Birds are singing, the sun is shining and I am joyful first thing in the morning without caffeine. Why you ask? Because it is Word of the Year time (or WOTY as we refer to it around the office). Every year the New Oxford American Dictionary prepares for the holidays by making its biggest announcement of the year. This announcement is usually applauded by some and derided by others and the ongoing conversation it sparks is always a lot of fun, so I encourage you to let us know what you think in the comments.
Without further ado, the 2009 Word of the Year is: unfriend.
unfriend – verb – To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook.
As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.”
“It has both currency and potential longevity,” notes Christine Lindberg, Senior Lexicographer for Oxford’s US dictionary program. “In the online social networking context, its meaning is understood, so its adoption as a modern verb form makes this an interesting choice for Word of the Year. Most “un-” prefixed words are adjectives (unacceptable, unpleasant), and there are certainly some familiar “un-” verbs (uncap, unpack), but “unfriend” is different from the norm. It assumes a verb sense of “friend” that is really not used (at least not since maybe the 17th century!). Unfriend has real lex-appeal.”
Wondering what other new words were considered for the New Oxford American Dictionary 2009 Word of the Year? Check out the list below.
Technology
hashtag – a # [hash] sign added to a word or phrase that enables Twitter users to search for tweets (postings on the Twitter site) that contain similarly tagged items and view thematic sets
intexticated – distracted because texting on a cellphone while driving a vehicle
netbook – a small, very portable laptop computer with limited memory
paywall – a way of blocking access to a part of a website which is only available to paying subscribers
sexting – the sending of sexually explicit texts and pictures by cellphone
Economy
freemium – a business model in which some basic services are provided for free, with the aim of enticing users to pay for additional, premium features or content
funemployed – taking advantage of one’s newly unemployed status to have fun or pursue other interests
zombie bank – a financial institution whose liabilities are greater than its assets, but which continues to operate because of government support
Politics and Current Affairs
Ardi – (Ardipithecus ramidus) oldest known hominid, discovered in Ethiopia during the 1990s and announced to the public in 2009
birther – a conspiracy theorist who challenges President Obama’s birth certificate
choice mom – a person who chooses to be a single mother
death panel – a theoretical body that determines which patients deserve to live, when care is rationed
teabagger -a person, who protests President Obama’s tax policies and stimulus package, often through local demonstrations known as “Tea Party” protests (in allusion to the Boston Tea Party of 1773)
Environment
brown state – a US state that does not have strict environmental regulations
green state – a US state that has strict environmental regulations
ecotown - a town built and run on eco-friendly principles
Novelty Words
deleb – a dead celebrity
tramp stamp – a tattoo on the lower back, usually on a woman
Notable Word Clusters for 2009:
| Twitter related: Tweeps Tweetup Twitt Twitterati Twitterature Twitterverse/sphere Retweet Twibe Sweeple Tweepish Tweetaholic Twittermob Twitterhea |
Obamaisms: Obamanomics Obamarama Obamasty Obamacons Obamanos Obamanation Obamafication Obamamessiah Obamamama Obamaeur Obamanator Obamaland Obamalicious Obamacles Obamania Obamacracy Obamanon Obamalypse |
Comments
Margie said :
Nov 16, 2009
You left off my favourite Twitterism: Sh*tter (noun) One who posts every passing random thought (and action) to his Twitter stream.
Gregory Korte said :
Nov 16, 2009
Why not “defriend”?
Deb said :
Nov 16, 2009
You’re kidding about “teabagger,” right?! Perhaps you should better understand the slang use of the term before you perpetuate the smearing of the Tea Party Patriots by continuing to use this disgusting reference.
NorthernPaladin said :
Nov 16, 2009
I think you need to do a little more research about what “teabagging” means. Unless you meant to post a purposefully derogatory term.
Mike said :
Nov 16, 2009
Following up from NorthernPaladin — Teabagger and Teabagging specifically means something else (placing one’s scrotum on an unsuspecting or disabled person’s face / eyes / mouth in a demeaning way). Anti-tax folks have been called “teabaggers” by members of the press as an offhanded insult that mainstream viewers may not get… I wouldn’t think that it would actually be included in the list, especially if “Tea-partier” is not.
