Words You Would Have Thought...

Steve Balog · Post by **Steve Balog** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:21 pm

Gaijin baka desu~ (no I don't know or care if the sentence structure is right, actually speaking Japanese properly is actually very difficult, and thus is not kawaii sugoi desu~)

I had SKULLFUCK disallowed for KUF in a recent Aegilops game. Though, I think I was actually more disappointed that it would only have scored 6 if it were valid than it not being valid.

Mark Deeks · Post by **Mark Deeks** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 1:25 am

CODENAMES.

Steve Balog · Post by **Steve Balog** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:42 pm

Thank you, girlfriend's obsessive fiber arts hobby, for making me think that DESTASH^ is a much, much more logical and sensical word than STASHED.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:40 pm

BULEMIC.

Thomas Carey · Post by **Thomas Carey** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:27 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:BULEMIC.

Your 5000th post.

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:30 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:BULEMIC.

Get your fingers out of your throat for long enough, and you'll find that it's BULIMIC.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:32 pm

Fucks sake, I knew that. Sums up how well I'm playing these days.

Craig Beevers · Post by **Craig Beevers** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 6:43 pm

Yea it's an easy mistake to have made.

In Scrabble BUMELIA (a thorny tree) is a word. So if ABEILMU sits on your rack or comes up on Zyzzyva and you know there's an anagram it's easy to mess things up.

Steve Balog · Post by **Steve Balog** » Sun May 06, 2012 12:12 am

BOOMBOX is apparently no good, quite surprised at that.

Also you can be a SKYWRITER, but you can't SKYWRITE.

Steve Balog · Post by **Steve Balog** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:03 am

I had INSINCERENESSES for 15.

INSINCERENESSES? No, I'm afraid not.

...

We managed to find a 13 in SINCERENESSES.

Jennifer Steadman · Post by **Jennifer Steadman** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:29 am

Steve Balog wrote:I had INSINCERENESSES for 15.

INSINCERENESSES? No, I'm afraid not.

...

We managed to find a 13 in SINCERENESSES.

Heh - same case can be made for INSANENESSES (not valid) to SANENESSES (valid)...

Although I suppose in both senses it would have -ITY rather than -NESS(ES). Insincerity and insanity are both more efficient than insincereness(es) and insaneness(es).

Mark Deeks · Post by **Mark Deeks** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 11:22 pm

PHILTRUM.

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Wed Apr 02, 2014 12:18 pm

Mark Deeks wrote:PHILTRUM.

Don't get snotty about it.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Wed Nov 27, 2019 2:44 pm

MISOPHONIA, especially since it's what the introduction was about today. I wondered why they didn't name it. Now I know.

Don't say the word! It will make our dictionary look stupid!

Tom S · Post by **Tom S** » Wed Nov 27, 2019 3:50 pm

Uploader.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Feb 10, 2020 3:17 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2019 2:44 pm MISOPHONIA, especially since it's what the introduction was about today. I wondered why they didn't name it. Now I know.

Don't say the word! It will make our dictionary look stupid!

Also, at the end of the programme today, I noticed on the thing at the bottom of the screen it was talking about their "webpage". Not in I'm afraid!

Mark Deeks · Post by **Mark Deeks** » Tue Feb 02, 2021 7:15 pm

TAVERNER.

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:39 am

I've been (badly) playing some Hyper Nasty Letters Attacks recently and knew that RATIONALS was inexplicably not in the dictionary, because I'd confidently declared it before only to have it disallowed (probably more than once knowing me). But I was playing a game just now and DC came out with IRRATIONALS! WTF's going on with that?

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:53 am

JimBentley wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:39 am I've been (badly) playing some Hyper Nasty Letters Attacks recently and knew that RATIONALS was inexplicably not in the dictionary, because I'd confidently declared it before only to have it disallowed (probably more than once knowing me). But I was playing a game just now and DC came out with IRRATIONALS! WTF's going on with that?

I have no explanation for that bizarre oddity. It’s just totally… oh, what’s the word?

Adam Latchford · Post by **Adam Latchford** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 3:06 pm

Girliest. Wang. The two biggies

Rhys Benjamin · Post by **Rhys Benjamin** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:59 pm

Thanks for resurrecting this thread.

Why has MEDIAS been taken out again? Is it not the plural of social media? "I have updated the company's social medias."

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 12:07 pm

Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:59 pm Thanks for resurrecting this thread.

