The Death of Fissiparous and Other Words: A Dictionary of Words & Phrases on the Verge of Extinction

neologism

nee-AW-luh-ji-zuhm

noun

a new word; a new meaning for a word; a new expression; the nonsense word of a psychotic person

1950Arthur C. ClarkeSilence, Please!'I do not. I doubt if such a word exists, and if it does, it shouldn't,' retorted Purvis, with the aplomb of Sir Alan Herbert dropping a particularly revolting neologism into his killing-bottle.1993Victor MilanStar Trek: From the DepthsThe compulsive uttering of numbers, to which I presume your unwieldy neologism refers, is not a syndrome recognized by the Federation Psychiatric Union, Doctor.2000Iain M. BanksLook To WindwardWe are actually considerably less boreable, if I may create a neologism, than the average human.

Labels: Arthur C. Clarke, Iain M. Banks, Victor Milan

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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seppuku

se-PYOO-kyoo

noun

suicide; the suicide ritual of the samurai; hara-kiri

1939Rex StoutSome Buried CeasarMaybe you think they call it hara-kiri, but they don't or at least rarely. They call it seppuku.1975James ClavellShogunWomen committed seppuku only with a knife in the throat.1986John Walter WilliamsHardwiredDaud and I aren't planning to commit seppuku with you, and I don't think the Hetman will, either.1989Iain M. BanksCanal DreamsThe condemned man ate a hearty breakfast. Feast before seppuku.1990Clive CusslerDragonYou will please allow me to save face by committing seppuku.

Labels: Clive Cussler, Iain M. Banks, James Clavell, John Walter Williams, Rex Stout

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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wunderkind

VOON-dur-kint

noun, adjective

a person who achieves success at an early age; a child prodigy

1981Stephen KingCujoAndy Masen was the Maine Attorney General's Wunderkind…1988Iain M. BanksThe Player of GamesOlz Hap the wunderkind had come out of her shell…1991Bret Easton EllisAmerican PsychoIt's got a great keyboard riff and it's the only track on the album produced by wunderkind producer Narada Michael Walden.

Labels: Bret Easton Ellis, Iain M. Banks, Stephen King

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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