I guess, the number of descriptions they would have to write would explode exponentially, if they didn’t do that.
But yeah, really annoys me, too. When I write a definition I avoid similar words, even if I assume everyone knows that word, because it provides more information and is clearer when I use a synonym instead.
And dictionaries, whose only job is to provide definitions, frequently settle for these shitty definitions.
I guess, the number of descriptions they would have to write would explode exponentially, if they didn’t do that.
But yeah, really annoys me, too. When I write a definition I avoid similar words, even if I assume everyone knows that word, because it provides more information and is clearer when I use a synonym instead.
And dictionaries, whose only job is to provide definitions, frequently settle for these shitty definitions.
Like, why not just say “ruler of an oligarchy” and then in the next sentence, actually explain what an oligarchy is?
Oligarch: A ruler in an oligarchy
Oligarchy: Rule by oligarchs