"It's a word that has risen so quickly in the English language, and especially in the last four years, that it actually came as a surprise to me and to many of us," said Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor at large, in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of Monday's unveiling.Despite its relatively recent prominence — including "Gaslighter," The Chicks' 2020 album featuring the rousingly angry titular single — the word was brought to life more than 80 years ago with "Gas Light," a 1938 play by Patrick Hamilton.They don't slice and dice why people look up words, which can be anything from quick spelling and definition checks to some sort of attempt at inspiration or motivation.In the slang category, new additions included janky (of very poor quality), sus (suspicious or suspect) and lewk (a fashion look that is distinctive to the wearer and that is noticeable and memorable to others.)In a blog post revealing Collins' selection, author David Shariatmadari said the term "perfectly embodies the dizzying sense of lurching from one unprecedented event to another, as we wonder bleakly what new horrors might be around the corner.""