Word of the Day
screaming-meemies
noun
extreme nervousness; anxiety; hysteria.
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Why Dictionary.com chose screaming-meemies
More about screaming-meemies
- Screaming-meemies was first recorded in 1925–30 as a World War I army slang term for a type of German rocket that made a loud noise in flight.
- Screaming-meemies expanded in meaning to refer to battle fatigue as well as to the state of drunkenness or even hysteria.
- Screaming-meemies was formed by way of reduplication with an alteration of the word screaming, and possibly influenced by the French name Mimi.
EXAMPLES OF SCREAMING-MEEMIES
- The horror movie gave me the screaming-meemies, causing me to jump at every little sound and cling to my friend in fear.
- The dark and eerie forest triggered his worst fears, sending him into a state of screaming-meemies as he imagined all sorts of terrifying scenarios lurking in the shadows.
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Why Dictionary.com chose bloviate
More about bloviate
- Bloviate was first recorded in 1850–55.
- Bloviate is an Americanism, formed from an alteration of the verb blow with an older informal meaning of “to boast.”
- Bloviate was popularized again in the 1920s in connection with the 29th U.S. President Warren G. Harding, who was known for his ornate and often incomprehensible writing.
EXAMPLES OF BLOVIATE
- During the political debate, the candidate continued to bloviate about his accomplishments without offering any substantial evidence.
- The professor’s lectures were often filled with bloviating, making it difficult for the students to stay engaged.
multiverse
noun
a collection of linked fictional settings composed of multiple alternate dimensions, different timelines, etc.
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Why Dictionary.com chose multiverse
More about multiverse
- Multiverse was coined by William James in 1895 in the sense of “the universe imagined as lacking order, unity, or a single ruling and guiding power.”
- It comes from the prefix multi-, meaning “many; multiple,” and the second part of universe, “the totality of known or supposed objects and phenomena throughout space; the cosmos.”
- Universe comes via French from a form of the Latin word ūniversus, which means “all; entire.”
- Multiverse in the sense featured here came about in science fiction writing in the early 1960s.
EXAMPLES OF MULTIVERSE
- The concept of a multiverse challenges our traditional understanding of reality, suggesting that there may be countless parallel universes coexisting alongside our own.
- As the art exhibition showcased various artworks depicting alternate worlds and fantastical beings, visitors were transported into the imaginative realms of the multiverse.
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