An Engaging New Book Looks at the Dictionary

""If there's one thing I learned, it's just how sophisticated and complex the work of defining words is," Fatsis says."

""It requires so much effort to search databases for dozens of examples of a word being used in the wild, and then think through how to distill its meaning in a way that's clear and concise and objective.""

""there were probably 200 full-time commercial lexicographers in the United States, and today the number is under 50.""

A longtime journalist embedded with Merriam-Webster to apprentice as a lexicographer and to try defining contemporary words. The work required extensive database searches and dozens of real-world usage examples to craft clear, concise, objective definitions. Acceptance of a submitted definition provoked a strong emotional response. The internet has accelerated language change, increasing demand for lexicographic work while simultaneously undermining the traditional dictionary business model. Full-time commercial lexicographer numbers in the United States have dropped dramatically, reducing institutional capacity. Accurate, timely definitions proved crucial during public-health crises when correct information could affect lives.

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