Questions tagged [is-it-a-word]
Questions about the perceived legitimacy of would-be words.
1
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0answers
37 views
What is the correct term for a fear of breasts? [on hold]
I have known this is a phobia for quite a while and remember reading the word long ago, but when I googled it today I got 2 different spellings: mastophobia and mastrophobia. Which one is right? Is ...
1
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2answers
96 views
Is “bumption” a word?
"Bumptious" means conceited or pompous. Does the word “bumption” exist to describe such a trait?
1
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4answers
97 views
what is the verb for water going past a rock?
I'm looking for a verb to describe the "Y" thing the water makes when it hits a rock, for example in the river. Here is a professional piece of art I made (view from the top):
Is it simply called "...
0
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3answers
50 views
Word to describe people who blindly believe accusations [closed]
I can’t for the life of me remember what this word is or if it even exists.
I’m thinking of a word that would describe medieval era peasants who are religious and make and believe accusations of witch ...
0
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1answer
29 views
Is there a word/phrase that describes someone flinching after they sip alcohol?
Even flinching isn't the best way to describe it.
Example: a person will take a sip of a strong alcoholic beverage (take for instance, straight whiskey) and then will proceed to make that iconic ...
-1
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2answers
37 views
can cattleguard be spelled as one word
i'm unable to find cattleguard listed as a single word anywhere, but I think it ought to be an acceptable spelling
2
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1answer
55 views
Is there such a word as repercussionless
Is there such a word as repercussionless. Or what word would mean something like that??
1
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2answers
217 views
Is “commerical” a valid and different word from “commercial”? [closed]
Googling, I see many places using the spelling commerical, but I don't see that spelling in any dictionaries at all. Is it a mistake for commercial, or are these two different words?
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1answer
71 views
Is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophilia a word?
I'd like to know if hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophilia, my proposed opposite of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a real word or condition. I know -philia is the opposite of -phobia and -...
0
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2answers
85 views
Can witnessable become witnessably?
This is for the grammar pros out there—are there any concerns about using the potential word witnessably?
Examplary context:
He witnessably engages in dubious practices.
It is not in a ...
2
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3answers
851 views
Is untasty a valid English word?
I cannot see untasty in Oxford dictionary. Also spelling checker tells it is invalid. But in dictionary.com , I see it is a related form of tasty. Please see screenshot below. So is it a valid ...
3
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1answer
122 views
What is wrong with the word “motorsporting”?
I was reading a book where the author is discussing the BBC buying the rights to show Formula 1. He quotes the press release by the BBC announcing the acquisition.
The book's quote is "the biggest ...
0
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2answers
165 views
Is Key Bunch a proper word?
When you want to describe a set of keys bound to a huge metal ring, like the ones you'd see in a game of movie with medieval settings on the belt of a prison guard, what word would you use? Key bunch?...
5
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2answers
185 views
Status of 'hypophora' as a word
I participate in other SE forums where it's common practice for experienced or knowledgeable participants to simultaneously submit both a question and an answer. This can be very helpful in technical ...
6
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1answer
324 views
Meaning/Origin of word “Nixie”
In the area of which I live, there is a certain word we use to describe somebody that is naughty, or bad, in a joking/lighthearted manner. I do not know how to spell the word, and every attempt to ...
1
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2answers
376 views
Is “Illustrationist” a word? [closed]
Is “illustrationist” an existing word? Or should I use ‘illustrator’ instead?
2
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2answers
156 views
Is “deacceleratingly” a valid word?
Deaccelerate means the same as decelerate, though it seems to be a much less common alternative. I did not know this until recently, as I had used this alternative all my life. It just seemed logical ...
3
votes
2answers
400 views
Is “misreact” a word?
I am trying to describe someone's reactions in a situation. At first I used the word overreact, but then I realized it is not only the person's overreaction but also other kinds of inappropriate or ...
0
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1answer
94 views
Is ‘affinative’ a word?
The Microsoft .NET Framework API¹ has a curiously named interface ILogicalThreadAffinative. According to their naming standard, namely concatenating capitalized meaningful English words into a single ...
5
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1answer
184 views
Is multifunctionality an actual word?
After checking a few dictionaries like https://www.dictionary.com, I noticed that the only form of this word they recognize is the adjective form: multifunctional. The only noun form listed is "...
1
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3answers
100 views
Is “catarolysis” a word? Whether it is or not, how might it be broken down into Greek or Latin derivatives?
Some definitions I have seen are:
"catarolysis - n. - cursing to let off steam"
and
"catarolysis: letting off steam by cursing"
and
"catarolysis /kat uh RALL ih sis/ n The practice of cursing to ...
0
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1answer
20 views
Word choice synonym for exempts/supersedes
So I'm working on a research project where I need a particular word a lot, but I'm not sure if the word I'm using is proper, or if there's a better choice.
Some background, regular T cells need to ...
0
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4answers
331 views
If “cleanliness” is a word can I say something is “cleanly”?
As per the question, I might have spelt cleanly wrong...
2
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3answers
45 views
Is 'Nail(s) Spa' correct?
I wanted to know if the term “Nail Spa” or “Nails Spa” is correct? I am opening a nail salon and would like to know which one would be correct. I know that Nail salon is correct not nails salon but ...
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1answer
265 views
'Et viola' misspelling or inside joke?
Question
Is et viola [sic](spelled like this intentionally) just a misspelling of et voila or is it an actual word, or perhaps an inside joke (not just a one-off thing)?
