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Merriam-Webster reveals ‘word of the year’ | Merriam-Webster reveals ‘word of the year’ |
(about 20 hours later) | |
The publisher of the English-language dictionary says searches for ‘gaslighting’ have spiked more than 1,000% | |
Gaslighting, a term used to describe a form of psychological manipulation, is Merriam-Webster's word of the year for 2022. | Gaslighting, a term used to describe a form of psychological manipulation, is Merriam-Webster's word of the year for 2022. |
The oldest dictionary publisher in the US defines gaslighting as causing the victim “to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories,” among other things. A second definition is that gaslighting is “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for one’s own advantage.” | The oldest dictionary publisher in the US defines gaslighting as causing the victim “to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories,” among other things. A second definition is that gaslighting is “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for one’s own advantage.” |
Merriam-Webster Editor-at-Large Peter Sokolowski told AP on Monday that searches for the word rose by 1,740% this year. He added that there was no single event that prompted the sudden curiosity and interest in ‘gaslighting.’ | Merriam-Webster Editor-at-Large Peter Sokolowski told AP on Monday that searches for the word rose by 1,740% this year. He added that there was no single event that prompted the sudden curiosity and interest in ‘gaslighting.’ |
“It’s a word that has risen so quickly in the English language, and especially in the last four years, that it actually came as a surprise to me and to many of us,” Sokolowski said. | “It’s a word that has risen so quickly in the English language, and especially in the last four years, that it actually came as a surprise to me and to many of us,” Sokolowski said. |
It is believed that the word was first popularized by the 1938 play ‘Gas Light’ and two of its film adaptations made in the 1940s. In the 1944 film, a man lies to a woman, convincing her that the dimming of the gaslights at their home was a figment of her imagination. According to Sokolowski, the death of actress Angela Lansbury in October, who starred in the film, contributed to the interest in the term. | It is believed that the word was first popularized by the 1938 play ‘Gas Light’ and two of its film adaptations made in the 1940s. In the 1944 film, a man lies to a woman, convincing her that the dimming of the gaslights at their home was a figment of her imagination. According to Sokolowski, the death of actress Angela Lansbury in October, who starred in the film, contributed to the interest in the term. |
The dictionary publisher chose ‘pandemic’ as the word of the year 2020, and ‘vaccine’ the following year. | The dictionary publisher chose ‘pandemic’ as the word of the year 2020, and ‘vaccine’ the following year. |
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