[The Washington Post's “Mensa Invitational” asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting or changing one letter to create a new word, and then to supply an appropriate definition for the new word. Here are some recent winners...]

ARACHNOLEPTIC FIT: The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

BEELZEBUG: Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

BOZONE: The substance surrounding stupid people that stop bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

CASHTRATION: The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

CATERPALLOR: The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

DECAFALON: The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

DOPELER EFFECT: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly (usually after a few drinks).

FOREPLOY: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of obtaining sex.

GIRAFFITI: Vandalism spray-painted very high.

GLIBIDO: All talk and no action.

HIPATITIIS: Terminal coolness.

INOCULATTE: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

INTAXICATION: Euphoria at getting a tax refund from the IRS, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

KARMAGEDDON: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like a serious bummer.

OSTEOPORNOSIS: A degenerate disease.

REINTARNATION: Coming back to life as a Redneck.

SARCHASM: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the recipient who doesn't get it.