Math Is Fun Forum

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

World's worst dictionary

Word: Definition

1. Recondite: Abstruse
2. Abstruse: Enigmatic
3. Enigmatic: Cabalistic
4. Cabalistic: Arcane
5. Arcane: Esoteric
6. Esoteric: Hermetic
7. Hermetic: Recondite

(This all started when I saw the definition of recondite including the word "abstruse")

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: World's worst dictionary

Hi Ricky;

recondite: abstruse
abstruse : arcane
arcane : esoteric
esoteric: recondite

Found this going back and forth in 4 different online dictionaries.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: World's worst dictionary

I think they are quietly demonstrating the abstruseness.

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman