Thursday, December 02, 2004

Top Ten Words of the Year

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary has again posted their top ten words of the year for 2004. See their list by clicking here.

Following the following directions to the T will earn you 10 points of writing credit (not following them exactly will earn you ZERO):

Look through the list and click on each one you don't know the definition for. Choose your favorite(s) and respond to this blog by explaining your choice(s).

1. Responding to this post, click on COMMENTS underneath these instructions.
2. Read through any other previously posted comments.
3. Click on POST A COMMENT at the bottom of that whole page.
4. Write your comment, include your FIRST NAME AND LAST INITIAL ONLY and then click on POST ANONYMOUSLY.
5. Look at the main post again to make sure yours showed up.
6. Have a great weekend. You have until Sunday night (midnight) to do this.

Mr. Baxter

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Incumbent is my favrite word of the year because....
1. I know what it means
2. I use it when I vote
3. Becasue It applys to everyday life

Tyler H.

Anonymous said...

In the Webster's Dictionary, sovereign and sovereignty have a few definitions. The definition I liked was, "Supreme and independent political authority". I like knowing I have an independent political authority in this government. I know I can be involved in the decisions the government makes, and I have the right to vote the way I please. Having the right to vote enables me to help this country by allowing me to voice my opinion and make a difference. Soverneigty is a word full of power and authority.

Jordan W

Anonymous said...

(1) Cicada
This is my favorite word just because it sounds so great! "Cicada" makes me think of South American exotic fruit and thatched tropical huts. Too bad that it's a classification of 'wide-bodied' insect... Oh well.

Hayley O

Anonymous said...

My favorite word on Webster top 10 words was the word defenestration. I like this word because it looks interesting, and it means nothing of what it sounds like. The word defenestration means to throw a subject out the window. I also find this pretty funny.

Anonymous said...

My favorite word from Websters top ten words was the word defenestration. I liked this word because it sounds interesting and ithas a different word compared to what it means. The word defenestration mean to throw a subject out of a window. I also find it funny.

Meah P

Anonymous said...

i thought that the word cicada was interesting. it sounded different than the rest. i thought it was going to be something totally different than what it was. actually i had no real idea what on earth is was. that is interesting what it is. i picture in my mind a big fat headed/body fly. i can just see it flying around now. i dont think i have seen any cicadas around here. i hope not.

Anonymous said...

i thought that the word cicada was interesting. it sounded different than the rest. i thought it was going to be something totally different than what it was. actually i had no real idea what on earth is was. that is interesting what it is. i picture in my mind a big fat headed/body fly. i can just see it flying around now. i dont think i have seen any cicadas around here. i hope not.

Anonymous said...

sorry!!! those last two blogs that were the same were by me.

Keaton O...

Anonymous said...

I would say that my favorite word from this list is defenestration. I had to pick this word because I thought it was funny, and I never could have guessed what it meant without someone telling me. I had no clue that they made words for such things. Why would you make a word meaning to throw a person or thing out the window? I would hope no one is getting thrown out of a window...

Kyann M.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if defenestration came about because of too many people getting thrown out of windows. There might have become a defenestration epidemic at one point, which would certainly make people want a word for this heinous act. Don't you think?

Mr. B

BBAXLHS said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I like the word "hurricane". I chose this word because it is familiar to me. Hurricanes have always interested me with how much destruction they can cause and how powerful they are.

Kelsey K.

Anonymous said...

I really like the word "insurgent"- a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government or one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party. Although I'm not exactly a "rebel" or anti-government, I like the thought of someone going against what everyone else is doing and just being different.

Melisa A.

Anonymous said...

I think my favorite word from list would have to be 'Cicada'. I think it is a very fascinating insect, and its songs remind me of summertime. Call me weird, but I also think they're kind of cute... although I don't think I would ever want one to land on me!

Kelly E.

Anonymous said...

I like defenestration, it seems very weird that a word like this even exists. I would also like to know how the words were selected, because if it is by most searched then who would be searching for defenestration?

I also like peloton, it just sounds strange.

