Words of the Year

What's the difference between a retrosexual and a metrosexual? Have you heard the scientific evidence for Momnesia (a mother's forgetfulness after giving birth)? Which famous author coined the term embuggerance earlier this year? Are you nomophobic?Following the dramatic success of The Language Report, Susie Dent returns with Words of the Year - a fascinating A-Z collection of new and newly resurrected words that have been selected for their topicality and resonance in 2008. Highlighting why certain words have come into use through current preoccupations or events, Dent charts the very latest linguistic changes and the interesting stories behind them. Contains feature entries for words that are linked by context to a newly prominent word, for example, linked to sub-prime in a financial context are bullish, bear, and bankrupt. Dent bases her discoveries on the most authoritative, thorough, and up to date evidence available: the unparalleled resources of the Oxford English Dictionary reading programme and the Oxford English Corpus, the world's largest language databank.A truly witty and insightful snapshot of current language usage, Words of the Year highlights the words of our time and delves into captivating etymologies along the way. An essential read for all language enthusiasts.