Todd Harrison said :
Nov 16, 2009
You should consider adding “Obamican” to your list of Obamisms. THe definition is a Republican who votes for or otherwise supports Obama.
You can Google it, or just go to Obamican.org, or the Urban DIctionary, or even visit Thenation.com.
Please don’t associate the Tea Party movement with teabaggers. There is as much equivalence as there is between Oxford and Ford automobiles.
Sara said :
Nov 16, 2009
If you want to be considered wordsmiths, then you should understand their meaning before you publish them. Would you make the “n word” one of your words of the year because you heard someone on tv say it and therefore it must be okay? Of course not. The term “teabagger” is just as insulting and demeaning to members of the Tea Party movement.
Josh said :
Nov 16, 2009
New Oxford *American* Dictionary.
I feel better now.
concerned citizen said :
Nov 16, 2009
Mike is 100% correct. Wikipedia offers a detailed description of the process, but Wikipedia is not a very credible source and should not be treated as such.
However, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has provided a *legal definition* of the term in a 2006 which coincides with Mike’s explanation as a demeaning sexual act in the case of Cioffi v. Averill Park High School, et al., No. 04-5593-cv (2nd Cir. Apr. 4, 2006).
It states that teabagging is:
“A hazing act — indeed a form of sexual assault — during which the victim is pinned down on the floor by several players while another player rubs his genitalia in the victim’s face.”
Oxford appears to espouse an incredibly negative view of people expressing political dissent by referring to them in such a clearly derogatory manner.
Michael said :
Nov 16, 2009
They do good work..
Keith Smith said :
Nov 16, 2009
So much for scholarship. “Teabagger” is a slang sexual term perpetuated by openly gay correspondent Anderson Cooper of CNN.
Please state your definitions correctly.
Thomas Stewart said :
Nov 16, 2009
Michelle Malkin — Dear Oxford University Press: Get a clue about “teabagging”
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/16/dear-oxford-university-press-get-a-clue-about-teabagging/
Buck Turgidson said :
Nov 16, 2009
It simply amazes me how ignorant some people are when they make obnoxious comments. I’ll be watching Fox News Channel for more on this.
In fact, the term “teabagger” has been around since the earliest days of “TEA PARTIES” and initially used by the organizers–long before the media adopted the term. In fact, they were quite proudly proclaiming that they would “teabag Obama before he teabags you”–it’s open to interpretation as to whether they had any idea of the colloquial use of the term. In any case, once the media publicized the issue and connected the term to the slang, the organizers did a 180 and stopped using it in their publicity. Either way, the term is richly deserved, as the comments here clearly attest.
Maren said :
Nov 16, 2009
The correct word for this action is “defriend” and not “unfriend.”
Gary Teal said :
Nov 16, 2009
This is disappointing to say the least.
Seems to me that the senior lexicographer should be aware of the various connotations of words that it proposes as words of the year. Anyone unaware that “teabagger” has been used to ridicule Tea Party activists is not qualified to even be on the staff, much less in charge. You needn’t be an activist, much less on one side or the other, to be aware of this. Google it just once, for heaven’s sake.
And then this gem: “It assumes a verb sense of “friend” that is really not used (at least not since maybe the 17th century!).” That verb sense of the word friend doesn’t need to be assumed – it’s been in widespread use for many years, in the same context. I haven’t heard “unfriend” myself, though that’s not proof of anything. I have heard and used “defriend” many times. “Defriend” connotes reversing a previous action (”friending”), whereas “unfriend” puts me more in mind of an opposite, used in advertising, as with 7Up, the “Uncola”.
This post should be pulled down right now, and rewritten. I’m serious.
malclave said :
Nov 16, 2009
“In fact, the term “teabagger” has been around since the earliest days of “TEA PARTIES” and initially used by the organizers–long before the media adopted the term.”
I wasn’t aware of that. Source?
Amelia said :
Nov 16, 2009
To Megan and Gregory: I have absolutely never heard anyone use the term “defriend” as a substitute for “unfriend,” but I hear people use “unfriend,” “unfriending,” and “unfriended” all the time. Maybe it’s different in different settings.
