c4countdown

This isn't a bug but I was directed here anyway, it is a query about a word which is in the OED full edition not being allowed in countdown, and I am not sure if it should or should not be disallowed- the word is daric, it is an ancient Persian coin, and in the OED it is not capitalised. Is the OED2r/ODE devoid of this word for some reason, and if so, why?

Paul Erdunast wrote:This isn't a bug but I was directed here anyway, it is a query about a word which is in the OED full edition not being allowed in countdown, and I am not sure if it should or should not be disallowed- the word is daric, it is an ancient Persian coin, and in the OED it is not capitalised. Is the OED2r/ODE devoid of this word for some reason, and if so, why?

Can't see DARIC at all - sorry.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Paul Erdunast wrote:This isn't a bug but I was directed here anyway, it is a query about a word which is in the OED full edition not being allowed in countdown, and I am not sure if it should or should not be disallowed- the word is daric, it is an ancient Persian coin, and in the OED it is not capitalised. Is the OED2r/ODE devoid of this word for some reason, and if so, why?

Can't see DARIC at all - sorry.

He asked "why" as well.

Jon Corby wrote:
He asked "why" as well.

Because I used my eyes and it's not located between Dari and Darien which it should be since Dari is common to both and the next letter, c, comes between a blank (after Dari) and the 'e' (after Dari in Darien).

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Jon Corby wrote:
He asked "why" as well.

Because I used my eyes and it's not located between Dari and Darien which it should be since Dari is common to both and the next letter, c, comes between a blank (after Dari) and the 'e' (after Dari in Darien).

No, he wants to know why it's not in there.

Paul Erdunast wrote:This isn't a bug but I was directed here anyway, it is a query about a word which is in the OED full edition not being allowed in countdown, and I am not sure if it should or should not be disallowed- the word is daric, it is an ancient Persian coin, and in the OED it is not capitalised. Is the OED2r/ODE devoid of this word for some reason, and if so, why?

It's in the Shorter OED. This might not be relevant.

That is actually very useful knowledge Ian; I remember once there was some word that was in both the shorter and longer OEDs, but which Kirk? wisely declined on show, or someone at least. It's odd that the OED2r isn't simply a larger subset of words than the SODE. If anyone can explain the logic behind this I'd appreciate it

Daniel O'Dowd wrote:That is actually very useful knowledge Ian; I remember once there was some word that was in both the shorter and longer OEDs, but which Kirk? wisely declined on show, or someone at least. It's odd that the OED2r isn't simply a larger subset of words than the SODE. If anyone can explain the logic behind this I'd appreciate it

The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) is 20 volumes and contains pretty much every word their lexicographers think is valid. The Shorter Oxford is 2 volumes and is a smaller subset, and the ODE(2r) used for Countdown is just a single volume and necessarily has less words again (though I don't think the ODE is entirely contained in the Shorter Oxford, probably due to differing editorial staff).

The most general way that words are chosen for use in an abridged dictionary is through statistical means, using large corpora. The less common stuff, like archaic foreign currencies, are more likely to get the boot. This is particularly the case with a dictionary like the ODE, which is updated often and derives much of its publicity by the addition of vogue words (cf. the verb "google").

Simon Myers wrote:

Daniel O'Dowd wrote:That is actually very useful knowledge Ian; I remember once there was some word that was in both the shorter and longer OEDs, but which Kirk? wisely declined on show, or someone at least. It's odd that the OED2r isn't simply a larger subset of words than the SODE. If anyone can explain the logic behind this I'd appreciate it

The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) is 20 volumes and contains pretty much every word their lexicographers think is valid. The Shorter Oxford is 2 volumes and is a smaller subset, and the ODE(2r) used for Countdown is just a single volume and necessarily has less words again (though I don't think the ODE is entirely contained in the Shorter Oxford, probably due to differing editorial staff).

Indeed. SANGFROID is in the ODE but not the SOED (cheers Paul) and there are doubtless other inconsistencies.

Oops lol I thought the Oed2r was bigger than the Shorter :lol

Simon Myers wrote:I don't think the ODE is entirely contained in the Shorter Oxford, probably due to differing editorial staff

As stated in the SOED, 'one third of the coverage of the OED in just 2 volumes'.

In case you are interested, here is the dictionary (OED full version) definition for daric:

A gold coin of ancient Persia, said to have been named from the first Darius. Also a Persian silver coin of the same design, specifically called siglos.

Thanks, some good reasons, and interesting to know which versions are which. To be honest, in the daric round, I really should have found radii!

Charlie Reams wrote:

Simon Myers wrote: The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) is 20 volumes and contains pretty much every word their lexicographers think is valid. The Shorter Oxford is 2 volumes and is a smaller subset, and the ODE(2r) used for Countdown is just a single volume and necessarily has less words again (though I don't think the ODE is entirely contained in the Shorter Oxford, probably due to differing editorial staff).

Indeed. SANGFROID is in the ODE but not the SOED (cheers Paul) and there are doubtless other inconsistencies.

It's actually in the SOED, but hyphenated. I'd guess there are some ODE2r words that have been totally omitted from SOED (perhaps some of the most recent additions?), but I don't know of any.

Some further investigation reveals SHROOMER is missing from my SOED. Of course, I received my copy before Countdown moved to ODE2r and I don't know if a new edition has since been published, so take that with a pinch of salt.

Paul Erdunast wrote:Thanks, some good reasons, and interesting to know which versions are which. To be honest, in the daric round, I really should have found radii!

Or indeed ACRID, its anagram