The Word: Catastrophizing

Question

Hello all,I just ran across this group and I must say, I'm impressed. My command of the English language is far from perfect and my puncuation and sentence structure could use some improvement.Here is my question. Why is the Word catastrophizing not in any onlnine American dictionary? I live in the US and have heard the word used before. I heard a Doctor using this word over 10 years ago but I haven't been able to find the word in any dictionary. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place but I doubt it. When I "googled" the word catastrophizing I recieved 2,940 results.In many of the cases the word catastrophizing was used at web sites across Europe but also at some American sites. Why is it that there are words that exist that are not in our dictionary? Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.Sincerely,Jeb

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hello all, I just ran across this group and I must say, I'm impressed. My command of the English language is far from perfect and my puncuation and sentence structure could use some improvement.[/nq]
You are unduly modest. Your English is of native quality. You have obviously made the most of your time in the US.
[nq:1]Here is my question. Why is the Word catastrophizing not in any onlnine American dictionary? I live in the ... not looking in the right place but I doubt it. When I "googled" the word catastrophizing I recieved 2,940 results.[/nq]
English is a very flexible language, and one example of its flexibility is the availability of what linguists call "productive" features. It is very easy, for example, to turn a word into its opposite by putting "in" or "un" or "non" at the beginning. People often do this without regard to whether they've ever seen or heard the resulting word before. Thus, for example, I can write "unmanipulable" without any self-consciousness whatever, even though I have no idea whether it's in the dictionary or not.

The suffixes "ize" and "ing" are both very productive. You can add "ize" to almost any stem, and the result will be a comprehensible word. Many such words are established in the language, some more than others; consider "hypnotize," "prioritize," and "anathematize." "Ing," is, of course, the suffix that creates the past participle form of any verb. So there is no verb you cannot add it to. If "catastrophize" is a verb, "catastrophizing" is, by definition, its past participle.
If enough people add the same suffix to the same stem, the result is a word recognized by the dictionaries. "Catastrophize" may not have made it yet (I checked onelook.com and couldn't find it; same for "catastrophise" (BrE)), but it may well show up soon. Meanwhile, it's easily understood and already in use, so don't let the slow reactions of the lexicographers dissuade you from using it.
[nq:1]In many of the cases the word catastrophizing was used at web sites across Europe but also at some American sites. Why is it that there are words that exist that are not in our dictionary?[/nq]
I guess I've already answered that: Time lag. Just be patient.
[nq:1]Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.[/nq]
Well, let's hope there's something useful in all this.

Bob Lieblich
Doing his best

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]"Ing," is, of course, the suffix that creates the past participle form of any verb.[/nq]
[nq:1]If "catastrophize" is a verb, "catastrophizing" is, by definition, its past participle.[/nq]
Awwwgoddammit! They've changed the rules AGAIN!
(I could understand the first one being a thinko, Bob, but the second one did make me wonder.)

johnF
"She had begun to sigh for somebody further on in manhood. Stephen was hardly enough of a man."
A Pair of Blue Eyes , Thomas Hardy

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]"Ing," is, of course, the suffix that creates the past participle form of any verb.[/nq]
[nq:2]If "catastrophize" is a verb, "catastrophizing" is, by definition, its past participle.[/nq]
[nq:1]Awwwgoddammit! They've changed the rules AGAIN! (I could understand the first one being a thinko, Bob, but the second one did make me wonder.)[/nq]
Did someone say something about "a foolish consistency"?

In case the OP is still with us, I meant, of course, that "ing" is the suffix of the PRESENT participle. PRESENT! Blame the error on whatever cause you want.
My thanks to John for being so gentle.

Bob Lieblich
Red of countenance

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hello all, I just ran across this group and I must say, I'm impressed. My command of the English language ... have heard the word used before. I heard a Doctor using this word over 10 years ago but I haven't[/nq]
I hate to start with a negative, but I would not capitalize "doctor" unless it was part of a name or a term of address in quoted dialogue.

For example, Doctor (or Dr.) Smith went up to Doctor Jones and said, "Hello, Doctor".
I wouldn't capitalize "word" either, in the first line of the paragraph.
[nq:1]been able to find the word in any dictionary. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place but I doubt it. When I "googled" the word catastrophizing I recieved 2,940 results.[/nq]
That sounds like a lot, but I don't think it really is. I have never heard the word used. I've never heard catastrophize. I don't really know what they would mean.
[nq:1]In many of the cases the word catastrophizing was used at web sites across Europe but also at some American ... words that exist that are not in our dictionary? Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.[/nq]
Every time there is a new edition of a dictionary, if there is a press release, they mention some of the words they have added. The words were just as much English the day before then as they are the day the new edition is available.
But people disagree on what words are really part of the language. There are a lot of words people coin that get used a few times that you probably wouldn't want in the dictionary either, maybe.
[nq:1]Sincerely, Jeb[/nq]
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
Baltimore 20 years

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2] Awwwgoddammit! They've changed the rules AGAIN! (I could ... thinko, Bob, but the second one did make me wonder.)[/nq]
[nq:1]Did someone say something about "a foolish consistency"? In case the OP is still with us, I meant, of course, that "ing" is the suffix of the PRESENT participle. PRESENT! Blame the error on whatever cause you want.[/nq]
Lordy, I'd hate to be someone who is thought (as you are, by me at least) to know a lot about the internals of English. Since I know little about them I rarely comment on them, and if I do, and (invariably) get it wrong, people (except for Skitt and Matti) usually ignore it.
[nq:1]My thanks to John for being so gentle.[/nq]
It must be getting near Christmas, the season of goodwill and all that. He's never gentle with me, and quotes my most stupid remarks from the past. That does, of course, give him a wide choice. (Over to you, John.)

wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Quiet part of Hertfordshire
England

Usenet · Answer

Hello all,
Many thanks to everyone who responded to my post and especially you Bob. Bob, that was a thorough explanation that took some time to write and was very helpful. Thanks for sharing this information with me.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all,
Jeb

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]When I "googled" the word catastrophizing I recieved 2,940 results. That sounds like a lot, but I don't think it really is. I have never heard the word used. I've never heard catastrophize. I don't really know what they would mean.[/nq]
Meirman,
Here is an example of the use of this word:
Mike was worried about the outcome of his test. His future was depending on it. He spent his days catastrophizing over the results.

In other words, he was so worried that he thought that a catastrophe was imminent.
Jeb

The Word: Catastrophizing

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