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Origin and history of neologism

neologism(n.)

1772 (in a translation from French), "practice of innovation in language, the use of new words or old words in new senses," from French néologisme (18c.), from neo- "new" (see neo-) + Greek logos "word" (see Logos) + -ism.

The meaning "new word or expression" is from 1803. Neological "characterized by new words or phrases" is attested from 1754. Related: Neologically.

"New words are well-earned riches. When a nation enlarges its stock of knowledge, and acquires new ideas, it must necessarily have a suitable vesture for them." [Attributed to Samuel Johnson in "A German traveller's account of his interview with Dr. Johnson," published 1800 from a letter said to be dated 1768]

Entries linking to neologism

1580s, "the divine Word, second person of the Christian Trinity," from Greek logos "word, speech, statement, discourse," also "a computation, account," also "reason, judgment, understanding," from PIE *log-o-, suffixed form of root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather," with derivatives meaning "to speak," on notion of "to pick out words." The Greek word was used by Neo-Platonists in metaphysical and theological senses involving notions of both "reason" and "word" and subsequently picked up by New Testament writers.

word-forming element making nouns implying a practice, system, doctrine, etc., from French -isme or directly from Latin -isma, -ismus (source also of Italian, Spanish -ismo, Dutch, German -ismus), from Greek -ismos, noun ending signifying the practice or teaching of a thing, from the stem of verbs in -izein, a verb-forming element denoting the doing of the noun or adjective to which it is attached. For distinction of use, see -ity. The related Greek suffix -isma(t)- affects some forms.

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