Neologisms come from many sources. An invented name, a character, an acronym, a genericization. So “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation” becomes laser and “Xerox” becomes “xerox”. Leading to the paradoxical proposition “Xerox saved itself from extinction by moving from xeroxing to laser printing”. Mass culture offers mass choice for the neologist. We might… Continue reading #OTD 21 December – A neologist’s day