The general answer to your question, Les, is that different dictionaries contain different collections of words. Obviously the great majority of words in any given dictionary will be found in any other dictionary of a similar size. But some of the very rarest words may be found in only one dictionary (or in none). There is no such thing as an agreed list of all the words in the English language.
The word list Chi started with, in 2005, had been compiled by other people, from various dictionaries, not including Wiktionary, which didn't exist in those days. At least half the words accepted by Chi are rare enough to be complete mysteries to me, but I would never claim that all possible words are included. If I thought that, there would be no point inviting people to submit suggestions. So far this year over 50 new words have been added. In the history of Chi around 1400 words have been added. So obviously the word list is a work in progress.
There are at least two words written as
reist:
- the word relating to the philosophical concept reism, presumably pronounced with two syllables, as ree-ist, or ray-ist;
- an alternate spelling of reest, with several meanings, presumably pronounced with one syllable, to rhyme with beast.
The former word, along with
reism, appears in Wiktionary, but in no other general dictionary as far as I can see. The second word is found in the online Merriam-Webster and Oxford dictionaries, but not in Wiktionary. Some of the meanings of
reest are verbs - to cure fish or meat; (of a horse, etc) to stop suddenly - so
reisted and
reisting would also be words. And, indeed,
reisted and
reisting are accepted in Chi. And so are
reest,
reested and
reesting.
In due course I'll consider ridethetalk's implied suggestion that
reism be accepted.
