Creativity Unleashed: Speyer Eighth Graders Create New Words!

As he kicked off the assignment, Mr. Deards explained to the students that he had coined a new word a couple of years ago in real-time. A student (who was trying to be helpful) tossed a pencil to a classmate and it nearly hit her in the eye. “You could have cyclopticated her!” Mr. Deards shrieked. He then added (because can’t teachers have occasional moments?), “This is probably the first time this word has ever been used.” 

Ergo, this assignment was born! What were some of the new words our current eighth graders invented? 

Whatifity (noun): The reality you picture when thinking about what would happen if one thing had gone differently.

He lay in bed sleeplessly, picturing the whatifity when he got a better grade on the test.

Improndiment (noun): An improvised condiment is made by mixing other condiments, e.g., ketchup and mustard.

The taste of the improndiment – two parts soy sauce, one part ketchup – was overpowering and remained on her tongue for hours afterward.

Pluff (noun): Fuzz on the inside of sweatpants.

When you get out of the shower and put on sweatpants, a little bit of pluff inevitably sticks to your foot.

Quasgnosi (noun): Knowing something but not being able to place it in the moment; "on the tip of your tongue."

Upon hearing the song, the girl found herself in a frustrating state of quasgnosi and spent hours trying to place what it was.