Lake Superior State University published its annual list of “Banished Words” that meet the institute’s qualifications of “Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.”

Recipients of the honor of being shuffled out the lexicon door are

• SHOVEL-READY
• TRANSPARENT/TRANSPARENCY
• CZAR
• TWEET
• APP
• SEXTING
• FRIEND (as a verb)
• TEACHABLE MOMENT
• IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES….
• STIMULUS
• TOXIC ASSETS
• TOO BIG TO FAIL
• BROMANCE
• CHILLAXIN’
• OBAMA-prefix or roots?

Of course, “teachable moment” holds a special place in my heart, by which I mean “stuffed in the Devil’s mouth next to Judas Iscariot”. I do, however, like the recently-promoted-to-verb “friend” as I believe most words could become verbs if we encouragemented it.

surrender monkey

concern troll

fantabulation

badinage

ignivomous

presenteeism

Jante Law

lebensmüde

weltschmerz

adelphopoiesis

henotheism

panentheism

“low hanging fruit”

Cadaver Synod

look askance at

yar

maquillage

salsa vs. relish vs. chow-chow vs. chutney

defecation reflex

adit

alar

bugbear

clepsydra

jaunty purse

creole vs. cajun vs. pidgin

elegy vs. eulogy

Poe’s Law

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