January 2010
16 posts
8 tags
Chillseeker
N. ‘chil-see-kur One who tempts fate and invites catarrh by exercising outdoors in sub-freezing temperatures, or by wearing summery clothing in wintry weather (like the exhibitionists who wear shorts in February or skimpy dresses at blizzard fêtes). Usage: It was fourteen degrees, and even the birds had tucked themselves into building cornices, wrapping their wings tightly around...
5 tags
Socialicing
N. ‘so-sha-‘ly-sing Seeing friends and going to gatherings and social events even when the weather is bitterly cold, with whipping winds, temperatures below freezing, and/or raging snowstorms. (Also v. to socialice) Usage: Troy gamely traveled 65 blocks north to see friends for drinks, even though it was 14 degrees and the streets were mostly empty. His impulse to socialice was...
7 tags
Tablust
N. ‘tab-lust The all-consuming desire to own an Apple Tablet. (Also V., to long for an Apple Tablet) Usage: On the day of the State of the Union address, political news was overshadowed by gushing business reports from tablusting tech geeks and gadgetophiles, who raved about advance buzz on the approaching release of Apple’s coveted new multi-use “iPad” Tablet computer.
6 tags
Fraudminton
N. ‘frod-mit-tun The infuriating game of back-and-forth you play with credit card agencies after your wallet is stolen—in which you call in to announce the theft of your card, cancel the card, and dispute fraudulent purchases; at which point the fraud agents assure you the false charges have been removed and you won’t be liable; at which point they continue to bill you month after...
3 tags
Recognore
V. ‘rek-ig-nor To pretend you don’t see someone you know, when you spot them in a public place and sense they don’t want to be recognized. Usage: Avi ran into his colleague Abby three times that Saturday-once in the morning, when she was bleary-eyed and sweat-pantsed, jogging around the reservoir; once in the afternoon, when he saw her at Cafe Edgar with some guy; and later on...
5 tags
Exeshoetion
N. eks-uh-‘shoo-shun To destroy a fine pair of shoes by wearing them on wet, slushy, snowy days, or by traipsing through puddles or mud. Usage: It had rained that morning, but when the sun came out, Rowan put on his new Tod shoes and went to walk the dog in the park. When the giant animal lunged at a squirrel, pulling his owner off the path, Rowan shrieked as he slid into the wet, muddy...
4 tags
Shoeicide
N. ‘shoo-iss-syd The act of wearing shoes you suspect or know to be excruciatingly painful, either out of vanity or out of foolish hope that, against the odds, they won’t kill your feet. Usage: Letitia wilfully committed shoeicide at the big party, wearing a sleek pair of 5-inch designer heels she’d bought on the way over. Before she’d been there for an hour, her toes...
7 tags
Telaversion
N. ‘tel-a-vur-zhun A profound distaste for watching television…particularly TV news in the wake of galling elections…but also more generally. Usage: After George W. Bush was named president, Olivia didn’t watch TV news for eight years because it made her sick to hear his agenda endlessly, respectfully discussed. After Obama won the presidency, she resumed watching. But...
7 tags
Ignaminy
N. ‘ig-nah-min-nee Having a name that means something vulgar or embarrassing in a foreign language. (Also ‘igname (n)- such a name; and ignaminious (adj.); the quality of such a name) Usage: Nick and Petra had an odd time in Cairo. When they met strangers in the market, people would often start giggling. A tourist finally let them in on the ignaminy of their names. “Nick”...
3 tags
Vealcake
N. ‘veel-kayk Handsome young person of appealing and/or muscular build, more boyish than manly in appearance. (Particularly an actor who plays teen roles that call attention to his physique.) Usage: When “High School Musical” came out in 2006, its male star, Zac Efron, was a clean-cut teenager. A year later, Rolling Stone served him up on the cover as prime vealcake in a...
6 tags
Charitext
V. ‘chayr-it-text To donate money to a charitable cause via text message. (Also N., a test message that doubles as a charitable donation.) Usage: When the earthquake hit Haiti, tens of thousands of concerned people charitexted to the Red Cross, sending relief money by punching the code 90999 and texting “HAITI,” which immediately released aid funds.
7 tags
Phonate
V. ‘fo-nayt To donate money to a charitable cause by landline or cellphone, including by text message (q.v. charitext). Usage: Back when the Christmas tsunami struck, David phonated $50, calling the number he saw on CNN, and donating to Doctors WIthout Borders.
5 tags
Parahaling
Ger. ‘payr-a-hay-ling Things smokers do to mimic and replace the addictive aspects of inhaling a cigarette, when they quit. Usage: Carter had tried to quit smoking ten times, cold turkey. But this time he weaned himself off cigarettes by parahaling—chewing Nicorette constantly to curb his nicotine cravings, and devising other smoking substitutes, like popping open a can of club soda when...
8 tags
Drudgeon
N. ‘drud-zhun Feigned outrage affected by political hacks at Drudge-style items about their foes, which they use to block their rivals’ policies and further their own agendas. Usage: In January, Republican leaders seized upon a sentence in a new book that embarrassed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and used it as an excuse to blast Reid with drudgeon and demand his ouster. They...
5 tags
Feline Alarm Clock
N. ‘fee-lyn-uh-‘larm-klok A cat that wakes its owner by jumping on his or her face, or insistently meowing. (Also, canine alarm clock for dogs that start barking and jumping on the bed at dawn or thereabouts. Cf Russian, sobachii budil’nik). Usage: Dylan forgot to set his cellphone to wake him at 7:30 on the day of the big meeting, but luckily, the feline alarm clock kicked in...
5 tags
