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How did a dictionary accidentally invent dord?

For a time, a dictionary defined “dord” as a word meaning density. Merriam-Webster’s account traces the entry to a slip intended to describe an abbreviation. The error raises an appealing question: how do reference works decide whether a word exists, and how can their own pages mislead them?

3–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • How did the original note become a supposed word?
  • What counts as evidence of use beyond a dictionary entry?

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