Language in motion

Which very popular word was invented by Charles Dickens? 10 made-up words

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As masters of language, writers sometimes find that their imagination and creativity go far beyond the vocabulary the world has to offer. In order to put their ideas into writing, they have to create new words that eventually become part of the dictionary. Here are 10 terms and expressions used in modern language that you probably didn’t know were invented by famous writers.

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Dr. Seuss’ talent for telling fantastic stories through rhymes is well known. But very few people know that the creator of The Grinch and The Cat in the Hat was also responsible for the existence of the word "nerd."

In his 1950 book, If I Ran the Zoo, a little boy daydreams about what kind of animals he would have if he were in charge of a hypothetical zoo: "a Nerkle, a Nerd and a Seersucker". Although the term described an imaginary being -and the exact origin of a slang word can never be certain- it’s believed it was later adopted by students to refer to anyone with superior intelligence but not many social skills.

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Nowadays, freelance work is very widespread, especially among young people. But did you know that the word "freelancer" originated in the 19th century? The term first appeared in the historical novel Ivanhoe by Scottish novelist, poet, and historian Sir Walter Scott.

In the book, published in 1819 but set in England in the Middle Ages, Scott refers to mercenaries free of all allegiance who offer their services to anyone willing to pay them to fight for any nation. Thus, from the mixture of the words "free" and "lancers" came the term that today is given to those who work independently rather than on a regular salary basis.

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Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "pandemonium" as a "wild uproar" or "a chaotic situation". The origin of this word dates back to the 17th century. In 1667, English poet John Milton first used the term to name the capital of hell, home of the main character of his epic poem Paradise Lost.

"Pandemonium" is a combination of the Greek prefix pan-, which means "all", and the Late Latin daemonium, meaning "evil spirit". Although today we no longer use the term to refer to the actual location of Satan and the fallen angels, the word continues to describe an infernal place or situation.

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Nowadays, there is no doubt that the word "cyberspace" refers to the online world of computer networks. While it may seem that the term has been in our language forever, it was actually first used by American-Canadian speculative fiction writer William Ford Gibson in the 1982 short story Burning Chrome.

Two years later, the author expanded the concept in his novel Neuromancer to describe a fictitious computer network containing vast amounts of information that could be exploited for wealth and power. Ring a bell? "Cyberspace" has since become a widely used word in many languages.

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While the feeling of being bored must have existed since ancient times, the word for it was not put into writing until the mid-19th century. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first written record of the word "boredom" appears in Charles Dickens' 1852 novel Bleak House.

However, some historians have found antecedents that predate Dickens use of the term. Lord Byron used "bores" and "bored" in his 1823 epic poem Don Juan. And a few years later, Herman Melville used other variations of the term, like "bore" and "bored to death". While we can’t be sure who wrote the word first, its literary origin is undeniable.

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"Serendipity" is known as a fortuitous and unforeseen finding or discovery, something that happened by chance but still has value. This term was coined in 1754 by British writer Horace Walpole. It derives from a traditional Persian story in which the princes of Serendip turn to chance to find the solution to their problems.

In this case, we can be absolutely sure that "serendipity" is a Walpole creation. The author himself explains how he conceived the term in one of the countless letters he wrote throughout his life. In those letters, we can find evidence that he invented at least 200 words, although most of them aren’t used in modern everyday language.

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In 1920, when he was writing his next work, Czech playwright Karel Čapek desperately needed an original word that could define human-like machines created by a company to fulfill the hard tasks that people no longer wanted to do.

The first name that came to Čapek’s mind was "labori", from the Latin labor, meaning "work". However, his brother Josef was not very convinced and suggested "roboti", inspired by the Czech word robota, meaning "servitude" or "hard work." In 1922, the term "robot" made its way into our language when the play R.U.R. was translated into English.

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Well, maybe he didn’t invent it, but we have Mark Twain to thank for first putting in writing the term "hard-boiled" in relation to human character. As a writer of local color, Twain often used colloquialisms and regionalisms that he heard from other people and, by writing them down, made them familiar to the entire population.

