ideate ['aɪdiːeɪt]. This is a single word that means to form an idea, or to imagine. So much more interesting to say “I ideated” rather than “I had an idea”! Or so I thought. Unfortunately, a quick look online (instead of in the paper dictionary from the 1980s, updated from the 1884 original) reveals that it is now commonly used in the workplace for brainstorming. Most people probably therefore think of it as a new word, even though the first known use of it was in 1609!
top of page
Recent Posts
See Allislomania [aɪləʊ'meɪnɪə]. The suffix “-mania” means “obsessed by”. Here, it’s an obsession with islands. It’s also the title of an album...
00
improve [ɪm'pruːv]. Why is this word here? Everyone knows that improve means to make better. However, there’s an older meaning that I...
00
And along the same lines, September is “Interesting words, initially I”. The same rules as before… ianthinite [aɪ'ænƟɪnaɪt]. This is an...
00
bottom of page
Comments