Frank said :
Nov 16, 2009
About Mrs Malkin’s post. This would, obviously, come from a Fox News collab… (read: skewed)
Kriisi said :
Nov 16, 2009
No, unfriend is definitely more lexy. Defriend misses the whole point and is both boring and uncreative. Unfriend should be compared to undo – which is in social networking exactly what one does. It’s not befriending someone and making acquaintances in reverse, it’s just undoing a function – unhitting the friend button.
StewartIII said :
Nov 16, 2009
NewsBusters: New Ox-Am Dictionary Names ‘Teabagger’ Word of the Year Finalist
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/16/new-ox-am-dictionary-names-teabagger-word-year-finalist
ugg sale boots said :
Nov 16, 2009
argue no more, social networking lexicologists. the Oxford University Press today selected “unfriend” as its word of the year. I would just like to go on record as saying that I backed the right pony. In your face,
Alan said :
Nov 16, 2009
“defriend” is the far more common used term. This is the first I’ve heard “unfriend” actually.
Chris said :
Nov 16, 2009
@Maren – Nobody uses the term ‘defriend’. The word is ‘unfriend’.
As for all the posters complaining about ‘teabagger’ and even going so far as to say it somehow has the same negative meaning as a racial epitaph, @Buck Turgidson is correct. The term wasn’t used by other media outlets until after weeks of constant usage by organizers and Fox News correspondents. As usual you are now trying to rewrite history.
Tastyfish said :
Nov 16, 2009
1. Add another voice of dissent for “it’s DEfriend, not UNfriend”. The prefix ‘de’ sounds more correct as an act of removal (eg delist, decouple) and anyway, no one uses ‘unfriend’.
2. I’m not up to speed on this tea party stuff (Australian). Can you add a ‘colloq’ entry for teabagger and teabagging?
3. An alternative to ‘tramp stamp’ is ‘tart art’!
M. C. Brennan said :
Nov 16, 2009
In the interests of nerdy precision, I must report that “unfriend” didn’t originate with Facebook. People have been “friending” and “unfriending” each other on Livejournal for at least 10 years–the entire Facebook service has only existed for five. The usage probably moved to Facebook in late 2006/early 2007, when many Livejournal users did the same.
I do, however, particularly love the “teabagger” reference. The irate comments, which are equally priceless, conveniently overlook the fact that the movement’s leaders (including its cheerful advocate Fox News) popularized the use of the term “teabagger” to describe Tea Party participants–at least before they figured out it had a second meaning. Also, it’s incorrect to say that “teabagging”–the real one–is by definition a negative act. Like most sexual acts it can be a source of delight or revulsion, depending on the personal tastes of the participants. Instructions are available online, America. Mazel Tov.
Also, is Anderson Cooper openly gay? Openly adorable, sure, but I believe I missed his formal announcement on the matter. Wolf Blitzer’s beard is keeping a suspiciously coy silence as well.
I’m curious when the “#” symbol became known as “hash”, though. For at least the last 50 years, the Bell System (and its descendants) have called that the “pound symbol”–for the rest of us, it’s been the “number sign”, as in “we’re #1″. My understanding was that “hash” was either something you do to potatoes or something you find in abundance at Willie Nelson’s place.
Mark Mandel said :
Nov 16, 2009
Christine Lindberg is not with it when she says that “unfriend” “assumes a verb sense of “friend” that is really not used (at least not since maybe the 17th century!).” At least in my circle of LJ acquaintanceship, it’s common to say things like “If you get an account I can friend you and then you can read my flocked posts.”
Sue said :
Nov 16, 2009
This word does not apply to me, nor does it apply to the millions of people who do not subscribe to Facebook or Twitter. (I also find it ironic as all of the individuals I know to have Facebook admit to “friending” others who they couldn’t honestly call a “friend” — there are friends, and then there are Facebook friends, I suppose.) Living in the Stone Age isn’t so bad; if I ever needed to ‘unfriend’ anyone, I guess I could stop writing them letters =p
Personally, I think ‘Ardi’ should have won.
bemusedoutsider said :
Nov 17, 2009
‘Tea Party person’ is harder to say than ‘Teabagger’, and they used teabags as a symbol for a while: patriotic and logical. Cooper and others put a nasty meaning on the term — a meaning which most of the Tea Party people had probably never heard of nor practiced.
I hope the nasty meaning will be forgotten, or will simply make people think that Cooper and their other critics are dirty minded. Certainly it’s not fair to attack political opponents by dirty name-calling.
