Nil by Mouth

the entry of the moment

the entry of the moment is going to have to be about words.

firstly, the OED (that’s the Oxford English Dictionary for those of you not in the lexicographic know) has decided to add doh to their next dictionary printing. someone i was talking with last night made the astute observation that they always throw in these “controversial” pop-culture words to get some press for the otherwise slightly, err, dry dictionary biz.

secondly, my boss used, in absentia in an IM the other day. that’s a really cool word. the project of the week is to causally toss that sucker into a conversation. stay tuned for continuing coverage…

thirdly, the m-w word of the day is a good one:

fungible • \FUN-juh-bul\ • (adjective)

1 : being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another equal part or quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation

*2 : interchangeable

Example sentence:

“The setting is Ireland in the 1950s, but, a cynical reader might reflect, this sort of fiction is so common that the characters will be completely fungible.” (Susan Isaacs, The New York Times Book Review, December 1990)

i’m not really going to try that one in conversation though.

more later//

• Jun 15