And he wanted a word that sounded like "gene," so he took a twist on the Greek mimeme, which is the origin of "mime" and "mimesis," a scientific term meaning imitation.
"It's a very clever coinage," lauded the lexicographer Sokolowski.
Other words in Merriam-Webster's Top 10 for 2012:
— Touche, thanks in part to "Survivor" contestant Kat Edorsson misusing the word to mean "tough luck" rather than "point well made," before she was voted off the island in May. Look-ups at Merriam-webster.com were up sevenfold this year over 2011.
— Schadenfreude, made up of the German words for "damage" and "joy," meaning taking pleasure in the misery of others, was used broadly in the media after the election. Look-ups increased 75 percent. The word in English dates to 1895.
— Professionalism, up 12 percent this year over last. Sokolowski suspects the bump might have been due to the bad economy and more job seekers, or a knowing "glimpse into what qualities people value."
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Online: http://www.merriam-webster.com/
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