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English2 Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary

Please convince me...

Hi,

Is "magistrand" a true english word?

How about "seminarist?"

I can see the meaning in some dictionaries, but are they really, really english words?

Thank you!
  

Top answer

Hello E2, They both appear in my dictionary too; though both words are very rare, and would probably not be encountered by an ordinary native speaker. I would call them English words. What is it that makes you doubtful?

— MrPedantic

  • Hello E2, They both appear in my dictionary too; though both words are very rare, and would probably not be encountered by an ordinary native speaker.
  • I would call them English words.
  • What is it that makes you doubtful?
  • All the best, MrP
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3 Answers
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Hello E2,

They both appear in my dictionary too; though both words are very rare, and would probably not be encountered by an ordinary native speaker.

I would call them English words. What is it that makes you doubtful?

All the best,

MrP
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What is it that makes me so doubtful?

Well, just like you said... they are rare. And it seems that most Americans don't / can't understand them.

Thank you, Mr. Pedantic!
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English2it seems that most Americans don't / can't understand them.
If "being an English word" depends on Americans understanding it, we're in big trouble.
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