Save the Words
Word — n. a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning.

Did you know that each year hundreds of words are dropped from the English language, never to be used again? In fact, 90 percent of what we communicate today is done so in just 7,000 words. It certainly seems that the more we can shorten words and sentences, the happier we are. After all, two primary modes of communication for many of us are emailing quick responses via a Blackberry or texting back and forth via cell phone. But, what is happening to language as a result?

At Savethewords.org, a group of dedicated wordsmiths from Oxford Dictionary have put together a website devoted entirely to saving lost words, such as "pessundate," "vacivity" and "icasm."

Knowing that words are the cornerstone of language, they believe that the more words we know, the better we can communicate what we mean to say.

When you visit Savethewords.org, you can learn new words, share additional "lost words" for expert verification and addition to the website, adopt a word and get ideas for how to incorporate it into your everyday vocabulary, sign up to receive a word a day in your email, and more.

Savethewords.org also has a Facebook group you can join.

Here's a word from Savethewords.org to get you started: "lubency." It's a noun, which means willingness or pleasure. And used in a sentence, it looks like this: After he told his student about this great website, she checked her email each day with excitement, showing her newfound lubency in enriching her vocabulary in her school work.