Edna said :
Nov 17, 2009
I also use “defriend” and have never heard of “unfriend.” For the record, I’m 24 and use Facebook most regularly. I first signed onto Facebook when I was 19, right when it opened up to my college. I live in Los Angeles.
Surely the usage “defriend” and “unfriend” must break down along some definable lines like age, region or primary social network. It’d be an interesting thing to study.
Why not make the word of the year “friend” as verb? I guess it just doesn’t sound as quirky as “unfriend” but at least it’s more widely recognized as a real and correct word. And it has real longevity, I think, whereas who knows whether unfriend or defriend will win out at the end?
rommy said :
Nov 17, 2009
Defriend has been the commonly-used verbiage for several years.
asmilwho said :
Nov 17, 2009
Google hits:
defriend: 46 300
unfriend: 393 000
I guess “unfriend” wins
reader said :
Nov 17, 2009
whoever wrote the definitions needs to research more and do a better job. notable “poor” definitions made more accurate: birther – a person who challenges President Obama’s birth certificate and then labeled as a conspiracy theorist by the media. teabagger -a citizen, who protests Presidents tax policies and stimulus package, often through local demonstrations known as “Tea Party” protests (in allusion to the Boston Tea Party of 1773)
Jenn said :
Nov 17, 2009
Quick points:
1. It should be de-friend, not unfriend. I’ve been using facebook since it began and do not agree with unfriend. (and I guarantee my facebook friends would agree with me)
2. Teabagging already has a definition, what’s the point of trying to take a dirty word and give it a politcal meaning?
3. Tramp stamp is not new and fresh, that has been around since ther early 2000s.
Amy said :
Nov 17, 2009
Yo Chris, I think they are trying to unwrite history.
Cynthia Stephens said :
Nov 17, 2009
Re. the “defriend” versus “unfriend” discussion.
No-one ever came across a “defriendly” person, but an “unfriendly” one – yes!
Eric said :
Nov 17, 2009
While I can understand why “Tea Party Patriots” may not like being referred to as Teabaggers, folks need to remember that the people at Oxford Press do not randomly pick these words or include them for insidious liberal political reasons. These are words that they have picked up based on significant use in the popular press. Oxford doesn’t make they news – they just report it.
Lauren Begley said :
Nov 17, 2009
Past WOTYs have focused on serious and legitimate issues (global warming, high gas prices). The fact that this year’s term is about social media proves that social networking is serious and legitimate. And it’s here to stay. I’ve recently wrote on this topic: http://popculture2point0.wordpress.com/ Let me know what you think!
General Ripper said :
Nov 17, 2009
Chris said :As for all the posters complaining about ‘teabagger’ and even going so far as to say it somehow has the same negative meaning as a racial epitaph, @Buck Turgidson is correct. The term wasn’t used by other media outlets until after weeks of constant usage by organizers and Fox News correspondents. As usual you are now trying to rewrite history.
You’ll never get a job as a fact-checker. The term was not used constantly by organizers. A couple of lone placard holders at Tea Parties inspired lefties in the MSM to run with the smear. Read through these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_protests#Origins_of_Teabagging
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/04/14/teabagging_guide/
Michael said :
Nov 17, 2009
Wow, a lot of upset teabaggers out there, it looks like. Equating that word with the n word is very melodramatic and quite a stretch. And the fact that many of you seem to think Oxford invented the word is more than a little unfortunate.
Larry said :
Nov 17, 2009
Very mature by Michael. Especially considering the links which disprove his and MC Brennan’s bile are in the comment right above his.
What disgusting hateful invective that these people chose to try to propagate.
donna s said :
Nov 17, 2009
You guys can get as huffy as you want about the word teabagger. We all know its crude original definition. But this genie is not going to be stuffed back into the bottle. Members of the so-called “Tea Party” are now and ever shall be referred to as teabaggers and there is not one thing you can do about it. Nothing besides whine and cry that is. Of course, you can call the Commander in Chief and President of our nation any number of vile names, from Hitler to the Anti-Christ, and that is all fine and dandy with you. You can dish it out, but you can’t take it.
