Forgotten Words

[Hob]

It's what the title says. This is a thread dedicated to words, terminology, slang, expressions, and idioms that are either obscure or that have fallen by the wayside over the years. So if you're looking for some archaic term for one of your stories or are just bored, this is a great place to look. Occasionally, related images will be included. Contributions are welcome, with the reminder to keep things PG13, please.

Format

Code Select Expand

[center][b][size=22pt]WORD[/size][/b][/center]

[float=right][img height=300]IMAGE[/img][/float]
[i][b]TYPE OF WORD[/b][/i]
[list]
[li]DEFINITION[/li]
[li]DEFINITION[/li]
[/list]

REGION AND YEAR
OTHER SPELLINGS
RELATED WORDS

[Hob]

Mopple

Noun

• confusion, a state of disorder.
• confusion caused by experiencing multiple stimuli all at once.
• a blunder, a mistake

Verb

• to confuse, to puzzle

English dialect, circa 1870
Also as 'moppil'
Loosely related to 'multi', 'motley', 'mottled', 'mop'

[Sain]

What a glorious thread ;D Mopple needs reviving, it tastes funny to say.

[Hob]

What a glorious thread ;D Mopple needs reviving, it tastes funny to say.

I used it as the name of one of my characters once, a jester who was rather Machiavellian.

[gaggedLouise]

Possessionate

n, member of a religious order or priesthood who actually has some personal legal possessions where the normal case would have been none. 15th/16th century English.

A word with the same spelling (bar the final e) exists in Swedish and German, but it has long ago moved to a different meaning: magnate, very wealthy man, tycoon. It's quite obsolete in Swedish too, I don't think it's been used at all much in the last hundred years.

[Hob]

Swive

verb

• to have sexual intercourse with, to copulate with (transitive)
• copulate (intransitive)

Middle English swiven
Old English swīfan to revolve, wend, sweep

[Hob]

Apricity

noun

• the warmth of the Sun in winter

English, circa 1620s
from Latin aprīcus or "warmed by the sun". Also "delightful."
aperīcus is from Latiun aperiō (“to open, uncover”)

[Hob]

Presque vu

noun

• The sensation of forgetting or not being able to remember something, but feeling that you could remember it any minute.
• To be on the tip of the tongue.

French, meaning "almost seen."

[Rinzler]

Presque vu

noun

• The sensation of forgetting or not being able to remember something, but feeling that you could remember it any minute.
• To be on the tip of the tongue.

French, meaning "almost seen."

It's funny, I'm sure I've seen this post before...

Guess it must be de - damn, what's that word? Hang on, I'm sure I'll remember it in a minute.

[Hob]

It's funny, I'm sure I've seen this post before...

Guess it must be de - damn, what's that word? Hang on, I'm sure I'll remember it in a minute.

*chuckling*

[Hob]

Caducity

noun

• senility
• the quality of being transitory or perishable
• the loss of mental or cognative facilities

English, circa 1720s
From the French caduc (transitory)
from the Latin caducus (tending to fall)
[/quote]

[AnaisdeLuxxx]

What a lovely thread! Now I really want to use "apricity" somewhere, and "caducity" is hands down just a better word then senility. Keep 'em coming!

[Hob]

What a lovely thread! Now I really want to use "apricity" somewhere, and "caducity" is hands down just a better word then senility. Keep 'em coming!

Glad to oblige!!

[Hob]

Snowbroth

noun

• freshly melted snow

English, circa 1590s
"snow soup"


(A great word to go with "aprcity"!)

[Sain]

Snowbroth

noun

• freshly melted snow

English, circa 1590s
"snow soup"


(A great word to go with "aprcity"!)

YES! I need this! Didn't realise English language had variety of words for snow too.

[Hob]

Desiderium

noun

• an ardent desire or longing
• a sense of loss or grief for something lost
• a powerful desire or yearning, esp for something once had

English, circa 1790
from the Latin desiderare (to long for)
related to desire
related to desideratum (something desired as essential, plural desiderata)

[Hob]

Sweven

noun

• a dream
• a vision

Middle English
from Old English swefn (“sleep, dream, vision")
from Proto-Germanic swifnaz (“sleep")
from Proto-Indo-European swep- (“to sleep")...
from Sanskrit svápna ("sleep")

[Hob]

Merry-begot

adjective

• illegitmate
• born out of wedlock

noun

• an illegitmate child
• kinder version of "bastard"
• a child conceived during harvest festivals or other holidays

English, mid-19th Century
In Newfoundland, also "moss child" or "moonlight child"

[Sain]

Merry-begot! Could use it to explain a character's background and cut one or two sentences with that single wonderfully nuanced word. Keep on sharing. These are great ;D

[Hob]

Thanks, Sain! 

[Hob]

Pornocracy

noun

• a government run by prostitues
• the dominating influence of courtesans
• a government controlled by corrupt officials

Germany, 19th Century
Reference to the corrupt papacy of the 10th Century, also callled saeculum obscurum (Latin: "The Dark Age")
from Greek πόρνη "female prostitute" + -κρατία "-cracy" a suffix indicating government or rule
related to hetaerocracy ("government of mistresses/paramours/courtesans")

[Nico]

BASEBORN

adjective

• mean or ignoble in character or spirit
  
• of illegitimate birth
• of humble birth
• of low birth or social standing

Likely various regions/countries, 16th century (first known use of the word: 1553)
Lower-class, lowly, mean, plebeian, proletarian, vulgar, common, humble, bastard;

[Hob]

Woofits

noun

• The unpleasant aftereffects of overindulgence, especially drinking
• A hangover
• An unwell feeling
• Depression

English, date uncertain
from woefits (woe + fit)
related to woebegone (adj. -Feeling, showing, or expressing deep sorrow, grief, or wretchedness)

[stormwyrm]

ANODYNE

noun

• a medicine that relieves or allays pain
• anything that relieves distress or pain

English, Mid-16th century, from the Greek anōdynos (ἀνώδυνος), from an- (αν-, "without") and odynē (ὀδύνη, "pain").
The term is rather archaic but is useful for that reason. Nowadays similar medicines would be called analgesics or painkillers.

[Hob]

ANODYNE

noun

• a medicine that relieves or allays pain
• anything that relieves distress or pain

English, Mid-16th century, from the Greek anōdynos (ἀνώδυνος), from an- (αν-, "without") and odynē (ὀδύνη, "pain").
The term is rather archaic but is useful for that reason. Nowadays similar medicines would be called analgesics or painkillers.

An excellent addition, stormwyrm! And just the perfect image to go with it, too! Thanks!!