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10 new words added to the dictionary in the past 10 years
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Emoji, meme and jegging are just a few of the new words now in the Merriam-Webster dictionary turning them from slang and passing fads into official words. - photo by Shelby Slade
Emoji, meme and jegging are just a few of the new words now in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, turning them from slang and passing fads into official words.

Merriam-Webster, and many other dictionaries, add new words into their lexicon each year, and some stand out from the rest for their relevance to pop culture and efforts in defining society.

Heres a list of 10 new words that have been added to dictionaries in the past 10 years, according to Merriam-Webster and Mental Floss:

Tweep

Definition: "A person who uses the Twitter online message service to send and receive tweets." This word was added to the Merriam-Websters Collegiate Edition in 2014.

Gassed

Definition: "Drained of energy: spent, exhausted." This word was added to the Merriam-Websters Collegiate Edition in 2012.

Frenemy

Definition: "One who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy." This word was added to the Merriam-Websters Collegiate Edition in 2009.

Helicopter Parent

Definition: "A parent who is overly involved in the life of his or her child." This word was added to the Merriam-Websters Collegiate Edition in 2011.

Wingnut

Definition: "One who advocates extreme measures or changes : radical." This word was added to the Merriam-Websters Collegiate Edition in 2008.

Air quotes

Definition: "A gesture made by raising and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands that is used to call attention to a spoken word or expression." This word was added to the Merriam-Websters Collegiate Edition in 2008.

Ginormous

Definition: "Extremely large : humongous." This word was added to the Merriam-Websters Collegiate Edition in 2007.

Doh

Definition: "Exclamation used to comment on a foolish or stupid action, especially ones own." This was added to the Oxford English Dictionary 2001.

Grrrl

Definition: "A young woman regarded as independent and strong or aggressive, especially in her attitude to men or in her sexuality." This was added to the Oxford English Dictionary 2009.

Muggle

Definition: "A person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill." This was added to the Oxford English Dictionary 2003.
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Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program announces grant
Funds earmarked for Share the Road initiatives
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Grant funding totaling $93,458 has been awarded to the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The approved funding will be used to increase motorcycle safety awareness and outreach by encouraging all motorists and motorcyclists to Share the Road.

“The need for motorcycle safety programs is greater than ever, and this support from GOHS enables motorcycle safety programs and impaired riding initiatives to reach riders and non-riders alike” said Commissioner Spencer R. Moore. “Thank you GOHS for helping (the Department of Driver Services) and GMSP educate and encourage all Georgia drivers to ‘Share the Road.’”

The grant allows DDS to further develop the Motorcycle Safety Outreach Program by continuing to fund a position to promote state and national safety initiatives. The GMSP outreach coordinator researches, coordinates and helps maintain an adequate presence at industry events, local schools and colleges, regional meetings and festivals to increase awareness of motorcycles on the roadways and provide the most current information on motorcycle safety initiatives.

Visitors to a GMSP event display are also encouraged to sign up for regular newsletters which provide additional safety information, as well as review the motorcycle safety message on other social media platforms.

GMSP regulates motorcycle training for new riders, as well as seasoned riders, who want to learn how to ride a motorcycle legally and safely. The program is based on a continuum of learning and therefore offers three entry points to rider education.

Students participating in the Basic Riders Course do not need specialized motorcycle equipment, as the GMSP provides both a motorcycle and a helmet to class participants. Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a 90-day license waiver card that exempts them from both the written and on-cycle skills tests needed to obtain a Class M license in the state of Georgia.

Please visit the DDS website at www.dds.georgia.gov for many online services including the convenience of enrolling in a GMSP training class and accessing many licensing services.

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