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Jet Lag Image courtesy of Jordan Smith on Flickr.com. Noun: (Merriam-Webster): a condition that is characterized by various psychological and physiological effects (as fatigue and irritability), occurs following long flight through several time zones, and probably results from disruption of circadian rhythms in the human body—called also jet fatigue First Known Use: February 13, . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Jet Lag Instant Replay Noun: (Merriam-Webster): a video recording of an action (as a play in football) that can be played back (as in slow motion) immediately after the action has been completed; also : the playing of such a recording First Known Use: 1966; According to Wikipedia, instant replay, invented by CBS director Tony Verna, is . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Instant Replay Hippie Noun: (Merriam-Webster) : a usually young person who rejects the mores of established society (as by dressing unconventionally or favoring communal living) and advocates a nonviolent ethic; broadly : a long-haired unconventionally dressed young person First Known Use: Contemporary use, 1965, but it also appeared before that date in various iterations. Hippie is a . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Hippie I know I always wear an evening gown when I'm watching TV, don't you? Cable Television Noun (Merriam-Webster): a system of television reception in which signals from distant stations are picked up by a master antenna and sent by cable to the individual receivers of paying subscribers —called also cable TV First Known Use: . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Cable Television Doofus Noun (Merriam-Webster): Slang: a stupid, incompetent, or foolish person First Known Use: 1960; The origin of doofus is unknown although many believe that it is a variation of the German word doof which means “simpleton.” Example: I welcome further information about the German word doof since I don’t speak German. (We won’t discuss when . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Doofus The plane, her dress, and the boots are made out of cigars. I'm really hoping it was an advertising stunt. Weirdo Noun (Merriam-Webster): a person who is extraordinarily strange or eccentric First Known Use: 1955; According to Dictionary.com, the -o suffix is often added to a noun or adjective to create a new noun . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Weirdo Junk Mail Noun (Merriam-Webster): third-class mail (as advertising circulars) First Known Use: 1954; Also known as direct mail, junk mail consists of advertisements delivered by the postal service. In the United States, businesses sent 35 billion pieces of mail in 1980. By 2005, businesses were sending 100 billion pieces of mail. The Center for a . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Junk Mail Image courtesy of Larry Page Hash Browns Plural Noun (Merriam-Webster): boiled potatoes that have been diced, mixed with chopped onions and shortening, and fried usually until they form a browned cake —called also hash brown potatoes, hashed brown potatoes, hashed browns First Known Use: 1951; Like many words, hash browns is a shortened . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Hash Browns From "1984" by George Orwell Doublespeak Noun (Merriam-Webster): language used to deceive usually through concealment or misrepresentation of truth First Known Use: 1952; If we listen to politicians carefully, we begin to hear that many of them are very adept at doublespeak as they attempt spin a story or situation to suit their . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Doublespeak
Rome, Georgia. September 1943. Esther Bubley, photographer. "A sign at the Greyhound bus station." (Image courtesy of the Library of Congress) Desegregate Transitive Verb: (Merriam-Webster): to eliminate segregation in; specifically : to free of any law, provision, or practice requiring isolation of the members of a particular race in separate units First Known . . . → Read More: Modern Retro Wordpower: Desegregate |
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