A word from The Simpsons has been added to the dictionary
They used it in 1996!
The Simpsons
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 6th Mar 2018 Last updated 6th Mar 2018
As cartoons go The Simpsons is pretty iconic. They seem to have predicted a number of world events in past episodes, and now a totally made up word from the series has made it into the dictionary.
According to Merriam-Webster they have just added 850 new words to their dictionary and 'embiggen' is one of them. The word was first used in The Simpsons in 1996 and means 'to make bigger or more expansive'.
Watch a clip from The Simpsons where they use the word 'embiggen' (towards the end).
The American dictionary website confirmed the new addition by tweeting a gif of a clip from the Avengers Assemble cartoon television series, which is also known to use the word.
As well as 'embiggen' some of the new words to be added include 'subtweet', 'wordie' and 'Chiweenie'.
Every year more and more words are added to various dictionaries depending on their usage. Back in 2013 the word 'twerking' was added to Oxford Dictionaries Online, with them explaining it had been used in hip-hop culture for the past two decades, but has skyrocketed in usage over the past 12 month.
Katherine Connor Martin from Oxford Dictionaries told the BBC at the time, "The current public reaction to twerking is reminiscent in some ways of how the twisting craze was regarded in the early 1960s, when it was first popularised by Chubby Checker's song, The Twist."
Meanwhile last year the Word of the Year was revealed to be 'Youthquake', however no one seemed to know what it meant, despite it apparently being quite an old word - dating back to 1965. Speaking about the decision to choose 'youthquake' as the Word of the Year, the President of Oxford Dictionaries said, "We chose youthquake based on its evidence and linguistic interest."
He went on to say, "But most importantly for me, at a time when our language is reflecting our deepening unrest and exhausted nerves, it is a rare political word that sounds a hopeful note."
Now take a look at the original names for our favourite TV shows:
Friends
We all know and love it as Friends, but the TV show could have been called something very different...
A word from The Simpsons has been added to the dictionary
2 of 20
NavyNCIS
Starring Duane Henry, Emily Wickersham, and Wilmer Valderrama (above) NCIS was originally going to be called NavyNCIS.
Friends
We all know and love it as Friends, but the TV show could have been called something very different...
Six of One
Six Of One just doesn't have the same ring to it! Here are the cast Jennifer Aniston, Matt Le Blanc, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow,
Only Fools and Horses
We know it as Only Fools and Horses with Del Boy's infamous Reliant Regal Supervan.
Readies or Big Brother
But it was originally due to be called Readies or Big Brother. Good job they went with Only Fools and Horses, then!
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory could have been called something a lot less catchy...
Lenny, Penny and Kenny
Yep - Sheldon was very nearly called Kenny!
Saturday Night Live
US variety show Saturday Night Live is well known around the world - here's Star Wars actor Adam Driver introducing the show.
NBC's Saturday Night
Not quite the same, is it? Here's Ariana Grande's ex-fiancé Pete Davidson, who works on the show as a comedian.
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana, was a musical comedy starring Miley Cyrus in the lead role and was named after the main character, but it could have been very different.
Alexis Texas
The lead character was originally going to be called Alexis Texas... Which means that the show would also have been called Alexis Texas!
Lost
The gripping TV show Lost, starring Terry O'Quinn as John Locke (pictured), kept people guessing the ending for years.
Nowhere
Lost could have been called Nowhere!
New Girl
Known as New Girl, the TV show starring Zooey Deschanel as kooky teacher Jess Day could have been called something else entirely.
Chicks and D---s
While New Girl was the name they finally settled on, it had a much ruder working title - and Zooey Deschanel refused to sign onto the project whilst that was the name.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Supernatural TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer was a hit in the late 90s and early 00s. It was named after the lead character Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Slayers
It was originally going to be called Slayers.
The Good Wife
Known as The Good Wife, the TV series starred Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart (pictured), as a top litigator and senior partner of a Chicago law firm.
Leave the B-----d
The series, which also starred Sex and the City's Chris Noth (pictured), was originally going to be called Leave the B-----d.
NCIS
NCIS finished its 14th season earlier this year - this moment is from the gripping season finale.
NavyNCIS
Starring Duane Henry, Emily Wickersham, and Wilmer Valderrama (above) NCIS was originally going to be called NavyNCIS.
Friends
We all know and love it as Friends, but the TV show could have been called something very different...
Six of One
Six Of One just doesn't have the same ring to it! Here are the cast Jennifer Aniston, Matt Le Blanc, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow,
Only Fools and Horses
We know it as Only Fools and Horses with Del Boy's infamous Reliant Regal Supervan.
Readies or Big Brother
But it was originally due to be called Readies or Big Brother. Good job they went with Only Fools and Horses, then!
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory could have been called something a lot less catchy...
Lenny, Penny and Kenny
Yep - Sheldon was very nearly called Kenny!
Saturday Night Live
US variety show Saturday Night Live is well known around the world - here's Star Wars actor Adam Driver introducing the show.
NBC's Saturday Night
Not quite the same, is it? Here's Ariana Grande's ex-fiancé Pete Davidson, who works on the show as a comedian.
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana, was a musical comedy starring Miley Cyrus in the lead role and was named after the main character, but it could have been very different.
Alexis Texas
The lead character was originally going to be called Alexis Texas... Which means that the show would also have been called Alexis Texas!
Lost
The gripping TV show Lost, starring Terry O'Quinn as John Locke (pictured), kept people guessing the ending for years.
Nowhere
Lost could have been called Nowhere!
New Girl
Known as New Girl, the TV show starring Zooey Deschanel as kooky teacher Jess Day could have been called something else entirely.
Chicks and D---s
While New Girl was the name they finally settled on, it had a much ruder working title - and Zooey Deschanel refused to sign onto the project whilst that was the name.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Supernatural TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer was a hit in the late 90s and early 00s. It was named after the lead character Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Slayers
It was originally going to be called Slayers.
The Good Wife
Known as The Good Wife, the TV series starred Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart (pictured), as a top litigator and senior partner of a Chicago law firm.
Leave the B-----d
The series, which also starred Sex and the City's Chris Noth (pictured), was originally going to be called Leave the B-----d.
NCIS
NCIS finished its 14th season earlier this year - this moment is from the gripping season finale.
NavyNCIS
Starring Duane Henry, Emily Wickersham, and Wilmer Valderrama (above) NCIS was originally going to be called NavyNCIS.
