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Posted on November 17th, 2008 by Mike
I am pleased to announce that CPH now uses a better dictionary. The dictionary now has more words and more definitions. Also, where a definition isn’t found, the dictionary will attempt to suggest alternative words.
I hope you like it!
Posted on November 3rd, 2008 by Mike
In my search for a better dictionary for Crossword Puzzle Help I’ve been thinking about why the CPH dictionary isn’t the most comprehensive dictionary out there. I had thought it was the fault of the dictionary, and whilst it certainly is missing some definitions (and is very obviously built on a 1913 dictionary), it can’t be blamed entirely.
Part of the issue is what constitutes a valid word. CPH uses a comprehensive wordlist suitable for all word games (e.g., Scrabble). And that is the problem. The wordlist accepts many words that would not normally be considered valid words. Consider the word “runkle”. CPH accepts this as a valid word, and whilst it would be fine to play in a game of Scrabble, would that word ever appear as the answer to a crossword question? (Incidentally, runkle means “to wrinkle”.)
Thus, when we use CPH and find a word that is missing a definition, we may curse the dictionary. But it could be the case that we have uncovered an obscure word that has found its way onto the (very comprehensive) wordlist).
It’s an issue that I’m going to think about. Maybe CPH should use a much less comprehensive wordlist.
Whilst we’re talking Scrabble words…
Any half decent Scrabble player knows that SH is a valid word. But did you know that SHHis also a valid? BRR and BRRR are valid Scrabble words too. And rightly or wrongly, CPH considers them valid words too.
