Mikhail Epstein's definitions
protologism n Greek protos, first, original + Greek logos, word; cf. prototype, neologism - a newly created word which has not yet gained any wide acceptance. It is a prototype or a hypothetical projection of a new lexical unit before it may become current in writing or speech. The word "protologism" proposed here and now is itself an example of protologism.
In contrast to protologisms, neologisms are words that have already been in public usage by authors other than their inventors. As soon as a protologism finds its way into newspapers and websites, journals and books, it becomes a neologism.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
Get the protologism mug.gnawledge n. (word-portmanteau: gnaw + suffix ledge; cf. knowledge) mechanical knowledge that is obtained by "gnawing" facts rather than conceptually interpreting them.
by Mikhail Epstein November 15, 2003
Get the gnawledge mug.syntellect n (Greek syn, with, together + intellect) Ð the unified mind of civilization that integrates all individual natural and artificial minds through the mediation and accumulative effects of informational networks.
Intellectual network--inteLnet--will connect all thinking beings into one communicational network that gradually will develop into a new form of consciousness--syntellect. The syntellect will absorb and condense the potentials of all thinking beings and will operate on both biological and quantum levels.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
Get the syntellect mug.etceteric adj (from etcetera, "and so forth")- somebody or something usually included in the "etcetera" rubric, one among "the others," "the like," "the rest," not named individually; marginal, anonymous, obscure.
I'm afraid you have never heard about Andrew Lynch. No, he is not an exoteric writer. He is simply an etceteric writer.
Alan has worked in zoology for almost forty years, and he still remains an etceteric researcher. Isn't this a shame? Let's find a way to give some tribute to him.
Kaluga is not an etceteric Russian provincial town, it is known for the best preserved cityscape and architecture of the 19th century.
Alan has worked in zoology for almost forty years, and he still remains an etceteric researcher. Isn't this a shame? Let's find a way to give some tribute to him.
Kaluga is not an etceteric Russian provincial town, it is known for the best preserved cityscape and architecture of the 19th century.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
Get the etceteric mug.dislove verb transitive (prefix dis + love; cf. dislike, disapprove) Ð to have a deep negative feeling, attraction-through-aversion to smbd.
"Dislove" is a deeper feeling than "dislike," it is not just a matter of taste, but of personal relationship. It is addressed to individuals rather than to inanimate entities. Dislove implies a strong negative emotional connection to its object.
"Dislove" is a deeper feeling than "dislike," it is not just a matter of taste, but of personal relationship. It is addressed to individuals rather than to inanimate entities. Dislove implies a strong negative emotional connection to its object.
by Mikhail Epstein November 7, 2003
Get the dislove mug.sanitas insania (from Latin: sanitas, health + insania, mania.) Ð obsession with health and wellness characteristic of many Americans. Thus, sanitas insania is an oxymoronic phrase. To be obessed with health is unhealthy.
Hugh suffers from sanitas insania, that's why he is unable to be in love with anybody except his own body.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
Get the sanitas insania mug.chronocracy n (Greek khronos, time + Greek kratia, power or rule) Ð rule by the laws of time and by the force of temporality; a form of government based on the recognition of time constraints on any form of power and the necessity for periodic change of leaders and transfer of powers on all levels. Under chronocracy, the social life is determined by the regular replacement of political, scientific, economic, and cultural trends, methods, fashions, and personnel in measured periods of time. Presidents, computers, car models, artistic trends, dress cuts, schoool textbookss, etc. have to change periodically to maintain their authoritative status as "new."
Is America a democracy and what does the term "demos" mean as applied to contemporary societies? No doubt, however, that America is a chronocracy, with a rigid system of enforced change on all levels, from political leaders to dress fashions and technological designs.
by Mikhail Epstein November 13, 2003
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