Upon Further Review said :
Nov 17, 2009
The editors at Oxford University Press are either tragically unhip or blatantly partisan with their inclusion of the derogatory, offensive and sexually graphic term “teabaggers” as a synonym for average citizens who choose to exercise their First Amendment right to protest government (over)spending.
Who cares if the word is popular with a certain segment of society (i.e., far-left Obama supporters)? Does Oxford also intend to legitimize disparaging terms that are currently popular with the far right, including Obammunism, Kenyan-in-Chief, Marxist Vineyard, President TelePrompTer, and ObaMao?
(Come to think of it, it’s funny how “birther” made the list but not “truther,” a conspiratorial belief system that cost Van Jones his job with the Obama administration.)
Come on, Oxford — as they say in sports, “Call it both ways, ref!”
Rita from San Francisco, CA, USA said :
Nov 17, 2009
Sums up my entire Facebook experience — I ‘unfriended’ all of my FB friends a couple of years ago because it was just so ridiculous to me. And they weren’t all that ‘friendly’ to begin with so I didn’t see the point…
Word Girl said :
Nov 17, 2009
To Donna,
Where have you been for the last 8 years?
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/226breoa.asp
Diane said :
Nov 17, 2009
The reasoning behind “unfriend” as Word of the year is based on a new usage of friend as a verb rather than as an adjective. Not! It is binary IT jargon, like do undo; compile decompile; upload download; and close to befriend unfriend. The lexy is sexy because this IT jargon has entered the common venacular through the ubiquitous uptake of social networking with the variant defriend. Hmmm. Bloggers rule.
Terry Murray said :
Nov 17, 2009
Had to double-check. It *is* the Oxford *American* dictionary…
Hal said :
Nov 17, 2009
Would you unfriend a choice mom with a tramp stamp from a green-state ecotown who was intexicated and sexting while driving to a brown-state rally of birther teabaggers concerned about death panels because that was her idea of being funemployed after losing her job at a zombie bank? Or would you merely think, oh, she should spend more time on her netbook hacking paywalls to fremium sites about delebs? Me, I’d think she has lex-appeal and is just soooooo Ardi#.
Mliss Ristow said :
Nov 17, 2009
I have not heard ‘defriend’ I have heard, use, and do the act of ‘unfriending’. I use FB and SL (SecondLife) and unfriend is the term my circle of acquaintances use. I am sure un or de depends largely on location and social circle.
On another note.. I have heard and used the term tramp stamp since at least the mid 90’s. We (my circle of friends) did not apply it only to a lower back tattoo however. We applied it to any visible tat showing on a female… especially if the female was already otherwise trampy or trashy.
Mark Stiles said :
Nov 17, 2009
Tea bags weren’t invented until the early 1900’s so the argument that “teabaggers” were around during the American revolution is ludicrous.
It is one thing to openly make fun of and criticize someone who has put themselves into the public spotlight but to demean a whole group of private citizens because one does not agree with their politics is both childish and counter productive.
I always find it odd that those on the left (and many on the right) choose to personally attack those that disagree with them and will redouble the personal attack when facts are brought into the discussion.
Anna said :
Nov 17, 2009
Sexting is never used by people who actually engage in the act of sending raunchy pics to each other. It is a term used by teens when deriding adults for the adoption of this media-generated word.
Dimsdale said :
Nov 17, 2009
Well, if you find the derogatory word “teabagger” to be a candidate (even based on faulty information), perhaps you will consider the following:
Obama licker: a member of the media that will only report positive stories about Obama or omit negative ones, despite their newsworthiness.
Obamaroid: one who blindly follows Obama, believing his promises despite repeated failures to honor same.
Ebony said :
Nov 17, 2009
Is this really necessary?
Maddie said :
Nov 17, 2009
If conservatives didn’t have a hissy-fit every time teabagging is used liberals would have gotten over it by now and everybody else would be wondering what the joke was. Now everybody knows what it means. That’s what happens when you’re a whiner.
Anyway, I’d vote for intexticated, even though I never heard it before.
Nat said :
Nov 17, 2009
I’ve never heard of “unfriend” before. Maybe we use “defriend” more in Australia… and sounds much better frankly.
Ashley said :
Nov 18, 2009
@ Upon further review
Call it both ways? They also included “death panels,” a term which is pretty clearly one favored only by far-righters.
