September 2006

New Word Watch

Merriam-Webster editors are giving the following words serious consideration for entry in a Merriam-Webster dictionary:

*  chaebol noun, plural chaebol [Korean chaebŏl, from chae wealth, property + pol faction, clan] : a family-controlled industrial conglomerate in South Korea

*  nocebo noun, plural nocebos [Latin, I will be harmful; after placebo] : a harmless substance that when taken by a patient is associated with harmful effects due to negative expectations or the psychological condition of the patient

*  perfect storm noun : a critical or disastrous situation created by a powerful concurrence of factors

Do you have a suggestion for a word we should be watching for? E-mail us at comments@word.com, and we'll tell you what we have on that word so far.