Invent a Word Contest—2014

We invited you to invent a word. Not just any word. A word that will greatly enhance the English language.

Interestingly, there are words that mean “invented words”; the fancy word is neologism (invented by Thomas Jefferson) and the informal word is sniglet (invented by Rich Hall).

Applicants were asked for the word, a definition, and a sample sentence.

Competition was keen, with many people heeding the call to bring us brilliant neologisms, or sniglets. After careful deliberation, we have selected the best of the best.

The winner receives a free Gotham class, of any type. The finalists get recognition.

Winner

Wimmer

Wimmer describes the ongoing self-pitying ramblings of individuals who complain endlessly about circumstances in their life that they are unwilling to change.

Ellen wimmered on about John and his lack of respect for her and all she has done for him over the last ten years.

Janet Adkins
Niantic, Connecticut

Finalists

Shurf

To stand, watching over someone’s shoulder as he or she surfs the net.

He didn’t notice, but she was shurfing as he scanned his email.

J.H. Walker
Loveland, Colorado

Cannosh

Noun: a snack food containing cannabinoids. Verb: to lightly eat such a snack food.

James giggled uncontrollably as he ate yet another cannosh.

James Barker
Cedar Creek, Texas

Statriotism

Patriotism directed toward one’s home state or state of residence.

The Governor’s economic recovery proposal evoked a strong sense of statriotism among members of both parties.

Carol Scott
Green Bay, Wisconsin

And a special mention for two noble attempts to solve the he/she conundrum:

Thay/Thair/Thay’re

I propose replacing the clumsy “he/she” and “his/her” with “thay/thair/thay’re” as a new grammatically correct form to refer to a singular subject of unknown gender.

Thay wrote thair submission yesterday, and thay’re going to call us next week to find out thair result.

Audrey Hood
Montreal, Quebec

Tsi

Third person singular, gender-neutral pronoun.

When a customer asks you a question, tsi expects you to answer.

Sharon Marchisello
Peachtree City, Georgia