The Oxford English Dictionary Celebrates Roald Dahl Day With A ‘Splendiferous’ Amount Of New Words

Every summer, the esteemed linguistic authorities responsible for the Oxford English Dictionary’s upkeep inform the world of the new words they’ve decided to include in the next edition. Some are completely new, like “twerk” in 2013, while others feature larger, well-researched amendments to previous entries, like 2015’s update for “twerk.” The 2016 additions are no different, except of course for the specific words the OED deigned to elevate by incorporating in their cherished volume. Like the Millennial acronym “YOLO” and the semi-ironic shortening of the United States’ informal name, “‘Merica.”

According to CNN, the reference book’s latest edition consists of “more than 1,000 updated entries and 1,200 additions.” What’s more, it “also features an ode to Roald Dahl,” the British novelist and short story writer responsible for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Seeing as how Dahl was born one hundred years ago today on September 13, 2016, the OED insisted on adding more information to previous entries, or new entries entirely, that were “Dahlesque.” Words like “golden ticket,” “scrumdiddlyumptious,” “human bean” and “Oompa Loompa.”

Then again, the OED’s latest developments weren’t entirely about Dahl. Hence why new words like “fuhgeddaboudit,” “moobs” (i.e. man boobs) and “squee” were also added to the mix.

(Via CNN and Oxford English Dictionary)

×