Archaic words

?

Archaic words

These words are no longer in everyday use or have lost a particular meaning in current usage but are sometimes used to impart an old-fashioned flavour to historical novels, for example, or in standard conversation or writing just for a humorous effect. Some, such as bedlam, reveal the origin of their current meaning, while others reveal the origin of a different modern word, as with gentle, the sense of which is preserved in gentleman. Some, such as learn and let, now mean the opposite of their former use.

abroad out of doors accouchement birthing advertisement a notice to readers in a book afeard/afeared frightened affright frighten (someone) ague malaria or a similar illness aliment food; nourishment ambuscade an ambush animalcule a microscopic animal apothecary a person who prepared and sold medicine appetency a longing or desire assay attempt asunder apart audition the power of hearing aught anything at all avaunt go away bane poison baseborn of low birth or social standing bedlam an asylum behold see or observe behoof benefit or advantage beldam an old woman bethink oneself of remember; recollect betimes in good time; early bibliopole a dealer in books bijoux jewellery; trinkets billow a large sea wave blackguard a scoundrel blow produce flowers or be in flower bodkin a dagger bootless (of a task) ineffectual; useless breech a person's buttocks bridewell a prison or reform school for petty offenders brimstone sulphur bruit a report or rumour buck a fashionable and daring young man bumper a generous glass of an alcoholic drink burgess a full citizen of a town or borough buss a kiss caboose a kitchen on a ship's deck cadet a younger son or daughter caducity the infirmity of old age; senility camelopard a giraffe cannonade bombard carl a man of low birth ceil line or plaster the roof of (a building) champaign open level countryside chapman a peddler chicane deceive; hoodwink circumjacent surrounding cicisbeo a married woman's male companion or lover cispontine on the north side of the Thames in London cleanse restore to health clerk a literate or scholarly person clew a ball of thread clout a piece of cloth or clothing collogue talk confidentially commend entrust someone or something to commons provisions shared in common; rations communicant a person who imparts information compass encircle or surround compeer a companion or close associate con study attentively or learn by heart (a piece of writing) condition social position conjure implore (someone) to do something contemn treat or regard with contempt contumely insolent or insulting language or treatment cordwainer a shoemaker corrupt rotten or putrid corse a corpse cottier a rural labourer living in a cottage coxcomb a vain and conceited man; a dandy coz cousin crinkum-crankum elaborate decoration or detail crookback a person with a hunchback crumpet a person's head cruse an earthenware pot or jar cully a friendly form of address for a man cutpurse a pickpocket dame an elderly or mature woman damsel a young unmarried…

Comments

No comments have yet been made