Dictionary Adds Word That Already Existed, Lexicographer Claims Credit Anyway

Senior lexicographer Dr. Constance Gloss announced Tuesday that she had 'identified and documented' the word 'flibbertigibbet' for inclusion in the latest edition of the Whitmore English Dictionary, a claim that has been met with confusion given that the word has appeared in English texts continuously since approximately 1450. 'This is a word that has been hiding in plain sight,' Dr. Gloss said at a press conference. 'For centuries, English speakers have used it without formal lexicographic sanction. I am pleased to announce that, as of today, it is officially a word.' When reporters pointed out that 'flibbertigibbet' appears in Shakespeare, in Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary, and in every major English dictionary published in the last two hundred years, Dr. Gloss was undeterred. 'Those were earlier, less rigorous definitions,' she explained. 'My entry includes updated pronunciation guidance, a revised etymology tracing the word to Middle English "flepergebet," and a usage note clarifying that the word should not be applied to actual gibbets. Previous dictionaries neglected this important distinction.' The Whitmore's editorial board has supported the addition, noting that 'even well-documented words benefit from fresh lexicographic attention.' They declined to comment on whether Dr. Gloss's claim of discovery was 'perhaps overstated.' Dr. Gloss has already begun work on her next project: a 'comprehensive re-evaluation' of the word 'the,' which she says has been 'inadequately defined for centuries.' Her preliminary notes describe the definite article as 'doing more work than anyone has acknowledged' and suggest the current definition — typically a single line — should be expanded to approximately four pages. '"The" is the most important word in the English language,' Dr. Gloss said. 'And nobody has given it the attention it deserves. Until now.'