Eric B.

Anonymous said...

I think my favorite word out of that bunch would be 'cicada'. I thought it was a kind of pretty name before I looked up the definition and found it was some ugly looking bug. Maybe they give that insect a pretty name to make him seem not so ugly...

Amanda M.

Anonymous said...

I picked defenestration, because at first I thought that it was a fun word to say; but then when I looked it up I thought that that was really funny that they had a word for throwing someone out of a window! haha.

Jenn L.

Anonymous said...

I like the word "insurgent". I have never heard of that word until now. When i looked at the definition I liked it, because loosly translated it means "doin your own thing" in a way. Going against what is "in" just so you can be "in". Not being a rebel or anything but going against the wind and sticking to what you belive in instead of what everyone wants you to think. Going against what the government wants to you to do.


Kelsey S.

Anonymous said...

Favorite word of the year: Defenstration. Because, First of all, it was a word I didn't already know that I will actually remember and use. So now when I defenstrate people I'll know what to call it. Yes!

Anonymous said...

My favorite word of the year is defenestration. First of all, I chose this word because it sounds interesting. It is one of those words that when you read it for the first time, it makes you stutter or stumble a little bit. When I read the definition of defenestration, I thought that it was the most random word I had ever heard. I like that the word defenestration has a very specific definition, and is very unique.

Mikell W.

Anonymous said...

I really like the word defenestration-A throwing of a person or thing out of a window. I found it rather funny that they made a word that meant that. Sometimes i would really like to defenestration my little brother! That would be really funny, since he already has a scar from putting his fist through a window!
Saria K.

Anonymous said...

my favorite word was peloton. i chose this word because i had never heard of it before. i thought it sounded like the name of a dinosaur or something. then i found out that it is a bicycle racing term.

christian s

Anonymous said...

I would have to agree with Melisa A. and Kelsey S. I also like the word insurgent. I like the idea of someone fighting for what they think is right even if it is not what everyone else agrees with. Standing up for your beliefs and your morals is always better then trying to go along with what others want you to do. And I don’t think this means you necessarily have to be a rebel. I think it simple is an opposing action to a thought, decision, or idea that you think is wrong, be it within your government or school, being insurgent and an individual is always good.
-Sara T.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Eric and others on picking defenestration as my favorite word out of the top ten. I found it to be very humorous when I read the definition. I will start using the word in my lfe now.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Eric and others when choosing defenestration as my favorite word out of the top ten. I found it to be very humorous when I read it. I will start using it in my life now.


Ryan E.

Anonymous said...

Like many other comments on here, I also like the word defenestration. At first I thought it was some sort of scientific word, like decomposition, so the definition really surprised me. I also don't understand why it was necessary to make up this word, maybe someday I'll find out! :)

-Lisa M.

Anonymous said...

i liked the word defenestration like the others, i didnt think there was a word for something as cool as that but i guess there should be. i can use it in a daily threat now. lol just kidding.

--Vanessa L.

Anonymous said...

When I first saw the word defenestration,I had to see what it meant,because I have never seen it before or heard of it.It is a stumbling word to say,but I like the meaning of it and hope to use it in my language nowadays.

Brittany M.

Anonymous said...

1- Partisan
I love how exotic and foreign this word sounds. Par-tee-zhen. To me it sounds like a nationality... Asian or something.. It just sounds very exotic and reminds me of words like guacamole and quesadilla (maybe I'm just hungry...) but like it's almost a different language. On the other hand, it was defined as "a firm adherent to a party , faction, cause, or person;" but I had no idea what adherent meant so I looked THAT up and its means like... agreeing to,stick to something. So a partisan is like not straying from... abiding by... sticking to and with some people or something
Jessie G

Anonymous said...

Now one more thing- Jessie again here- just found out I'm an idiot and was pronouncing the word partisan as 'par-tee-zhen' when its not that cool sounding... its just par-ti-san... so lets pretend its prounounced how I thought it was so my previous post doesn't sound incredibly stupid!!! THANKS!!!
Jessie G