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Posted By: wwh doublethink - 02/15/04 08:43 PM
Date: Sun Jan 16 00:19:21 EST 2000
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--doublethink
doublethink (DUB-uhl-thingk) noun
Thought marked by the acceptance of gross contradictions and
falsehoods, especially when used as a technique of self-indoctrination.

[Double + think, coined by George Orwell in his novel "1984" (1949)

Posted By: Fiberbabe Re: doublethink - 02/16/04 12:48 AM
Derivative of "doublespeak" somehow, no? Which came first, dare I ask?

Posted By: maverick Re: doublethink - 02/19/04 02:39 PM
I'm not sure about the variation of doublespeak (recognised like all of this group as both hyphenated and unhyphenated in form) but 'double talk' is earlier and of US provenance:

1938 New York Panorama (Amer. Guide Ser.) vi. 156 Of late a humorously conceived system of language corruption called double talk+has made itself felt.

OED2

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