Webster's word czar uploads new text

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The mandala of language continues to fascinate and check out some of the new words listed in Webster's Dictionary. Every one of these words originated with one person. That's right! You, me or anyone can expand the lexicon.

Here is my new word. Zapeutopia. It refers to the mysterious world where those who are "zapped" dwell. Of course we all know what zapped means.

What's your new word?


Webster himself was a great believer in keeping things simple, and it was his idea to "Americanise" many of the spellings that now distinguish the American and English forms of the language. He dropped the "u" from colour and favour and turned centre into center.

That unashamed Americanisation is evident in this year's new words, which will have traditionalists squirming. They include "staycation" for a holiday spent at home and "frenemy" for one who pretends to be a friend but is in fact an enemy.

The green revolution also makes a strong showing, with "locavore" for a person who eats only locally-grown food; carbon footprint as a measure of one's carbon emmissions; and green-collar, referring to jobs designed to help the environment.
Other newcomers

Acai
The small, dark purple, berrylike fruit found in central and south
America has been known by this word since 1868 but its place in the
dictionary has been forced by a recent fad that claims it is an aid to
dieting

Goji
A big year for berries all round, with the dark red mildly tart bruit
of a mainly Asian shrub making its entry thanks to its new popularity as a
flavour in drinks

Haram
Items, usually foods, forbidden under Islamic law

Memory foam
Another recent fad, this time for a mattress that supposedly
remembers the shape of your back

Neuroprotective
One of several new words relating to health and medicine,
it refers to drugs that protect neurons from injury or degeneration

Reggaeton
Another fusion word, in this case relating to the union of rap
and Caribbean rhythms in popular Puerto Rican music