Words Invented by Specific People

The term he created (from an existing one) was 'ich'. His translator did create a new meaning for 'ego', but they should be credited rather than Freud

I mean, the whole point of a dictionary is to elevate a discussion away from personal anecdotes about our own experiences of how we've seen words used.

For what it's worth, though, the Cambridge entry gives an alternative definition of "a person who is extremely interested in one subject, especially computers, and knows a lot of facts about it" - so if you're using the word "nerd" in a certain way, then that dictionary would agree that it doesn't imply unattractiveness.

Then the dictionaries wouldn't seem to be doing a very good job at achieving that goal if the definitions across several different ones can't seem to nail down definitive characteristics for a word. If anything, that encourages discussions about how and why usage varies from context to context. I think the connotation of a word goes far beyond the level of personal anecdote, and I think quite a few of people would agree that the definition of 'nerd' in Wiktionary is most prevalent. I do think the definition provided in the quiz is not the best.

The definitions from reliable dictionaries that I can find (Cambridge, Merriam-Webster, Britannica, Collins) all agree that one of the mainstream uses of "nerd" is to indicate someone who's obsessed with something, especially computers (or words to that effect). So, to that extent, they're doing a good job.

Yes, there is disagreement about whether "nerd" can also mean unstylish vs. unattractive vs. unpopular, etc. And I agree that this could be an interesting discussion to have. But not in the context of a quiz that is meant to be dealing in verifiable facts.

Particularly as *none* of the definitions from those reliable dictionaries include an interpretation of "nerd" that implies "intelligent". The closest is from Cambridge, which includes an interpretation in which a nerd *might* be devoted to "intellectual pursuits" or, equally, might instead be devoted to academic or technical pursuits. i.e. it'd be consistent to call someone a nerd if they were stupid but loved computers.

Fair 'nuff. I agree that the clue is lacking and the percentage correct seems awfully low for such a common word. I think it'd be higher with any of the definitions you've brought up or the Wiktionary definition.