Just this week, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) updated their alphabetical list of words and definitions, including the history of each of these words tracing back to as early as the 1800s.
BBC reported that among the modernized words included in the quarterly update is "twerk," which was made popular by Miley Cyrus during her MTV Video Music Awards performance in 2013.
Defined as "to dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner, using thrusting movements of the bottom and hips while in a low, squatting stance," OED traced the origin of this popular term back in 1820, with a different spelling, "twirk," which is said to be a combination of words, "twist" and "jerk."
"We are confident that it is the same origins as the dance," senior editor for Oxford English Dictionary, Fiona McPherson told BBC.
Time listed some of OED newly-defined words such as "Fo shizzle," which means "for sure" in hip-hop language; "Half-ass" which is defined as "to perform (an action or task) poorly or incompetently," adding an explanation that "ass" is an insulting term for "clumsy or stupid" people used by the Greeks.
The word, "Backronym" is defined as an explanation of an acronym, like "gentleman only, ladies forbidden" for GOLF.
The dictionary has also officially added the term, "FLOTUS," which backronym is "First Lady of the United States," originally pertained to Nancy Raegan.
"There has been constant use up into the present day to mean that same thing. I think it's quite spectacular, the early origins for it. We were quite surprised," McPherson added.
Also included in the 500 newly-added popular words is the expression, "Meh," which is used to show "lack of enthusiasm," made famous by the cartoon show, The Simpsons, and the term "Photobombing" which people unexpectedly do, with or without intending to spoil a photograph.
