20 Obsolete English Words that Should Make a Comeback

Photo: Liz West

If you all start using them, these difference can be resurrected.

During my undergraduate studies as a Linguistics major, a single of a things which struck me most is a extraordinary fluidity of language. New difference have been created; older difference go out of style. Words can change definition over time, vowel sounds shift, consonants have been lost or added as well as a single word becomes another. Living languages exclude to be static.

The following difference have sadly left from complicated English, but a easy to see how they could be incorporated into bland conversation.

Words have been from Erin McKeans two-volume series: Weird as well as Wonderful Words as well as Totally Weird as well as Wonderful Words. Definitions have been quoted from a Oxford English Dictionary.

1. Jargogle

Verb trans. To confuse, jumble First of all this word is only fun to contend in a assorted forms. John Locke used a word in a 1692 publication, writing you fear, which a jumbling of those great as well as trustworthy Words in your Head..might a little jargogle your Thoughts Im planning to have use of it subsequent time my husband attempts to insist complicated Physics concepts to me for fun: Seriously, you dont need you to further jargogle my brain.

2. Deliciate

Verb intr. To take ones pleasure, enjoy oneself, revel, luxuriate Often you feel a word enjoy only isnt sufficient to report an experience, as well as revelry tends to conjure up up images of people dancing as well as spinning around in circles at least in my head. Deliciate would be a acquire addition to a complicated English vocabulary, as in After dinner, you deliciated in chocolate thickk cream pie.

3. Corrade

Verb trans. To scrape together; to gather together from assorted sources Im certain this wasnt a strange definition of a word, but when you rea! d a defi nition you rught away suspicion of copy-pasting. Any English teacher can design what a corraded choice looks like.

4. Kench

Verb intr. To giggle loudly This Middle English word sounds similar to it would do well in describing a single of those times when you inadvertently giggle out shrill while celebration of a mass a text summary in category as well as manage to thoroughly embarrass yourself.

Photo: Liz West

5. Ludibrious

Adj. Apt to be a subject of jest or mockery This word describes a person, thing or situation which is expected to be a butt of jokes. Use it when you want to sound fit in poking fun at someone. How could you resist? Hes only so ludibrious.

6. Sanguinolency

Noun Addiction to bloodshed Could be a utilitarian word for history majors as well as gamers, as in Genghis Khan was quite a sanguinolent fellow or Do you think spending six hours a day personification Postal 2 essentially fosters sanguinolency?

7. Jollux

Noun - Slang word used in a late 18th century to report a fat chairman Although Im not certain whether this word was used crudely or in more of a lighthearted manner, to me it sounds similar to a nicer way to refer to someone who is overweight. Fat has such a negative connotation in English, but if you contend Hes a bit of a jollux it doesnt sound so bad!

8. Malagrugrous

Adj. Dismal This adjective is from Scots as well as may be derived from an old Irish word which refers to a wrinkling of ones brow. An 1826 example of a have use of is He looketh malagrugorous as well as world-wearied. Im tempted to also have a word into a noun: Stop being such a malagrug!

9. Brabble

Verb To argue about trifles; esp. to argue noisily, brawl, squabble Brabble fundamentally means to argue loudly about something which doesnt really matter, as in Why have been you still brabbling about who l! eft a di rty spoon on a kitchen table? You can also have use of it as a noun: Stop which silly brabble as well as do something useful!

10. Freck

Verb intr. To pierce quickly or nimbly you can think of a lot of ways to have use of this one, similar to you hatred it when Im frecking by a airfield as well as other people have been going so slow.

For 10 more interesting obsolete words, go to a subsequent page.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

30 FREE Online Resources for Teaching and Learning ESL

Image
ESL Resource: Super Simple Song s During my time spent teaching ESL in Thailand , Korea and Turkey , Ive learned that even the most quality textbooks can use a little supplementing now and then. Thats when I hit the internet, hunting for worksheets and activities to keep my students busy. Theres a whole lot of teaching material to wade through online, but its worth it for those additions that make my lessons more engaging. Here is my master list of free online ESL teaching materials. The majority of these resources are for ESL teachers, but some would be helpful for ESL students as well. Grammar and Vocabulary 1. English Language Centre Study Zone This site, from the University of Victoria, has clear, concise grammar lessons. Readings come with interactive comprehension questions and tasks. 2. English Grammar in Use If you ask me, Raymond Murphys grammar texts for ESL learners are damn near perfect; they have clear explanations, lots of practice exercises, and are thorough. Ive b
Keep reading

A luxury trip to Machu Picchu

Image
24th July of this year marked 100 years exactly since Yale man and National Geographic explorer Hiram Bingham puffed and sweated his way up to the jungle-covered ruins of Machu Picchu. A century later, travelers who want to take in this true wonder of the world arent limited to explorer-style bivouacking; rather, there are now a wide range of accommodations, dining experiences, spas and adventures that rival the best in the world. So, in honor of Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham and the incredible cultural patrimony of Peru, I would like to show you what a luxury trip to Machu Picchu looks like today. Most visitors begin their journey in Lima. A short stay allows you to soak in the glorious colonial past of Limas central plaza. Palms, tropical-yellow buildings with exquisitely-carved wooden balconies and Spanish palaces sweep you back in time. Before becoming too nostalgic, head for the modern and very hip Miraflores district. Hugging the green cliffs, Miraflores offers visitors an incredib
Keep reading

Guide to Swahili street slang in Stone Town, Zanzibar

Image
All photos by author. Mambo! Its the classic street slang for whats up? in Stone Town, Zanzibar and in most of urban East Africa. It literally means, things or issues? The upbeat term is often paired with the word vipi (how) as in, Mambo, vipi? How are things? There are at least 20 ways to answer the popular question that I never learned in formal Swahili classes. The gap between school and street could not be wider than in Stone Town, Zanzibars capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, that nearly 400,000 residents call home. Here, the lugha ya kisasa slang or lugha ya mitaani street language changes by the minute, mostly by young people who flip or shine an old word, or fashion a completely new one, inspired by hyper-local contexts, meanings, and realities. I thought I knew Kiswahili. Id earned an advanced certificate at the State University of Zanzibar. The program prides itself on teaching a kind of Swahili described as sanifu (standard) or fasaha (clean). It was rigorous
Keep reading