American dictionary Merriam-Webster has named “gaslighting” as the word of the year saying the searches for the word saw a 1740 per cent rise in 2022
Gaslighting which means psychologically manipulating, grossly manipulating or downright deceitful behaviour was named the word of the year on the dictionary’s website on Monday.
Gaslighting was first used 80 years ago in a 1938 play titled “Gas Light” by Patrick Hamilton.
Merriam-Webster in an official statement revealing the origin of the word ‘gaslight’ said it was colourful.
It then said, later on, the word was used among psychiatrists and mental health practitioners to clinically describe emotional manipulation in abusive relationships.
“The word (gaslighting) has risen so quickly in the English language, and especially in the last four years, that it has actually come as a surprise to me and many other editors,” said Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large of Merriam-Webster.
Meanwhile, Oxford has shortlisted “Metaverse” as 2022’s word of the year. As stated by the Oxford University Press Metaverse is a “virtual reality environment in which users can interact with one another’s avatar in an immersive way.”
