A little glimmer of light

I'm reading American Bee: The National Spelling Bee and the Culture of Word Nerds.  The author tossed out a few words in the introductory chapter, which I looked up in my Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary 11th edition. They weren't in there.

So I went to the AARP Spelling Bee website, and confirmed that all words used in the upcoming spelling bee will be coming from the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary 11th edition.

So I don't have to worry about a  ridiculous word like BOEOTIAN (dull; obtuse; without cultural refinement.)

 

I DO have to worry about words like  RIJSTTAFEL - an Indonesian culinary dish

Sheesh!