Apophenia

[zotz]

Interestingly, this word (as used by Gibson in his new one) is real enough, but doesn't appear in the OED - not even the online one - in spite of having been in use since the late fifties. I guess that it must have been in fairly restricted use. That's a shame, because it's a great word that I would have used in anger at least several times by now if I'd known it.

And the meaning? Spotting apparent (but illusory) patterns in random data or events.

Comments

However...

[ultravioletman.livejournal.com]

It does appear in the skeptic's (http://skepdic.com/apophenia.html) dictionary. In use since 1958 :)

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

it's a good and very useful word. Wish I'd known it sooner.

[ex-wendles389.livejournal.com]

I thought you were going to say you'd been listening to too many Norwegian bands recently...

[venta.livejournal.com]

Submit it to the OED. Go on, they like that kind of thing.

It's a good word. I shall use it.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

*nods* It has a good chance of getting in if submitted, since it already exists, with its definition, in print media.