Quote:
Originally Posted by Quoth
[...] Also OED tries to reflect existing usage, on updates, whereas historically Webster (USA) and French dictionaries were more prescriptive, often only listing what they thought was acceptable usage. Hence IMO crazy that people want OED entries removed. It's sufficient to note that the use of a word or phrase is negative to abusive.
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Not meaning to go all quantum on you or anything, but there is an element of uncertainty principle surrounding dictionaries. They both reflect and influence usage. Of course, when when talking of historical texts, as we are here, actually influencing the result would probably require a wormhole ... probably better I shut up now
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