Gluten

Do you know which word in the English language has the longest entry in the Oxford English Dictionary? Well, if you don't already know, it might surprise you, as it did me. It is 'set'. Yes, humble 'set'.

One reason the entry is so long, apart from the many different meanings this word has as both a noun and a verb, is because of all the different ways the verb 'set' combines with a preposition, giving new meanings. Think of 'set up' (versus upset), 'set down', 'set out', 'set about', 'set on', 'set off', 'set to', and on it goes. In the dictionary-length competition, the word 'set' is closely followed by 'put', another amazing word, with its combinations: 'put in', put out' (versus output), 'put up' (versus 'put up with'), 'put off' (versus offputting), and so on. This is an absolute nightmare for non-native speakers mastering English.

April 26, 2016