I encountered a word that I find quite annoying today while reading a free local news rag. Twice!
The word was zeitgeist, which Merriam-Webster Online defines as: ' the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era.' It can generally be found in use by blow-hard talking heads infesting our television channels, or by anyone discussing a wide-ranging number of topics involving society or culture, or the content of hotdogs, in an attempt to appear more knowledgeable than they really are.
There simply has to be a better way to say this. Zeitgeist is heavy and unruly on the tongue; it is not a friendly word. As a matter of fact it actually sounds like an exclamation or curse don't you think?
Paul: Zeitgeist! That's a big spider!
Jim: You keep using that word, I'm not sure it means what you think it means.
Paul: Screw you then, you zeitgeist!
See what I mean, it could work. I propose we launch a movement to officially change the meaning of the word; it would no doubt be a great benefit to society. I will now take suggestions on a replacement for this cumbersome speech element.
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