Stop playing the victim.
malclave said :
Nov 18, 2009
So, Oxford University Press is just playing partisan politics. It’s okay to use a sexual term to slur conservatives, but not liberals.
I see people are still saying that Tea Party organizers started using the term (for weeks?) before the media and elected Democrats started pushing the slur. Again I ask… source?
Donna said :
Nov 18, 2009
think Teabagger means entirely something different today…..
2009; Fox News Promoted Protest for Lobbiest like Freedom Works
I.C. Bias said :
Nov 18, 2009
Maddie wrote:
“If conservatives didn’t have a hissy-fit every time teabagging is used liberals would have gotten over it by now and everybody else would be wondering what the joke was. Now everybody knows what it means. That’s what happens when you’re a whiner.”
___________________________
*** That’s like saying, “Gee, if African-Americans didn’t keep whining about the N-word, bigots would have stopped using it by now.”
The point is, it doesn’t matter whether complaining about a word gives its users a thrill up their collective leg.
Some words are simply crude and offensive, especially when applied to law-abiding Americans whose greatest “sin” is protesting government policies that they don’t agree with (ooh, isn’t freedom of speech a scary concept to those who crave power?).
If you still don’t get my point, maybe you would if conservatives started referring to female Bill Clinton supporters as “cigar stuffers” or “stainers.”
Emily said :
Nov 18, 2009
My two cents…I have never heard the word “unfriend”. I “defriend” people on facebook.
Russell Cross said :
Nov 18, 2009
Interesting that “defriend” scores fewer Ghits (Google hits) than “unfriend.” It also has a lower Yhit (Yahoo hit) and Bhit (Bing hit – as opposed to a ‘bong hit, which is very different).
Some months back, the UK’s Daily Telegraph was speculating on the candidates for the one millionth English word, and up there was”defriend,” not “unfriend.” The winner turned out to be the arguably unwordy “Web 2.0.”
There may be a geographical element to the use. Perhaps certain countries are more prone to defriend than unfriend; or perhaps certain regions within a country have a preference.
Whatever the numbers say, I’ll stick to defriending – unfriendly as that may seem.
CG said :
Nov 18, 2009
Umm, I believe the term is actually “de-friend”
I’ve never heard anyone use “unfriend”
Seth said :
Nov 18, 2009
If it’s any consolation to those (perhaps ridiculously?) offended by the term “teabagger”….at least you’re considered the one doing the teabagging rather than the one being teabagged (”teabaggee?”).
I’m just saying if you’re that sensative about the issue, maybe this little victory will help you turn that frown upsidedown!
Amy said :
Nov 18, 2009
I’ve been active on social networking sites since long before they were called social networking sites (started off on LiveJournal in 2000) and I’ve used both ‘defriend’ and ‘unfriend’, but in different contexts. I would say ‘defriend’ when I do it to someone else, but ‘unfriend’ if I’m talking about someone doing it to me or a third party.
For example: ‘I had to defriend him, he was trolling my journal’ as opposed to: ‘then seven other people unfriended me, the bastards!’
I would (and have) also use the expression ‘remove from my flist,’ just to be wordy about it.
Bill Warriner said :
Nov 18, 2009
“By and large the literature of a democracy will never exhibit the order, regularity, skill, and art characteristic of aristocratic literature; formal qualities will be neglected or despised. The style will often be incorrect, overburdened, and loose, and almost always strong and bold. Writers will be more anxious to work quickly than to perfect details. Short works will be commoner than long books…. There will be a rude and untutored vigor of thought with great variety and singular fecundity.”
- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1840)
“The genius of democracies is seen not only in the great number of new words introduced but even more in the new ideas they express.”
- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1840)
Defriended said :
Nov 18, 2009
Um…the word is “defriend”, not “unfriend”. You defriend someone on facebook…I have never heard a single person say “I unfriended someone.” Secondly…tea-bagging is not a reference to protesting Obama’s tax policies. It’s the derogatorism for the act of putting one’s own testicles in someones mouth. CNN perpetuated this term as an insult to these people…the word should not be added…unless of course the correct definition is going to be added.
rf7777 said :
Nov 18, 2009
It’s “defriend” and it’s so 2006…
Brian said :
Nov 18, 2009
You all need to get a life.
