No, I understand the paradox. I just want to know the answer once you remove the paradox. If I change 100 to 10 then the paradox goes away and there is some number that meets the criteria. I want to know what it is!

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isn't it just the finite field represented by the set of symbols and places?

No. You can easily define numbers larger than the set. Which means the largest number you can describe with words is somewhere within the set.

you can only define numbers larger than the set if you allow the set to be expanded in some way. more symbols, more places.

The symbols only have meaning if you give them meaning. Let's say I give you five places 0-9 and the lower case alphabet. So you write 'zzzzz' as the largest integer therefore '100000' must be the smallest integer that can't be defined right? Well I'd argue that 'zzzzz' doesn't define anything since it doesn't define its own base. What if you had written 'tree3'? Is that a base 36 or the usual huge number we normally define it as?

Sorry I got the backwards. "Smallest number you can't describe with words"

zero? nothing? what is that but the purest form of placeholder?

If you change the letter limit to 10, what is the answer indeed... I'll have to let you elaborate, if you feel moved to, as I have no idea

I have no idea either. That is why I stopped a 4 instead of ten. I am not even 100% on that one. There are a lot of 4 character strings.