"DVR" added to Merriam-Webster dictionary

We've toiled and we've troubled, and finally our hard work has paid off: the term "DVR" has been accepted by Merriam-Webster in its Eleventh Edition Collegiate Dictionary. Strangely, DVR joins the dictionary at the same time as RPG (or rocket propelled grenade): we're guessing the staff at Merriam-Webster switched over from their TiVo for a bit of Gears action, reminding them that RPG needed to be in there too.

[StevO @ Jul 15th 2007 10:44PM]

What? No love for the REAL RPG -- role playing games?

[david ray @ Jul 16th 2007 2:41AM]

I can now use this in scrabble? AWESOME!

[Zelatio @ Jul 15th 2007 10:54PM]

Kind of sad figuring the term RPG for rocket propelled grenades has been around for decades now and DVR has been out for only several years.

[Señor Swanky @ Jul 15th 2007 10:57PM]

What, now Motorola phones get in there? Sheesh.

[lyl545646 @ Jul 15th 2007 11:03PM]

is there any chance for the word "noob" to make it in the dictionary?

[Jonhimslf @ Jul 15th 2007 11:06PM]

I'm sure it's possible, once something gains enough mainstream acceptance it's only a matter of time.

[Dan @ Jul 15th 2007 11:59PM]

Beauty of the English language. Screw the word up enough times and it's correct!

If only Bush worked that way...

[lars @ Jul 16th 2007 5:49AM]

@dan: Careful, Bush might go nucular on your ass!

[Blake @ Jul 15th 2007 11:06PM]

Geez, the weekends are really slow for news.

[Andrew @ Jul 15th 2007 11:06PM]

ha I would like to see 1337 added to the dictionary

[ark_v2 @ Jul 15th 2007 11:13PM]

It has been in wikipedia for...when did wikipedia start? so it's enough for me :)

[dagamer34 @ Jul 15th 2007 11:17PM]

When will WMD be put in there? It was all the rage 4 years ago!

[Taha @ Jul 15th 2007 11:22PM]

Were there even RPGs in Gears of War?

[Leonard Nimrod @ Jul 18th 2007 12:06AM]

Slang terms are very unlikely to make it into a dictionary. Many are around for decades in the mainstream before they are even considered so don't excpet any gamer terms to considered.

Now the internet has changed the speed at which we communicate so some terms may arrive faster, but with Wikipedia and Urban DIctionary being a worthwhile resource I wouldn't hold your breath for niche slang that is only known by the gamer community.

[Andrei Vassiliev @ Jul 15th 2007 11:41PM]

"...and RPG, which sadly does not mean role-playing game (or better yet, rocket propelled grenade)... but Report Program Generator"

Read the article before reporting it.

[Craig @ Jul 16th 2007 12:15AM]

ordinarily small errors wouldn't bug me, but it seems like engadget has gotten really sloppy, especially in the last few weeks. it's a problem when they're happening more often than not

[Bliss @ Jul 16th 2007 1:32AM]

Actually, if you click all the way through to the actual MW site, you'll see that RPG, for "rocket-propelled grenade", is included as a secondary usage (abbreviation).

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/RPG

Andrei - Read the *source* article before commenting.

Craig - See comment re: Andrei.

[Andrei Vassiliev @ Jul 16th 2007 11:07AM]

lol, well played sir. good one!

[byaah @ Jul 16th 2007 1:41AM]

Eh, read about this a few days ago on BBC. They also added the words "ginormous" and "IED".

[ssuk @ Jul 16th 2007 4:08AM]

Let me know when a GOOD dictionary accepts these words and I'll care.

[pbg @ Jul 16th 2007 2:33PM]

funny thing is, RPG does not stand for 'rocket-propelled grenade', this is a misinterpretation of the cyrillic (i believe a russian phrase) initials for this weapon. It is used as such in the media, but as far as I know this is incorrect.

That is, the definition should not be 'abbreviation of rocket-propelled grenade' but define the actual weapon as it functions, etc.