Monday, November 27, 2017

What's the "Word of the Year" for 2017?



I suppose it makes sense. According to Dictionary.com, the most commonly looked-up word this year is "complicit."

Look-ups of the word increased nearly 300 percent over last year as "complicit" hit just about every hot button from politics to natural disasters, lexicographer Jane Solomon told The Associated Press ahead of Monday's formal announcement of the site's pick.

"This year a conversation that keeps on surfacing is what exactly it means to be complicit," she said. "Complicit has sprung up in conversations about those who speak out against powerful figures in institutions, and those who stay silent."

I just ran a Google image search for "complicit." What came up more than anything else were photos of Ivanka Trump.  Go figure.

The first of three major spikes for the word struck March 12. That was the day after "Saturday Night Live" aired a sketch starring Scarlett Johansson as Ivanka Trump in a glittery gold dress peddling a fragrance called "Complicit" because: "She's beautiful, she's powerful, she's complicit."

The bump was followed by another April 5, also related to Ivanka, Solomon said. It was the day after she appeared on "CBS This Morning" and told Gayle King, among other things: "I don't know what it means to be complicit."




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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:18 PM, November 27, 2017

    Does that include the Al Franken's behavoir? If one says they don't see anything wrong with the photo's, are they complicit.

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  2. The Mound of Sound1:25 PM, November 27, 2017


    I didn't say there was nothing wrong with the photo (not "photo's", dummy). Even a dim bulb should be able to read what I wrote. Do come back when you have something useful to add.

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  3. the salamander5:36 PM, November 27, 2017

    .. its important in my view
    to identify the root action and its 'term' or meaning
    Thus 'complicity' stems from a greater - original crime..
    There can be no conspiracy without an action or intent
    Collusion is joining in or hiding an illegal act
    and so on..

    So my vote goes to 'sellout' ..
    which is part & parcel of 'captured government'
    which is among the worst of all treasonous acts..
    and 'sell out' .. transforms from being a verb..
    to 'sellout' - as a noun - what a political party has been..
    all along.. treasonous

    Political parties that have already 'sold out'
    to vested interests.. in conflict..
    and not serving the citizenry, the electorate, the country
    are just that.. treasonous sellouts
    colluding in & complicit in conspiracies..
    the quid pro quo.. the backdoor dealing

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  4. The Mound of Sound6:25 PM, November 27, 2017


    Yeah, Sal. That sounds about right. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete