It will get into the dictionary when enough of your fellow language-owners decide that it is part of the language. Dictionaries describe the language as it is, assuming a level of consensus amongst its owners / users. They don't describe the language as it might be if proposed changes catch on! - Michael On 11 January 2012 14:18, Kath Bowman <Kath.Bowman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > You can invent a word, but you can’t get it into a dictionary! I have been > trying to get ‘engageable’ into the Macquarie for a few years, without > success.**** > > Engageable – able to be engaged (in the military sense).**** > > ** ** > > Cheers**** > > Kath**** > > ** ** > > *From:* austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto: > austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Michael Lewis > *Sent:* Wednesday, 11 January 2012 12:01 PM > *To:* austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > *Subject:* atw: Re: Youse**** > > ** ** > > Yebbut . . . The "nitwits" own the language along with everyone else; you > don't need a licence to invent a new word! > > - Michael Lewis > > **** > > On 11 January 2012 12:27, Rebecca Caldwell <beckyakasha@xxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:**** > > Fine! Badly worded on my part ;)**** > > ** ** > > I do not accept 'youse' as a word by any means, but meant that it was a > 'real' word, and not just the incomprehensible pronounciation of a nitwit. > **** > > ** ** > > ** ** >