Word query...gern

[auntiemo]

Hi Alan. Just another word to be considered at some stage. In the "engraving" standard puzzle March 22nd, the word gerning is allowed as a rare word....present participle of "gern".  However, gern is not accepted as either rare or common. I'd like to see this inconsistency (in my opinion)  remedied one way or the other, please.
Thanks Alan.

[rogue_mother]

According to the Collins Dictionary website, the correct spelling of the word for which gerning is the present participle is gerne. It would not have been possible to play this word in the "engraving" puzzle because there were not enough e's.

[birdy]

I had to grin at your answer, RM, but only after I looked up the word.   

[mkenuk]

I've never seen the spelling gerne before, but presumably it's a variation of girn or gurn, both of which are 'uncommon' in Chi, but very common in Northern England.
They even have girning or gurning competitions.

[auntiemo]

Well, that was a "duh" moment on my part. I did know of girn and gurn and just assumed it would be gern as well.
Thanks Rogue Mother for the information...Wiktionary and I stand corrected.

[mkenuk]

It was playable in yesterday's raggedness 10-letter game.

Spotted by 15 from 283, while the past tense gerned got 9 plays.

Probably not a candidate for 'common' status.