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Neologism

Posted by ESC on January 06, 2003

I came across this work in "Made in America" by Bill Bryson (a Christmas present) and thought it was interesting. Especially meaning No. 2. From Merriam-Webster online:

Main Entry: ne·ol·o·gism
Pronunciation: nE-'ä-l&-"ji-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: French néologisme, from ne- + log- + -isme -ism
Date: 1800
1 : a new word, usage, or expression
2 : a meaningless word coined by a psychotic
- ne·ol·o·gis·tic /-"ä-l&-'jis-tik/ adjective

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