Words That Shaped Last Week: 'iPhone 5,' '47 Percent,' and 'Robsten'

For your edification, a look back at the phrases, nouns, and neologisms that have, for better or for worse, shaped the week's national discourse.
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FILE- In this Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, file photo, Noah Meloccaro, right, compares his older iPhone 4s to the new iPhone 5 held by Both Gatwech, outside the Apple Store in Omaha, Neb. Apple Inc. said Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, that it sold more than 5 million units of the iPhone 5 in the three days since its launch, less than analysts had expected. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
FILE- In this Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, file photo, Noah Meloccaro, right, compares his older iPhone 4s to the new iPhone 5 held by Both Gatwech, outside the Apple Store in Omaha, Neb. Apple Inc. said Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, that it sold more than 5 million units of the iPhone 5 in the three days since its launch, less than analysts had expected. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)

By Juli Weiner, Vanity Fair

2012-09-24-WordsThatShapedtheWeekiPhone547PercentandRobsten.jpeg

For your edification, a look back at the phrases, nouns, and neologisms that have, for better or for worse, shaped the week's national discourse.

iPhone 5 [i fone fyv], noun: To the chagrin of under-showered Gen Y-ers, the most successfully launched new technological device ever.

Relaunch [re-lawnch], verb: To start over and try something new, or try the same thing in a new way, such as in the case of a perpetually inept and increasingly desperate presidential campaign.

Robsten [rawb-stin], noun: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, collectively; a couple who may or may not be rekindling their lucratively timed romance for the forthcoming Twilight press tour.

42 [for-tee tu], noun: Brian Helgeland's Harrison Ford-starring, Barack Obama-approved Jackie Robinson biopic.

47 percent [for-tee seh-vin pur-sent], noun: The unthinking, unwashed, welfare-dependent masses whom Mitt Romney considers beyond help.

Joe Biden [jo bi-den], noun: The most popular speaker at the 2012 political conventions, for reasons utterly unknown and perhaps unknowable.

Emmy's [em-ees], noun: The annual awards ceremony honoring achievement in television, during which VF Daily rooted for New Girl's inestimable Max Greenfield.

Ann Romney [an rahm-nee], noun: The Romney campaign's secret weapon--or covert kryptonite?

Champagne tower [sham-payn tou-er], noun: A under-appreciated party accessory at Jay-Z and Beyoncé's lavish Obama fundraiser.

Latino [lah-tee-noh], noun: Mitt Romney's ironic fantasy ethnicity.

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