More Positive Mutations

The Washington Post's "Style Invitational" asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are some recent winners:

Reintarnation
Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
Foreploy
Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of obtaining sex.
Giraffiti
Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
Tatyr
A lecherous Mr. Potato Head.
Sarchasm
The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the recipient who doesn't get it.
Inoculatte
To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
Hipatitis
Terminal coolness.
Osteopornosis
A degenerate disease.
Burglesque
A poorly planned break-in. (See: Watergate)
Karmageddon
It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like a serious bummer.
Glibido
All talk and no action.
Dopeler effect
The tendency of stupid ideas to seem brighter when they come at you rapidly.
Intaxication
Euphoria at getting a refund from the IRS, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

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Ari Rapkin
Last modified: Tue Aug 24 12:04:45 PDT 1999