Why has MEDIAS been taken out again? Is it not the plural of social media? "I have updated the company's social medias."

It's already a plural. The problem is that the plural is used for the singular too.

Rhys Benjamin · Post by **Rhys Benjamin** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:11 pm

I know that, etymologically speaking, it ought to be a plural noun, but in common usage "social medias" is definitely a thing.

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:34 pm

Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:11 pm I know that, etymologically speaking, it ought to be a plural noun, but in common usage "social medias" is definitely a thing.

Only among idiots.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Fri Oct 01, 2021 2:46 pm

SEEDINGS obviously. A bit of a joke omission.

Edit - Further discussion.

Tim Down · Post by **Tim Down** » Fri Oct 01, 2021 5:33 pm

Yep. Number one on my list of weird omissions too. It's used *all the time* in sport.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 2:46 pm SEEDINGS obviously. A bit of a joke omission.

Edit - Further discussion.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » Fri May 13, 2022 6:33 pm

TESSERACT. The 4-dimensional version of a square or cube, for those not in the know.

EDIT: it is in Scrabble though

Fiona T · Post by **Fiona T** » Fri May 13, 2022 7:23 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 2:46 pm SEEDINGS obviously. A bit of a joke omission.

Edit - Further discussion.

It won the 'most plausible non-word' prize at co:lon, 'coz we've all declared it

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:03 am

Chirpsy

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:29 am

What would that mean?

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 11:16 am

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:29 am What would that mean?

Flirtatious basically, but specifically in conversation. "Baz was getting all chirpsy with Shaz at the party".

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 11:31 am

Adam Gillard wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 11:16 am
Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:29 am What would that mean?
Flirtatious basically, but specifically in conversation. "Baz was getting all chirpsy with Shaz at the party".

I had no idea this word exisited, but CHIRPSE is in as a verb, but there's no listed adjective to go with it.

Interestingly, Apterous has CHIRPSING, as opposed to CHIRPSEING, although Lexico (the free version at least) doesn't specify which would be valid, and neither redirect to CHIRPSE if you enter them. (You can have e.g. WHINGEING and WHINGING.)

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 12:36 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 11:31 am
Adam Gillard wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 11:16 am
Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:29 am What would that mean?
Flirtatious basically, but specifically in conversation. "Baz was getting all chirpsy with Shaz at the party".
I had no idea this word exisited, but CHIRPSE is in as a verb, but there's no listed adjective to go with it.

Interestingly, Apterous has CHIRPSING, as opposed to CHIRPSEING, although Lexico (the free version at least) doesn't specify which would be valid, and neither redirect to CHIRPSE if you enter them. (You can have e.g. WHINGEING and WHINGING.)

I feel it would be CHIRPSING only. Compare CORPSING (with laughter).

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:28 pm

Susie claimed today when a word got disallowed that it's all frequency-based. It definitely isn't.

Adam Gillard · Post by **Adam Gillard** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:23 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:28 pm Susie claimed today when a word got disallowed that it's all frequency-based. It definitely isn't.

I suspect the dictionaries are based on frequency analysis of the Oxford Corpus, so Susie's probably right. If CHIRPSY or another word doesn't come up much in the publications used to build the corpus then it won't make the (more selective) dictionaries.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:52 pm

Adam Gillard wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:23 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:28 pm Susie claimed today when a word got disallowed that it's all frequency-based. It definitely isn't.
I suspect the dictionaries are based on frequency analysis of the Oxford Corpus, so Susie's probably right. If CHIRPSY or another word doesn't come up much in the publications used to build the corpus then it won't make the (more selective) dictionaries.

I'm sure that's partly it, though the Corpus is supposed to be a good sample across the spectrum of how English is used, both formal and informal.

But I think also you get old words that are basically never used any more that just stick around (e.g. GOUTINESS). Sometimes newer words get in really quickly seemingly for the headlines, whereas other more boring ones take longer even though they're common enough (I seem to remember some lag around LAGGY). Plus I think offensive words have a higher bar for inclusion.

And SEEDINGS still isn't in.

Rhys Benjamin · Post by **Rhys Benjamin** » Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:23 pm

How is HAPHAZARDOUS not in!?

Fiona T · Post by **Fiona T** » Wed Apr 12, 2023 8:09 pm

Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:23 pm How is HAPHAZARDOUS not in!?

Haphazard is an adjective. How would it be different?

