Not a neologism, but I like "Bowdlerize". Also, to describe a woman, "spathic" and sesquipedalian, which is pure onomatopoeia. On Wednesday, August 20, 2003, at 12:29 PM, charles_sumner at harvard.edu wrote: > At 04:35 PM 8/19/2003 -0700, you wrote: >> Anyone else have any cool or interesting words they like? > > My favorite neologism (new word) is retronym. > > Retronym is the term for an existing word or figure of speech which > has been modified to distinguish itself from a newer variant (usually > due to technological advances). The best known examples of retronyms > are acoustic guitar, analog watch, and manual typewriter. Those items > were previously just called guitars, watches, and typewriters until > the new versions came along and people needed to call the older items > something new to differentiate them from the new items. > > And I'm fond of a neologism that I made up: Triskember > > Triskember is the mythical thirteenth month which, like tomorrow, > never actually arrives. It's when my projects will actually be be > completed. And for the linguists in the audience... Yes, I know that > December would be "10th month" and is from Latin roots meaning that > the mythical next month should be Undecember (or Tredecember for 13), > but that doesn't sound nearly as cool as Triskember and it's not my > fault that the month names and numbering systems aren't aligned. > > > Charley Sumner charles_sumner at harvard.edu > > An open mind is one thing, letting geese > run around in there is completely different. >