Inventing Our Own Words

The right word can make a difference. Sometimes the right word needs to be invented.

2. Here are some suggested new words:

CARPETUATION (kar pet' u a shun)n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.

ELBONICS (el bon'iks) n. The actions of two people maneuvering for one armrest in a movie theater.

UNDUST (un dust')n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and is eventually swept under the rug.

LACTOMANGULATION (lak' to man gyu lay' shun)n. The act of manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk container so badly that one has to resort to the other side.

PHONESIA (fo nee' zhuh)n. The affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.

TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin ay' shun)n. The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're only six inches away.