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Odd News

Merriam-Webster dictionary adds 'earmark' definition

Jul. 18, 2009
It's official: The meaning of 'earmark' is tied to congressional spending. Still, critics and defenders of the provisions find the definition lacking. Those who pore through congressional legislation in search of earmarks often have been guided by the "I know it when I see it" maxim...
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Dictionary adds 'staycation,' 'flash mob'

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 10 (UPI) -- U.S. publisher Merriam-Webster has announced new words added to its Collegiate Dictionary, including "staycation" and "waterboarding."

'w00t' chosen top word of 2007

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Visitors to the official Web site of Merriam-Webster, based in Springfield, Mass., have chosen "w00t" as the Word of the Year for 2007.

Merriam-Webster dictionary gets thicker

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 12 (UPI) -- It might make a "ginormous" difference only to language purists but the U.S. publisher Merriam-Webster has added about 100 words to its Collegiate Dictionary.

'Truthiness' top new word in United States

NEW YORK, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster has its "Word of the Year," picked by an overwhelming 5-to-1 vote on its Web site: "truthiness," a noun.

Tech words added to dictionary

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 6 (UPI) -- Tech words mouse potato, ringtone, spyware, and google, where among those added to Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary's Eleventh Edition.

Jordan's unions to boycott Merriam-Webster

AMMAN, Jordan, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Jordan's professional unions Monday called on their members to boycott reference books that they said slander Arabs, especially Merriam-Webster's.

'Blog' heads list of 2004's top 10 words

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster says "blog" was the most looked-up word this year with "defenestration" rounding out the Top 10 Words of 2004.
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President Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington
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President Barack Obama awards the the Presidential Medal of Freedom to singer/songwriter Bob Dylan during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House in Washington on May 29, 2012. The Medal of Freedom is our NationÕs highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. UPI/Kevin Dietsch