The Distraction: A Defector Podcast You Depraved the Manner of Men with Stefan Fatsis
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Nov 13, 2025 
Stefan Fatsis, author and journalist known for his books on language and sports, joins the discussion. He shares insights from his immersive journey at Merriam-Webster while writing his new book, Unabridged. Topics include the challenges of crafting dictionary definitions, the evolution of language, and the tricky world of competitive Scrabble, particularly the woes of the letter V. The trio also debates whether NFL kickers have become too adept at their craft and tackles language pet peeves, revealing quirks about the words we use.
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Behind The Dictionary’s Labor
- Stefan embedded at Merriam‑Webster to learn how lexicographers research and write definitions.
- He emphasizes the painstaking research and editorial rigor behind concise dictionary entries.
Plan For Slow Definition Work
- Expect definition drafting to demand deep example gathering and grammatical precision.
- Allocate far more time than you think for concise, bulletproof dictionary language.
Webster Framed Language As Nation Building
- Noah Webster framed American English as a nation‑building project, altering spellings and adding native terms.
- Early lexicography intertwined language, identity, and cultural authority.
