'Waterboarding' Among 100 New Words Added to Dictionary
The word for the interrogation technique that simulates drowning—waterboarding—has become so much a part of American conversation that it’s been selected as one of 100 new words added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
John Morse, president and publisher of Merriam-Webster, tells the Associated Press that many of this year’s new words are tied to changes in technology, increasing environmental awareness and aging baby boomers’ concerns about their health.
“These are not new words in the language, by any means,” Morse said. “(But) when words like ‘neuroprotective’ and ‘cardioprotective’ show up in the Collegiate, it’s because we’ve made the judgment that these are not just words used by specialists. … These really are words now likely to show up in The New York Times, in The Wall Street Journal.”
Also on the list of new words for 2009:
Earmark: (third use) a provision in congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization.
Frenemy: someone who acts like a friend but is really an enemy.
Locavore: one who eats foods grown locally.
Vlogs: a blog that contains video material.
Flash mob: a group of people summoned electronically to a designated spot at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing.
Staycation: a vacation spent at home or nearby.
