Words enter English through various processes, including:
* Borrowing: Taking words from other languages (e.g., "sushi" from Japanese, "chutzpah" from Yiddish)
* Coining: Creating entirely new words (e.g., "blog," "selfie")
* Compounding: Combining two or more words to create a new one (e.g., "smartphone," "sunrise")
* Derivation: Adding prefixes and suffixes to existing words (e.g., "un-", "-ing")
* Acronyms: Using the first letters of a phrase to create a new word (e.g., "NATO," "laser")
While allusion doesn't introduce new vocabulary, it can sometimes influence the meaning of existing words. For instance, the phrase "Achilles' heel" alludes to a vulnerability in the Greek hero Achilles, and this phrase has come to represent a weakness in a person or system.
However, "Achilles' heel" itself isn't a new word. It's a combination of existing words used metaphorically thanks to the literary device of allusion.