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nonce word
literature
nonce word, a word coined and used apparently to suit one particular occasion. Nonce words are sometimes used independently by different writers and speakers, but they are not adopted into general use. Literary works known for their prominent use of nonce words include Lewis Carrollās poem āJabberwockyā (1871) and James Joyceās novel Finnegans Wake (1939). Compare portmanteau word.
This article was most recently revised and updated by John M. Cunningham.
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