SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Do you use a sock puppet to secretly
keep track of your frenemies?

Plan to spend your staycation watching vlogs and webisodes? Or
perhaps you plan to signal a flash mob for a quick bite of
shawarma.

If you're not entirely certain what all that means, turn to the
latest edition of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary,
which has added about 100 new words that largely reflect changing
trends in American society.

John Morse, president and publisher of the Springfield-based
dictionary publisher, said many of this year's new words are tied
to changes in technology, increasing environmental awareness and
aging baby boomers' concerns about their health and have become
part of the general lexicon.

"These are not new words in the language, by any means," Morse
said. "(But) when words like 'neuroprotective' and
'cardioprotective' show up in the Collegiate, it's because we've
made the judgment that these are not just words used by
specialists. ... These really are words now likely to show up in
The New York Times, in The Wall Street Journal."

There are words such as locavore (one who eats foods grown
locally), frenemy (someone who acts like a friend but is really an
enemy), waterboarding (an interrogation technique use to induce the
sensation of drowning), vlogs (a blog that contains video material)
and webisode (a TV show that can be viewed at a Web site).

There's also flash mob (a group of people summoned
electronically to a designated spot at a specified time to perform
an indicated action before dispersing) and green-collar (involving
actions for protecting the natural environment).

Some words that just now made the cut have been around for
generations. The term "sock puppet" - a false online identity
used for deceptive purposes - was tracked to 1959 but has taken on
new popular use with people using fake IDs on social networking
sites.

Many words have cross-cultural roots, including shawarma (a
sandwich especially of sliced lamb or chicken, vegetables, and
often tahini wrapped in pita bread) and reggaeton (music of Puerto
Rican origin that combines rap and Caribbean rhythms).

Once words like these become so common that they regularly pop
up in conversations and published articles, Morse said they pass
muster for being included in the dictionary.

Some words, such as "staycation," have become so popular the
dictionary could not ignore them, Morse said. Staycation refers to
staying home for vacation and has gained popularity as the economy
worsens.

But Morse said some words face years in limbo as wordsmiths wait
to see if they are just fads.

Dave Wilton, author of "Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban
Legends," said it's difficult to draw conclusions about trends in
society with just a handful of new words.

"It's also an editorial decision and reflects what the
(dictionary) editors deemed important that year," Wilton said.
"Most of these words have been around for a while but for some
reason they grabbed the attention of editors this time."

Researchers often keep track of words over many years. One to
watch: prepone.

The word is commonly used in India among English-speaking
Indians and refers to the act of arranging for an event to take
place earlier than originally planned - the opposite of postpone.

"Prepone didn't make it this time," Morse said. "But we know
about it."
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On the Net:
Dictionary: http://www.Merriam-Webster.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)