Word Spy
I just discovered Word Spy, a web site “devoted to lexpionage, the sleuthing of new words and phrases.” Words featured here are new terms that have been legitimized a bit through multiple appearances in newspapers, magazines, books, Web sites, and other recorded sources.
Some of the words and terms are hardly new — the publishing section lists such familiar terms as “backstory” and “chick lit” — but others in this section were a nice surprise, like “me-moir” (a memoir that is exceptionally self-centered) and “shnovel” (a self-help book disguised as a novel).
Overall, it’s lots of fun, and it’s a great way to fill up a few moments of “microboredom” (boredom caused by having nothing to do over a short period of time). Enjoy.