Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Words that SHOULD be in the Scrabble dictionary

Yeah, I realize that the compilers of the Scrabble dictionary had a tricky task in front of them. Real languages evolve, and it's not clear when a word jumps from slang to legitimate usage, or when a foreign word has made the jump. Then there are the nouns derived from verbs. Obviously "thinker" is legitimate, but what about "alluder"? The powers that be say no, and I can't really argue with that one.

However, every so often I feel like I'm being actively punished for having a better-than-average vocabulary. It's a bit aggravating to be told that MERKIN is not a word by the same people who decided, in their quite finite wisdom, that ZA (meaning pizza) was a word for the ages. When was the last time you heard someone say "ZA" - the early 90's? And even back when it was in occasional (mostly ironic) usage, I believe you'd write it as 'za, with the apostrophe.

Someone has to say it: ZA was simple pandering to the anti-Z lobby. And I'm sure I'm not the only one annoyed by the fact that there are two letter words that use both Q (QI) and Z (ZA, ZO in the UK dictionary), but there are no two letter words using C or V, which are worth much less.

Okay, but that's not what I'm here to rant about. What I'm here to rant about are words that should be in the dictionary but aren't. In no particular order:

RATIONER
(Noun) One parceling out supplies to others; one restricting the usage of an object.
Usage: She asked the rationer whether she would be allowed a second egg this week.
http://www.definition-of.com/rationer

Heck, even the Wall Street Journal uses this word!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203706604574374463280098676.html

ANTERIORS
Yes, anterior is an adjective. But news flash! It's also a noun. And there's no reason it cannot be pluralized.
http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/ANTERIOR
Noun: anterior an'ti(-u)-ree-u(r)
A tooth situated at the front of the mouth
"his malocclusion was caused by malposed anteriors"


MERKIN
Ignorance of the existence of genital wigs is no excuse. Seriously...this is just a pathetic omission.

SOJU
I'm less than shocked that this tasty Korean alcoholic beverage isn't yet recognized as a legal play. But it still should be.


With more to come...

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