October 16th, the birthday of Noah Webster,  is Dictionary Day.  As word nerds, we are big fans of dictionaries, and couldn't do our jobs without them.  Here are a few suggestions on how you can celebrate an importance resource which we often take for granted.

Prevent a word from becoming extinct.  You can find words that are rarely used at www.savethewords.org.  The idea is you adopt a word and begin to use it so that the word doesn't disappear.  If you have a favorite old word that is in danger of dying, you can contact Save the Words and suggest they add it to their list.

Learn a new word. Sign up for the daily email from A.Word.A.Day to learn five new words a week, or just open your favorite dictionary at a random page to discover a new word.

Coin a new word. The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational asks participants to take a word and alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing a letter, and create a new definition.  Recent entries included:

• Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
• Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
• Incoulatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

 If you've ever made up a new word, share it with the world!