce, job loss, betrayal, violence all seem to qualify. Words are inadequate at these times, and the ol' brain can just leave you in the lurch.

Best,
Desne

Guest
2
2008/12/24 - 9:52am

Desne, it's always nice to see people coming up with great new words to express how they feel when the chips are down, rather than resort to those common four-letter-word epithets! If I get frostbite on my toes I'll use the word traumatoes.

johng423
129 Posts
(Offline)
3
2009/05/18 - 12:35pm

At times in college, we would have a day so wet from rain, and with "oil on the puddles in taffeta patterns" (as Joni Mitchell sang in her song, Michael from Mountains), that one could easily lose one's footing and fall. A friend referred to such days as "slickery", a combination of "slick" and "slippery" (and I like the connection to "slicker" as well).

Guest
4
2009/06/04 - 4:50pm

Then there is the term "wuss."

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