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Watch out! Negaholic Di-maniacs are about

'Negaholic' 'Di-maniacs' with 'Girl Power' are officially on the loose.

The latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary has recognised a plethora of this year's buzz words as eligible for inclusion.

Additions include "adultescent" - someone middle aged who hangs on to youth culture, "fluffragette"- a woman with pre-feminist role models, and "offliner" or "internot" - someone who does not use the Internet.

The new inclusions have been chosen because they result directly from events and trends of the past year or describe something completely new.

According to Jenny Miell, senior assistant editor on the Oxford English Dictionary, the latest additions reflect "our tendency to categorise each other socially more than we used to."

A sample of 1997's buzz words:

• Adultescent: someone middle aged who hangs on to youth culture.
• Bigorexia, muscle dysmorphia or reverse anorexia: disorder suffered by bodybuilders who consider themselves puny.
• Blue pound: main income is from pornography.
• Emotionally correct: a person able to feel as well as act in a politically correct manner.
• Fluffragette: a woman with pre-feminist role models.
• Girl Power: feminism espoused by the Spice Girls.
• Irishised: a pub which has just been converted with an Irish theme.
• Mezzobrow: a person who is middlebrow but in a fashionable and superior way.
• Negaholic: a compulsive negative thinker.
• Offliner or Internot: someone who does not use the internet.
• On-message:sticking to the party line.
• Sandwich generation: those who simultaneously look after children and ageing parents.
• Technoplegic: a person who suffers from paralysis induced by fear of using technology.

Internet Links

The Oxford English Dictionary Online

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Summaries

In this section

Queen's speech highlights year of joy and sadness
Clashes expected over Boxing Day hunts
Girl power spices up Boxing day
Thousands face second day without electricity
Carey preaches humble message
Football hooligans to be barred from World Cup
An icy plunge on Christmas Day (From Sport)
Collymore charged with assault (From Sport)
Police swoop to rescue turkey
Burglars say 'sorry guv'
Pensioner left bound and gagged
Cabinet Minister's son arrested
MP calls for cannabis legalisation
Teletubbies take top toy slot

UK Contents

• Politics