Is anyone likely to suggest that a word is only a 'pre-word' until it is recognized by some authoritative dictionary, and, then, what is its status if it is only recognized by one authortative dictionary, or by several but not all? Wait a minute, Wordminstrel, this thread is not a democracy where "what is a word" is subject to vote. This thread is a grand republic of free-thinking posters attempting to approximate the essence of the words that we use in the context of our collective perception of objective reality.
A car cannot become a "classic" car until it is 25 years old, but is it any less a car because it is not old enuf to be a classic car? Really Wordminstrel, I know that you are a busy man, but (for you) that is an awfully shoddy construction.
The quality of "car-ness" can most certainly be restricted by the addition of qualities by the use of adjectives. A better question is...
"When does a car stop being a car and when does a "car" become something else?"
Now here is a thought experiment more to the topic...
Words built the pyramids and sent mankind to the moon so it follows that words are as dynamic and concrete as bricks in altering the make up of the future.
Right?
So, carefully trace the cursive word "car" in the empty air in front of you and answer these questions...
(1) Is the airword "car" a symbol of the written word "car" which is a visual symbol of the spoken word "car" which is a symbol of a car?
(2) Now define a "car" so that all cars are included in your definition while excluding all else that is non-car. Note: Extra credit is given for neatness and proper punctuation. 
