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Sep 2, 2019
This week’s themeCoined words This week’s words unbirthday runcible chirality esemplastic gonzo 
Alice with Humpty Dumpty in a cravat he received as an unbirthday present
from the White King and Queen
Illustration: John Tenniel, 1934 Previous week’s theme Palindromes 
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu GargIf you don’t see a path, carve it. If you don’t see a way, invent it. If you don’t find a word you’re looking for, coin it. A language belongs to anyone who speaks it, and as the speaker you can do with it what you may. Extend it by adding new words to it. May your coinages go far and wide! Ultimately, all words are coined words, but this week we’ll look at five words whose coiners we know about. What word have you coined? Share it below or email us at words@wordsmith.org. Make sure to google your coinage first to see no one has thought of it earlier. Sometimes many people come up with the same word independently. unbirthday
PRONUNCIATION:
(uhn-BUHRTH-day)
MEANING:
noun: A day other than one’s birthday.
ETYMOLOGY:
Coined by Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) in Through the Looking-Glass (1871).
Earliest documented use: 1871.
NOTES:
Today is a very special day. Most of our readers (about 99.7% of
you) have their unbirthday today. A very happy unbirthday to you! How are
you celebrating your unbirthday? And if you happen to have your birthday today, well, a happy birthday to you! USAGE:
“Steve Irwin won’t be at his son’s 14th birthday, or his unbirthday.” Frances Whiting; Shooting Star; The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia); Nov 25, 2017. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Progressive societies outgrow institutions as children outgrow clothes.
-Henry George, economist, journalist, and philosopher (2 Sep 1839-1897)
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