As my regular readers will know, I collect examples of strange uses of the English language by Americans, and publish these at the end of every year. I hope that the 2011 list of odd words meets with your approval:
- Overcast (n): "There will be breaks in the overcast later in the day"
- Get backlogged (v)
- Facebook (v): "Facebook us!" (friending is sooo 2010)
- Beautify (v)
- Flex (v): Be flexible about
- Threepeat (v): Repeat something three times
- Ouster (n): The act of ousting
- Disserve (v): Do a disservice to
- Belongingness: Belonging
- Tanner (adj): More tanned
- Outreach (v): Reach out
- Up (v): Increase
- Impactive/impactful (adj): Having an impact
- Headquartered (adj)
- Barefootable (adj): Capable of running barefoot
- Marriageable (adj): Capable of finding a spouse
- Credentialled (v): Having credentials
- Geek (v): I have no idea!!!
- Bring to justice (usu. pp): Kill
- Transact (v): Make a transaction
- Dead end (v): "14 Mile Road dead ends in 1 mile"
- Monogrammable
- Install (n)
- Awarded: Award-winning
- Stank (n): Stink
- Stankiest (adj): Smelliest