Monday, October 03, 2005
“On Language” 9/21: Dictionary invents a word as a copyright trap
Dictionary sets a trap with an invented word
‘On Language’
Chicago Tribune
September 21, 2005
By Nathan Bierma
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The New Oxford American Dictionary’s entry for “esquivalience” defines it as “the willful avoidance of one’s official responsibilities; the shirking of duties,” as in, “After three subordinates attested to his esquivalience, Lieutenant Claiborne was dismissed.” The word’s etymology is traced to the late 19th Century, “perhaps from French esquiver, `dodge, slink away.’”
But while “esquiver” is a real French word, “esquivalience” is an invention. ...
The copyright trap worked. “Esquivalience” showed up at Dictionary.com, attributed to the electronic dictionary Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of English. (The word has since been removed from Dictionary.com.)
McKean says although the definition of “esquivalience” had been altered at Dictionary.com, there was no question that the entry came from anywhere but the New Oxford American Dictionary.
For more, see the 9/24 World Wide Words newsletter, “Noted This Week” (#4).