Why are dictionary words not capitalized?

Dictionary words are not capitalized because capitalization in English is primarily used to denote proper nouns, which are the names of specific people, places, or things.

Here's a breakdown of why:

* Common nouns: These are general names for things (e.g., "dog", "mountain", "city"). They are not capitalized unless they are part of a proper noun (e.g., "Golden Gate Bridge").

* Proper nouns: These are specific names (e.g., "John", "Mount Everest", "London"). They are always capitalized.

Dictionaries list words in their most basic, general form. This helps users find the correct definition regardless of context. Capitalization is context-dependent and doesn't apply to the general definition of a word.

Think of it this way: a dictionary defines the word "dog" as a four-legged canine companion. It doesn't care if you're talking about your pet dog "Buddy" or a dog in a story. The definition remains the same, regardless of the specific dog.

Therefore, capitalization is not a part of the dictionary definition of a word but a grammatical convention that applies in specific contexts.