In this sense, while the expression was probably known in some circles, the father of American literature was the first to use it as an adjective meaning "emotionally hardened, devoid of sentimentality".

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Although it comes from ancient Greek, the word "utopia" in its current sense was first used in 1516. Inspired by the New World, English philosopher and author Sir Thomas More imagined a fictional island society where everything worked in harmony.

"Utopia" literally translates as "no place", coming from the Greek οὐ ("not") and τόπος ("place"). The term popularized by More became so widespread that, over time, its meaning changed and is now used not only to refer to a specific place but to describe perfect scenarios or thoughts that are hard to attain.

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One of the most important pieces of English literature is also responsible for the name of a popular social network. We’re talking about The Canterbury Tales, a collection of 24 stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century.

In one of the tales, the English poet coined the onomatopoeia "twitter" to refer to the soft singing of a caged bird crying out for freedom. The neologism was later included by the Oxford Dictionary as a "short burst of inconsequential information". Fast forward to the 21st century, and American Internet entrepreneur Jack Dorsey uses the term to refer to the short, frequent posts on his now-famous platform. That also explains why Twitter’s logo was a bird!

It’s game time!

Do you speak "food Latin"? Let’s see if you guess these kitchen classics!

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Think you know your fruits and veggies better than the back of your hand? Let’s put that to the test. Scientists love fancy names, but behind all that Latin, you’ll find foods you probably have in your kitchen right now. Here’s a little guessing game: We’ll give you some clues about the origins, uses, or traditions tied to a food. Then we’ll reveal the answer. Let’s see how many you can get right!

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This little bulb has been keeping kitchens fragrant for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians swore by it for strength, while Italians turned it into a must-have for sauces. Love it or hate it, its smell lingers long after dinner. Any guesses in the room?

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This fruit has been part of human history since biblical times. It’s been baked into more pies than anyone can count. Just one bite every day, and you won’t be making any more doctor’s appointments. A crisp bite in autumn just can’t be beaten.

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This tart beauty first appeared in the Caribbean, but today it’s a breakfast table regular. Its zingy flavor divides people: some swear by it with a sprinkle of sugar, others can’t stand the bitterness. What do you think this is?

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Cool, crunchy, and packed with water, this veggie is a summer favorite. It sneaks into sandwiches, salads, and pickling jars across the globe. Ancient civilizations grew it thousands of years ago, and it hasn’t lost its charm. Wanna find the answer? Keep scrolling!

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Sweet, red, and heart-shaped, this fruit screams summertime. Wimbledon even made it a tradition, serving it with cream for over a century. You’ll see it on shortcakes, jams, and plenty of cereal boxes, too. You know it by now, don’t you?

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Farm stands overflow with this one in the fall. You’ll see kids carving it, bakers turning it into pies, and health nuts roasting its seeds. Native to the Americas, it’s been part of diets for thousands of years.

Below, you’ll find all the answers. Let’s see how many you got right!

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Did you guess this one? Allium sativum is garlic. Packed with flavor and believed to boost heart health, garlic is grown worldwide, but China leads the harvest. Whether roasted, minced, or sliced, it’s the soul of countless dishes. Are you team garlic or not?

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Malus domestica is none other than the apple. Did the "doctor’s appointment" reference give it away too soon? The United States, especially Washington State, is a top grower. From cider to applesauce, it’s hard to imagine an American table without it, right?

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Citrus paradisi is grapefruit! Florida is famous for its juicy varieties, loved for their vitamin C punch. Grapefruit even got its name because the fruits grow in clusters that look a lot like grapes. Now the debate stands: Sugar or no sugar?

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Cucumis sativus is a cucumber. India is its original home, though now you’ll find it growing just about everywhere. Whether sliced fresh or turned into pickles, it’s the definition of refreshing. And it also

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Red, heart-shaped… This one is the strawberry, of course! The United States, especially California, grows tons of them every year. Fun fact: strawberries aren’t true berries botanically, but don’t let science spoil dessert.

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That’s Cucurbita pepo, the pumpkin. From lattes in October to jack-o’-lanterns on Halloween, it’s an American seasonal icon. And yes, the seeds, called pepitas, are as nutritious as they are tasty.