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Wed Apr 12, 2023 9:08 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:28 pm Susie claimed today when a word got disallowed that it's all frequency-based. It definitely isn't.

The other day a word came up that Susie said is never used. Can't recall it right now. I'll have a think.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Apr 13, 2023 11:41 am

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 9:08 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:28 pm Susie claimed today when a word got disallowed that it's all frequency-based. It definitely isn't.
The other day a word came up that Susie said is never used. Can't recall it right now. I'll have a think.

Might have been WAITRON.

Adam S Latchford · Post by **Adam S Latchford** » Thu May 04, 2023 10:55 am

Uromastyx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uromastyx
Justice for Vulcan.

Philip A · Post by **Philip A** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:36 am

Unsure why tesseract isn’t in ODP.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:46 am

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Apr 13, 2023 11:41 am
Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 9:08 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:28 pm Susie claimed today when a word got disallowed that it's all frequency-based. It definitely isn't.
The other day a word came up that Susie said is never used. Can't recall it right now. I'll have a think.
Might have been WAITRON.

She brought this up again the other day - that no-one uses this word.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:46 am

Philip A wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:36 am Unsure why tesseract isn’t in ODP.

Yeah, bit of a weird omission.

Philip A · Post by **Philip A** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:55 am

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:46 am
Philip A wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:36 am Unsure why tesseract isn’t in ODP.
Yeah, bit of a weird omission.

Falseagram of RASCETTES.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » Fri Jul 07, 2023 8:51 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:46 am
Philip A wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:36 am Unsure why tesseract isn’t in ODP.
Yeah, bit of a weird omission.

but muh low usage frequency!!!11

Paul Worsley · Post by **Paul Worsley** » Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:41 pm

I declared SUBFINITE in a game last month, assuming it would be valid, but it wasn't.... It's a mathematical term.

Thomas Carey · Post by **Thomas Carey** » Mon Jul 10, 2023 12:45 am

Paul Worsley wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:41 pm I declared SUBFINITE in a game last month, assuming it would be valid, but it wasn't.... It's a mathematical term.

A lot of us got burned at Newcastle by bijects not being in. And rationals not being valid still surprises me

Adam S Latchford · Post by **Adam S Latchford** » Mon Jul 10, 2023 8:23 am

seabass not being in another newcastle entry for ???

(aware it's two words if strictly speaking about the animal but it's not two words on every single food menu i've ever seen)

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Fri Nov 17, 2023 2:46 pm

Beasted.

Fiona T · Post by **Fiona T** » Fri Nov 17, 2023 3:06 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 2:46 pm Beasted.

It's in as a verb so should be in.

will ticket

Philip A · Post by **Philip A** » Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:45 pm

Can’t believe ‘eschalot’ is not in ODP at all!

Andres Sanchez · Post by **Andres Sanchez** » Sun Nov 26, 2023 2:12 am

Is it me or has there been a QUOINER at one point?

Steve Hyde · Post by **Steve Hyde** » Mon Nov 27, 2023 9:56 am

I was surprised by WEDGIED not being allowed at CO:MK

Dan Byrom · Post by **Dan Byrom** » Tue Nov 28, 2023 9:44 pm

Andres Sanchez wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 2:12 am Is it me or has there been a QUOINER at one point?

There's QUOITER, QUOILER and QUOINED.

Checking lexplorer, many of the game's best players have gone for it but it's never been in!

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:44 am

Spick, spicker, spickest, spannest. SPAN and SPANNER are in though!

Andres Sanchez · Post by **Andres Sanchez** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:34 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:44 am Spick, spicker, spickest, spannest. SPAN and SPANNER are in though!

Think it might be spic instead of spick, but honestly I woulda thought the same way as you when I first heard the phrase

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:12 pm

From Wikipedia:

The phrase "span-new" meant as new as a freshly cut wood chip, such as those once used to make spoons. In a metaphor dating from at least 1300, something span-new was neat and unstained.

Spic was added in the 16th century, as a "spick" (a spike or nail) was another metaphor for something neat and trim. The British phrase may have evolved from the Dutch spiksplinter nieuw, "spike-splinter new".[7] In 1665, Samuel Pepys used "spicke and span" in his famous diary. The "clean" sense appears to have arisen only recently.[8] The term is completely unrelated to the modern epithet spic.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Mon Feb 26, 2024 2:22 pm

Limbic.

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Tue Feb 27, 2024 12:38 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 2:22 pmLimbic.

Not just me then.