Mary said :
Nov 18, 2009
Using the term teabagger in regard to Obama’s stimulus package is more than a little suggestive.
rf7777 said :
Nov 18, 2009
And tea-baggers? It refers to participants in a sex act. It was satirically used to describe participants in anti-tax “tea parties” because it was making fun of these people (who were mostly unaware of the meaning.) It’s alternate meaning would only be used tongue in cheek or by an ignorant right winger who thinks it is a great name.
amina said :
Nov 19, 2009
i love this brilliant word and i think it will be successfully word for ever …..
Jon said :
Nov 19, 2009
To everyone offended by the mere consideration of “teabagger”:
A. The term was first used by the “teabaggers” themselves… but this point is unnecessary because:
B. A derogatory word (if you still choose to view it as such) is still a word. Dictionaries are not published so as to flatter and placate the sensibilities of the too-easily-offended, they are published to record the words that are in common and persistent use in the language. Alas, “moron” is a derogatory word to those to whom it applies, and yet it still belongs in the dictionary.
C. The offense given to the teabaggers is nothing compared to the offense given to our ancestors whose actions are trivialized by the comparison. The actual Boston Tea Party participants had a genuine and historically significant beef, whereas the roiled emotions of the recent tea party participants was neither different from, nor more significant than, the anxious worrying of those political-correctness enthusiasts who see threats to civilization lurking in the inadvertenet “hate speech” of preschoolers. And, just like the Leftist PC people, the Rightist tea party folks are driven by the same need to see their paranoia as something heroic and patriotic. Guess what? It ain’t either.
Russell Cross said :
Nov 19, 2009
@John: You hit the proverbial nail on the cranium when you said “Dictionaries are not published so as to flatter and placate the sensibilities of the too-easily-offended, they are published to record the words that are in common and persistent use in the language.” It’s surprising that you should even need to say that on a blog that is overtly about words and their relation to dictionaries.
In a perfect world, all words would have but ONE meaning and folks wouldn’t keep hijacking them and adding a pejorative meaning. Alas, life is much more complex and words have a way of taking on multiple jobs, and folks can take even the most innocent of words and turn them into emotionally laden verbal knives. Even in my lifetime, the word “gay” has been through several iterations of connotation.
Check out the Nov 4th 2009 episode of South Park entitled “The F Word” for a schooling in how words change their connotation – much more entertaining than reading an academic tome on “Profanity and Etymology.”
CsabaTm said :
Nov 19, 2009
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=defriend&word2=unfriend
Derek Blais said :
Nov 19, 2009
DEFRIEND!
[de] from delete
delete + friend = defriend
Russell Cross said :
Nov 20, 2009
@Derek: That’s a great derivation but sounds like folk etymology rather than a true portmanteau word. More likely that it’s a “traditional” construction using the Latin prefix “de-,” which means “away” (same root as “delete” < "de-"=away + "linere"=wipe: literally "to wipe away"), with "friend." But kudos for the suggestion because it does have some merit, if only because one meaning of the prefix "de-" is "delete!"
Dinah Saur said :
Nov 20, 2009
In brief response to all the people who take issue with the term ‘teabagger’ used for participants in the “Tea Party Protests”… Oxford’s job is not to decide what is or is not a derogatory term – their job is to determine what words and phrases are used in what contexts today. Just because teabagging is also a sexual situation one can find themself in doesn’t mean it isn’t equally used in modern culture in the context mentioned here. Because it is.
And on a slightly less professional note: I think it’s a very appropriate term. That is all.
David Hay said :
Nov 21, 2009
In my profession of helping businesses understand their requirements for technology, I am constantly doing battle with those who only see their requirements in terms of technology. The problem with that is that business requirements are fundamentally different from the technology that will help them–this year. By definition, defining the world in terms of current technology is a dead end.
While some technological words describe relatively long-lasting technology, “PCs” for personal computers, etc. Most don’t.
Ok, I’m an old guy who doesn’t do FaceBook, but it seems to me a very particular kind of technology to be endorsed by Oxford’s “Word of the Year” designation. While it may permeate certain segments of the population, I really don’t think it (or any of the technological candidates) should be so endorsed.
(And don’t get me started on this business of using nouns as verbs…)
Hrumph!
Curmudgeon Dave