The top words and phrases of 2004--plus The Washington Post's whimsical list of "new" words.

YourDictionary.com, an excellent, educational and entertaining website for word lovers, once again came up with its annual list of the year's Top Ten Words.

"Our choices reflect those words and phrases that best encapsulate the mindset of a tumultuous year," said Paul JJ Payack, president of yourDictionary.com. The list:

1. inCivility. A year characterized by the inCivil War, where the shrillness of political discourse (dis-coarse) has risen (or descended) to the highest levels in memory.

2. Red States / Blue States. A dangerously deep split or just the simplest way of cutting through an amazingly complex demographic pie.

3. Blogosphere. The realm of the "web log" or "blog." Bloggers have taken on a prominent role in vetting the mainstream media.

4. Flip-flop/flopping. Whether in reality or in myth, the concept helped to torpedo the Kerry campaign.

5. Esrever. That's "reverse" backwards, for the Red Sox who finally "reversed the curse" of the Bambino and won the World Series after 87 years.

6. Fahrenheit. 9/11 that is. Evidently, Moore passed on the more Euro-centric "Celsius 488."

7. iPod. Another product-related verb such as "to google" or "to tivo."

8. IM. In 2004 Instant Messaging became a way of life, even in the corporate world.

9. Liberal. Progressive, please.

10. Eurosceptic. Those in the EU who think the strength of Europe was in its vigorous diversity.

Bonus word: Pajamahadeen. Those bloggers who have taken a prominent role in vetting (or ensuring the accuracy) of mainstream media news coverage. (Origin: Bloggers supposedly work in their bathrobes.)

Most frequently spoken word on the planet: OK.

"New" words

The Washington Post's Style Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year's winners:

1. Bozone (n): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

2. Foreploy (v): A misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

3. Cashtration (n): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

4. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

5. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

6. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

7. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.

8. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

9. Karmageddon (n): It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

10. Decafalon (n): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

11. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.

12. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

13. Arachnoleptic fit (n): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

14. Beelzebug (n): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

15. Caterpallor (n): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature:

16. Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an azzhole.