Made-Up Words

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tbonethemighty
tbonethemighty Posts: 100 Member
in Chit-Chat
Hey all,

I'm looking for books (I suppose also movies) that have invented/made-up English words in them. Good examples (which I, sadly, already have) would be:
Terry Pratchett inventing words like "thaumaturgical", "splatter" (like a bouncer, but tougher), or "headology"
Jasper Fforde with "beigeing", "loopholist", "rebookment"
Edward Lear with "scroobious", "abruptious", "Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo"
Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, Lewis Carroll, are already on my list.

As you can see, the words can be totally invented/no relation to English ("scroobious", Dr. Seuss's "Sneetches"), or they can be derived English words ("abruptious", "headology", "loopholist").

Suggestions here are greatly appreciated :-) I'm compiling a database, but I'm struggling to find new examples at this point...

ETA: something like Tolkien is NOT what I want, since most of his made-up words are in other languages (Elvish, etc.) -- I need made-up words that are supposed to be English.

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  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,793 Member
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    The Pompatus of Love made iup in the Steve Miller Song "The Joker"
  • tbonethemighty
    tbonethemighty Posts: 100 Member
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    Ooh, thanks! I didn't even think of using song lyrics as well, but since I'm using poetry, that would make sense...
  • Leanbean65
    Leanbean65 Posts: 176 Member
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    My daughter came up with "scientifical" As in " Mom, don't get all scientifical on me!"

    This when I tried answering a question she asked :smile:
  • WhatAnAss
    WhatAnAss Posts: 1,598 Member
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    Ha ha using song lyrics immediately brought Beyonce to mind with bootylicious lol
  • Go_Mizzou99
    Go_Mizzou99 Posts: 2,628 Member
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    How about the old Pretenders hit - Brass in Pocket - great song.

    What does this mean though?

    Got new skank it's so reet

    tumblr_n4hrijCMGU1tooympo1_500.gif
  • tbonethemighty
    tbonethemighty Posts: 100 Member
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    Thanks for the ideas! Apparently song lyrics are a rich source for this ;-)

    I actually have a list of words that my (German) students have made up while speaking English..."scientifical" would fit right in (along with "plug out", "applicate", and "experimentate")...
  • tbonethemighty
    tbonethemighty Posts: 100 Member
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    How about the old Pretenders hit - Brass in Pocket - great song.

    What does this mean though?

    Got new skank it's so reet

    And I have no idea. But if I can work it in, I'm on it!
  • meridianova
    meridianova Posts: 438 Member
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    didn't edgar allen poe create the word "tintinabulation"?
  • Leanbean65
    Leanbean65 Posts: 176 Member
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    I think it is about getting paid, although that whole song kinda confuses me.
  • parys1
    parys1 Posts: 2,064 Member
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    My daughter likes to use her "smarticles".
  • pipertargaryen
    pipertargaryen Posts: 303 Member
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    These are not books. These are my own offerings, from toddlerhood onwards, that I was convinced were real words till I was a teen and informed otherwise (wish I was joking):

    heaterator (central heating vent, like a radiator but a vent)
    and
    grocerying (the act of purchasing groceries)

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