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The Cambridge Encyclopedia of The English Language
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Image Spacer The Cambridge Encyclopedia of The English Language
Second EditionDavid Crystal

Weekly Factoid

A few more of the items coined to fill supposed lexical gaps in English.missaisles People in supermarkets who 'drive' their shopping carts in a reckless fashion.envelip The papercut sustained licking the flap of an envelope.citrastreak The juice that squirts out when you eat an orange or grapefruit and which always hits other people no matter how far away they are.illuminotion The practice of switching on the bedside lamp to answer the phone in the mistaken belief that you'll be able to hear better.elaversion Avoiding eye-contact with other people in an elevatorreincaffeination The practice of coffee cups always being refilled in restaurants.toiliterature The books and magazines that people keep in their bathroomstoilert Precautionary whistling when there's no lock on the bathroom door.pedicurious The position you have to get into in order to cut your toenails.

[See page 133 of The Encyclopedia: BAGONIZING]


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