Expertlatin
- How are new words added to Latin?
- How do you create a new word?
- Who decides on new Latin words?
- How does a new word get into the dictionary?
How are new words added to Latin?
compounds of other Latin words, or 2. borrowings from other languages that are “Latinized”. These are of course the most common ways that languages incorporate new words.
How do you create a new word?
The commonest method of creating a new word is to add a prefix or suffix to an existing one. Hence realisation (1610s), democratise (1798), detonator (1822), preteen (1926), hyperlink (1987) and monogamish (2011). The inverse of the above: the creation of a new root word by the removal of a phantom affix.
Who decides on new Latin words?
There is no official gatekeeper for what is or is not an official English word. Some people believe a word becomes part of English when it is added to the dictionary, but that is actually backwards: The people who maintain dictionaries monitor the use of new words across our culture.
How does a new word get into the dictionary?
Short answer: Lexicographers typically wait to add a word to our dictionary until they've determined that it has met these criteria: It has relatively widespread use. It has a widely agreed-upon meaning. It seems to have staying power—meaning it's likely to be used for a long time.
