As we do write: hyper-terms for hypertext

Abstract

Coined in the mid-1960’s by Ted Nelson, the term hypertext conjoins hyper and text. Hyper, used as a prefix, derives from the Greek hyper, originally meaning over, or above, but whose meaning typically implies excess or exaggeration. A synonymous prefix is super [43]. There is also the independent meaning of hyper used as a noun to mean, “a person who promotes or publicizes events, people, etc., esp. one who uses flamboyant or questionable methods; promoter; publicist” [43]. Text has the original meaning of words woven together [43], and so combined with hyper, hypertext implies both a super text, a text that, due to interlinking, is greater than the original texts, and a super weaving of words, creating new texts from old.