Oxford English Dictionary Unveils Major Quarterly Update with Over 500 New Entries
The Oxford English Dictionary has once again expanded its authoritative lexicon with a significant quarterly update, welcoming more than 500 new words, phrases, and senses into its official ranks. This latest release reflects the dynamic evolution of the English language, capturing both contemporary slang and terms with deep historical origins.
Modern Additions: From 'Play Play' to 'Doomscrolling'
Leading the list of new entries is 'play play', a phrase that now officially means 'to fool about, mess around, waste time' or 'to act frivolously or teasingly'. Another notable inclusion is 'glitchiness', defined as the 'quality of having or being prone to glitches', a term increasingly relevant in our tech-driven world.
In a playful twist, the familiar word 'jelly' has been updated to include an adjectival sense meaning 'jealous', adding a new layer to its culinary connotations. The dictionary also addresses modern digital behaviors with 'doomscrolling', which it defines as 'the action of scrolling continuously and compulsively through large quantities of upsetting or worrying online news, or content on a social media platform'.
Experts note that the verb 'doomscroll' appeared shortly after the noun, but it wasn't until 2020 that someone was described as a 'doomscroller'. All three uses first emerged on Twitter, now known as X, highlighting the platform's influence on contemporary language.
Futuristic and Literary Terms Enter the Lexicon
Looking ahead, the update introduces 'futurescape', a term for depictions or representations in books, films, or art of what the future world might look like. This can be used interchangeably with 'futurama', a word dating back to 1939, showing how language evolves while retaining historical connections.
In the realm of fiction, 'romantasy' has been added, originally describing a fantastical or idealized romantic story but now recognized as a subgenre combining romance and fantasy elements. Another book-related entry is 'DNF', standing for 'did not finish', which has expanded from racing classifications to literary contexts.
Historical Roots and Whimsical Additions
While many new words reflect current trends, Philip Durkin, Deputy Chief Editor at the Oxford English Dictionary, emphasizes that numerous entries have origins in Old English. 'This quarter's release of newly revised etymologies once again provides snapshots of the early linguistic history of English,' he said. 'There is a very decent crop of words first recorded in Old English, from the earliest surviving records to approximately 1150.'
Words traceable back to Proto-Germanic, the immediate ancestor of English, include 'drop', 'glee', and its obsolete derivative 'glew', meaning 'to play an instrument; to rejoice; to delight or gladden a person'. This blend of old and new showcases the rich tapestry of English vocabulary.
Among the more whimsical additions is 'tilt-a-whirl', an American term for the fairground ride commonly known as the waltzers. Since 1966, it has also been used figuratively to describe something characterized by repeated abrupt or unpredictable changes, prompting experts to muse: 'Might the English language be described as a tilt-a-whirl?'
This update underscores the Oxford English Dictionary's ongoing commitment to documenting the living language, from its ancient roots to its ever-changing modern expressions.
