There have always been two ways of looking at things like dictionaries (and other references books or documents). One is to say that the "book" holds the rules that define us, and the other is to say that the books attempt to define how we use or do these things. Language came before the dictionaries. They are not holy. It is us as a society that determines the meanings and use of words, and it is the dictionaries that chase after these words, meanings, and uses like scribes following the masses. What really determines the use, meaning, or rules of using words is us, small groups, or large groups. By invisible contracts of dialog, literature, or media, we develop new words all the time, as well as change their uses. Dictionaries are more like books that chase after meanings defining the shape of water by whatever vessel it happens to be in at the time, and we are all not the same shaped vessels. Those who turn to dictionaries as rules of engagement, dict-thumpers (as I like to call the), tend to want language to be static, unchanging. However, we can just look at literature over all time to see that it is not.
Aromatic can have as many uses as we want, However, of you are a tobacco producer, seller, or vendor, and you hand me something, and say, "This is an aromatic tobacco," I will understand by invisible contract amongst most of the pipe community that the tobacco is topped with flavoring, not cased, or blended for a certain fragrance. Topped, which is very different from cased. Another flavor has been added to either enhance or give the tobacco another aroma altogether.
However, when I talk to my wife about the smell of my tobacco in my car, we may diacusss the aromatic nature of the pure Virginia. But, of a vendor tells me that this is an aromatic Virginia, I will understand that it is not going to be what I am looking for.
It's really not that hard. But, I have noticed that the subtlest uses of language are quickly becoming harder for people to understand. We have more and more become people who filter what we hear to look for contrast or contribute to our World views. We rarely look objectively at situations or words, and then find meaning. We tend to have the meaning first, and then look for reinforcement or contrast.
But, words change faster than we realize, and I look to dictionaries (which I love) as more of historical books, sometimes fictional... but even the word fictional doesn't mean fantastic, or make-believe, unless one is of the belief that truths can only be found in pure facts. And... woe to those who only hold facts delivered in scientific use of language. I prefer a little more passion in my words than that. Flavor.
Me, I prefer to think, ponder, and enjoy communication on many different levels. So, you'll just have to sick out my phat jive that I've laid down on the low down, or beat it. :
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