The O.E.D. Amps Up Its Secret Sauce

Wednesday, Sep. 19, 2007 By RICHARD LACAYO

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The sixth and latest edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, a two-volume condensation of the world's largest compendium of the spoken and written word, hits stores on Thursday. Of its roughly 600,000 entries, about 2500 have entered the language since the last edition was published, in 1993. These are words so new even your spell-checker won't recognize most of them. And even if you've been hearing them for so many years you're surprised that the dictionary is just getting around to them, they prove that the world is now such a happening place — yes, you can use happening as an adjective! look it up! — it will soon be entirely too edgy, hip and glamorous to live in.

Here are 10 of the new words, with their OED definitions:

1. Amp — To make (a person) very excited or energetic (as if) through the consumption of amphetamines or another stimulant. Frequently used with up

2. Beatboxing — The action or practice of imitating the sounds of an electronic drum machine with the voice.

3. Buzzkill — A person who, or thing which, dampens enthusiasm or enjoyment.

4. Chill Pill — An anti-depressant; anything intended to calm a person down (take a chill pill, calm down, relax).

5. Ghetto Fabulous — Pertaining to or favoring an ostentatious style of dress associated with the hip-hop subculture.

6. Monobrow — A pair of eyebrows that meet above the nose, giving the appearance of a single eyebrow; a person with such eyebrows, jocularly — a stupid person.

7. Pimpmobile — A large, flashy car, especially one used by a pimp.

8. Rockism — The theory that traditional rock music is a more authentic form of popular music than pop music.

9. Secret Sauce — A special feature or technique kept secret by an organization and regarded as being the chief factor in its success.

10. Splitsville — The termination of a relationship, especially a romantic one.