An interesting dictionary & questions.

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by Dinosaur, Jun 1, 2017.

  1. Dinosaur Rational Skeptic Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,885
    Marin Gardner used to author an interesting column in Scientific American.

    He once asked readers to consider a special type of dictionary. Computers at that time were neither as fast nor as sophisticated as modern ones.

    His proposed dictionary would list words alphabetized in a different fashion, best indicated by example rather than description.

    Dare, dear, & read would be listed under ader.​

    He asked readers to consider various questions.

    Act is already in alphabetical order: What is the longest such word?

    What entry (if any) would have the most words listed? See above: Ader which has three.

    What is the first word in the B section? Similarly for the C section.

    Note that bubble comes after bubbled in this dictionary.​

    What is the last word in this dictionary?

    I guessed sty. A friend suggested Tutu. Does anyone here know of a word after tutu?​

    There might have been other interesting questions.

    For quite a few decades, computerized dictionaries have been available & such questions could be answered.

    While I do a lot of programming for fun, I do not want to take the time to do the above job.

     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. iceaura Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    30,994
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. The God Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,546
    TV.
    TV should be expected as complete meaningful word instead of short form of Television.
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. The God Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,546
    Let me try abracadabra...

    Aaaaabbcdrr.

    Well what do you make out of it.
     
  8. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    18,935
    Guess I'm not sure of the rules.

    Tutu is not in alphabetical order. A t follows the u.
     
  9. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    13,077
    In not sure Humpty Dumpty would approve of such a dictionary

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  10. Baldeee Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    The word doesn't need to be in alphabetical order, I think, but the entry for it in the dictionary would be.
    So tutu would come under the entry ttuu.

    My guess for last entry would be uuyz, for the word yuzu - a Japanese citrus fruit.


    For the longest word in alphabetical order: chimps, abhors, begins, almost...
    All 6 letters.
    There may be more of 6, but can't think of any longer.


    1st B word... I can only think of BOBBLED - so BBBDELO.
    1st C word... I was thinking it may be COCCYX (your tailbone) but in trying to find out how it is spelt I came across COCCIC.
    So this would be under the entry CCCCIO


    For entry with most words, I thought it might be AEPRS: Parse, pears, spear, spare, rapes, pares, reaps.
     
  11. Randwolf Ignorance killed the cat Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,201
    Billowy
     

Share This Page