What kind of a word is "Gruntled"?

OK. It isn't a word. But it should be. If disgruntled employees are more likely to sue their employers, you need to know how to keep them ... gruntled. Right?

For that matter, why aren't people ever described as being "heveled" or "kempt"? Why don't we ever hear of "advertent" mistakes (like the one the Chicago Black Sox made)? Shouldn't the opposite of "beautiful" be "beautiless"?

English has more words than any other language, but it seems to be missing a few. What are some nonwords you wish you had?

By the way: Merriam-Webster does call it a word, describing it as a back-formation from "disgruntle." But the much-derided dictionary seems willing to call anything a word. (For example, M-W says "supercede" is a word (it's not; it's a misspelling) and that "enormity" can mean "enormousness" (it can't).

Comments

[Double Dubs]

I love this as the title of your site. Looking forward to reading.

-Dubs

[Jim O.]

In related news, today's Word of the Day from the infamous M-W online is "nocuous" -- meaning "harmful," clearly.

I'd also like to see "gusted" or "gusting" as in, "Mmm! Those fresh tomatoes were totally gusting!"

[Phil A]

I know it's 2+ years on, but I hate to tell you but "gruntled" isn't the opposite of being disgruntled.

Gruntle is an extension of "grunt", and thus being gruntled is like complaining - the "dis" at the front is to accentuate it, not to negate it.

It's an old English word form that is no longer used.

So, if you want "Gruntled" employees, you're asking to make them unhappy.

M-W are just putting random words in, ignoring the origins and almost making up their own words.