Whenever a new edition of the dictionary is released there’s lots shiny new words appearing, but what about the losers? To make room, hundreds of old words are pushed out of the dictionary and subsequently from our language.
Enter Save the Words, a site that suggests you adopt an endangered word. It works by clicking on a word, say pugnastics (definition: displays of boxing ability) then using it in conversation to keep it alive.
The site’s interface can get a little annoying as words literally beg for attention, but their ‘spread the word’ section is genius suggesting that you keep the word alive by naming your pet microreader (a device used for reading microfilm) or dropping it into a dull work meeting. We’ve already added a prandicle (small meal) to our next all-staff agenda.