Background
Based on this ...
2
votes
1answer
186 views
Is “startlement” a word?
I have always thought that startlement is a word in the lexicon. But one day when I was writing in a google doc, I saw it underlined like a typo. I googled it to see if it was indeed a word, or a ...
1
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2answers
2k views
Is prepwork a real word? What is the proper form if so?
Is prepwork a real word? What about any of these variations: prep-work or prep work? I cannot find any of those in a dictionary.
1
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2answers
1k views
Is “contentual” a proper word?
Is contentual a proper word? I saw in Wiktionary that it is considered to be a proper word:
contentual
adjective
Relating to content (as apposed to context)
However, I have not seen it ...
1
vote
2answers
522 views
Is “occurence” a word?
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&filter=dictionary&query=occurence
It seems that occurence is not a word, but a friend said it is because he says he found it in the OED....
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Is “modificate” an English word?
Is "modificate" a correct English word?
From source: http://www.definitions.net/definition/modificate (Webster Dictionary)
Modificate (verb)
to qualify
Origin: [See Modify.]
But if I ...
7
votes
1answer
571 views
Is there a word 'uptrending'?
Exactly as the title states: Is there a word 'uptrending'? Wikipedia suggests it is, however, Word marks it as a mistake.
0
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4answers
1k views
Is “subjugative” a word?
I recently used the word subjugative in the following sentence:
Any company that wants to be “legitimate” (raise money, hire employees, file taxes, distribute shares, etc.) puts itself in a ...
3
votes
4answers
808 views
Is “rejectance” a proper / legitimate word?
Is rejectance an actual word that is interchangeable with rejection? I have not found it in any of the dictionaries available to me.
I heard this word from a startup owner, who said the phrase: "...
3
votes
1answer
102 views
A word for “inferentiability”
Suppose that I can infer that x is an X, given a statement y. Thus, the statement y affects the ability to infer that something is an X. I would like a word that sums up "the ability to infer". It ...
5
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1answer
205 views
Meaning of “contumelist”
J.M. Coetzee writes this sentence in Elizabeth Costello:
He is here simply to protect her, to bar the way against the
relic-hunters and the contumelists and the sentimental pilgrims.
(p. 30 in ...
0
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2answers
450 views
Why dispute Efficate as a word [duplicate]
Not a "formal" word, but most of our current day mobile texting is not formal, a whole new evolving language...
I use "Efficate" as:
"... What can I do to best efficate Laura's desired outcome?"
-1
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2answers
541 views
Is “logicalising” a valid word? [closed]
Is logicalising a valid word, if the meaning was to make something supposedly 'illogical', logical?
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Is TA'ed a word?
We commonly abbreviate teacher's assistant as TA.
Suppose I have the following sentence:
I was a teacher's assistant for Chemistry 101.
We can also say:
I was a TA for Chemistry 101.
But, is ...
2
votes
3answers
9k views
Is “encapture” a word?
I always thought that "encapture" is a word meaning "to capture". However, spellchecking softwares flag this term and a quick Google search shows that this term is not listed in any dictionary except ...
0
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3answers
127 views
Eloquentsexual-but-mainly-for-teachers?
Little story first: every time someone asks me for my sexuality I either say bisexual (cause it's the easiest to explain) or that I don't label myself. Now this is not exactly accurate because I ...
42
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5answers
477k views
What does “covfefe” exactly mean?
The Washington Post (May 31, 2017) reports that “[President] Trump targets ‘negative press covfefe’ ” in his tweet:
MORNING MIX: Trump targets ‘negative press covfefe’ in garbled
midnight tweet ...
0
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2answers
550 views
Is “obtention” a word?
"Obtention" shows up in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. I've never seen it used, though I can't find any good alternatives. What context would you use it in, and when would it be appropriate/...
1
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3answers
2k views
Is there a word for evoking jealousy or wanting to?
I see this behavior in my dogs probably the most, where it wants to flaunt something it has, like a toy, in order to try and make me jealous. It's not just the ask for attention, but the behavior to ...
2
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2answers
1k views
Why is “seldomly” not a word? [closed]
It feels like "seldomly" could be a very useful word.
For instance, I often get the urge to say "It is seldomly discussed that the world is a messed up place". "seldomly" here would mean something ...
1
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1answer
2k views
Is “shh” a word and why? [closed]
Is shh a word?
If it is, why is it a word?
If it is not, why isn't it a word?
6
votes
2answers
4k views
is variablize or variabilize a word?
Is there a more appropriate word to use when ‘variablizing’ a data point (i.e to make something a variable) since the word variablize (or variabilize) does not seem to appear in the Oxford English ...
2
votes
3answers
678 views
Is “extra-departmental” a real word?
I could only find a definition on Wiktionary, making it questionable. My team is looking to title something that refers to departments outside our own, but still internal to the company.
As in, "...
0
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1answer
104 views
Does the word “listicles” exist? [closed]
I can't find the word "listicles" in my English dictionary and I would like to know if it exists please.
5
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5answers
1k views
Is “accumulatory” a word? If not, what is? [closed]
Is "accumulatory" a word? I'm intending it to be a word that means the opposite of "fragmentary". I thought maybe "accumulatory" would be the adjective form of "accumulate", but I can't seem to find ...
1
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2answers
190 views
Could “mismodify” be a word?
I've never seen it in any dictionary, and searching on Google gives fairly few, almost irrelevant results, but it seems like it could potentially be a word, albeit perhaps a technical one at that. It ...
