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!!

[Hob]

Screever

noun

• a pavement artist
• an artist who draws pictures on sidewalks, as with colored chalks, earning a living from the donations of spectators and passersby.

British, cited as early as 16th Century
More commonly found 19th Century
earlier screeve (v.) from Italian scrivere "to write" (< Latin scrībere ) + -er

The name comes from the Copperplate script (not the font) most often used by such artists.
Pictures often included poems, Biblical verses, bits of news, morality tales, and the like.

[Rinzler]

Screever

Finally - one which I was already familiar with, featuring as it does in Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. This means the word was probably still in general use in the 1930s.

[Hob]

Finally - one which I was already familiar with, featuring as it does in Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. This means the word was probably still in general use in the 1930s.

Most people would be familiar with the concept, at least, through Disney's Mary Poppins. One of Bert's professions was that of a screever.

"Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-oo!
I does what I likes and I likes what I do
Today I'm a screever and as you can see
A screever's an artist of 'ighest degree
And it's all me own work
From me own memory
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-oo!
I draws what I likes and I likes what I drew
No remuneration do I ask of you
But me cap would be glad of a copper or two
me cap would be glad of a copper or two
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-oo!
La dum, de da dum
da da da da dum
Mmm hmm..."

[Hob]

Feague

verb

• To increase the liveliness of a horse by inserting an irritant, such as a piece of peeled raw ginger or a live eel, in its fundament.
• To punish by inserting peeled raw ginger or radish into one's anus. Also as a sexual fetish.
• To beat or whip; to drive.
• To subject to some harmful scheme; to ‘do in’.
• To have sexual intercourse with. (chiefly Irish)
• To set in quick motion or aggitate.
• To decorate or improve in appearance through artificial means.
• To fake.

noun

• An unkempt, slatternly person

British, 18th-19th Century
Alternatively, "feak"
From Dutch vegen (“to sweep, to strike”), from Middle Dutch vēghen (“to cleanse”), from Old Dutch *fegōn (“to cleanse”), from Proto-Germanic *faginōną (“to decorate, make beautiful”), from Proto-Indo-European *pōḱ-, *pēḱ- (“to clean, to adorn”).


Edit:  An interesting side article about the word that I found - https://www.haggardhawks.com/single-post/2016/04/08/Feague[/list][/list]

[Hob]

Lunt

noun

• A slow burning match or torch.
• Smoke with flames, especially from a pipe.

verb

• To smoke or emit smoke.
• To walk quickly
• To emit smoke in puffs or columns.
• To smoke a pipe while walking.
• To blaze vehemently.
• To light or kindle a fire.

Scottish, 16th Century, popular in 18th-19th Century
From Dutch lont (a fuse, a wick)
From German Lunte (cord that conveys the fire to some explosive device)
[/list][/list]

[Hob]

Yemeles

adjective

• Careless or negligent.
• Heedless.
• Characteristic of one who does not take yeme (care.)[/i]
  

Old and Middle English, also Scottish 19th Century
Pronounced YEEM-lis
From Scottish yeme/yheme/yym - To keep or take care of.

[Sain]

Gonna try use lunt somewhere. Yemeles seems a bit trickier since it is so funny sounding.

[Hob]

Palter

verb

• to equivocate or prevaricate in action or speech.
• to trifle or tamper with.
• to act insincerely or deceitfully
• to haggle or chaffer
• to lie by making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises

English, first known use 1580
"Paltering isn't outright lying, but it's close."

[Hob]

kedgebelly

noun

• a large, protruding stomach
• someone who eats until they are more than full, a glutton.
• someone who is fat from overeating

Northern England, 17th-19th Century
From Old English kedge (a small keg or cage, to catch, to stuff or fill, to be quick)

(Edit:  Thinking back, I should have just done kedge. No one seems to agree on what it means!!)

[Hob]

wend

verb

• go
• present tense of "went"
• traveling from once place to another
• go in a specified direction, typically slowly or by an indirect route.

Middle English wenden (to turn, depart)
Old English as windan/wendan (to twist, to wind)
Old High German wenten
Also related to "wander"

[Hob]

hight

adjective

• named or called
• "Childe Harold was he hight."

verb

• to command or call
• to name
• to bid
• "I hight ye take me with ye."

15th Century English
Middle English, past tense of hoten (to command, call, or be called)
Old English heht/hātan (to name, call, promise, command)
Old High German heissen/heizzan (to call, be called, mean)
Modern German heißen (named)
Related to English behest (a command, directive, or strongly worded request)

[AnaisdeLuxxx]

I'm still loving this thread so much. Where do you get these words? The only one I've ever encountered before is "wend", which I'm pretty sure was in a poem I read back in high school.

"Feague" in particular was pretty revelatory for me. So that's why it's called "figging" even though ginger isn't a fig! XD

[Hob]

"Feague" in particular was pretty revelatory for me. So that's why it's called "figging" even though ginger isn't a fig! XD

You got it! Although being in the Non-Adult section of the site, I'll forebear going into that in any further detail.   ;D  I'm glad you're enjoying the thread, though. Here's a little bonus for you that I just figured out this morning.

One possible origin of feague/figging might be from the Spanish Figo which was common around the 17th Century, a hand gesture of contempt that mimicked sexual intercourse or sexual bits of the anatomy; the thumb is put between the first and second finger. So to say that something "isn't worth a fig" or that "I don't give a fig" is basically stating that "it isn't worth a f**k" or "I don't give a f**k."

As for where I find the words? A combination of sources, starting with the works of Jeffrey Kacirk; he's done a number of books, calendars, and cards (of all things) regarding "Forgotten English."  I've several other books about obscure words, idioms, and bits of slang, too. I also use words from various website articles and clickbait lists, but only so long as I can verify both the word and its meaning/origin through unrelated sources.

[Hob]

twitter-light

noun

• twilight
• dusk, half-light
• also "twatterlight"

17th Century English
uncommon dialect
possible combination of Old English "twi-" (double or half) and "flitter" (move or pass quickly).

[Blythe]

How on earth did I not notice this thread before? Fabulous thread, Justric!

Bookmarked. There's some amazing words in here that I just know I'm going to have to use.

[gaggedLouise]

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")

Göran Persson, at the time prime minister of Sweden, remarked after a visit to North Korea that "the country is in a sense a Necrocracy, a state where a deceased person is formally in charge". Kim Il Sung was given the title of "Eternal President" in his last years, and he is still referred to that way.

[gaggedLouise]

hight

adjective

• named or called
• "Childe Harold was he hight."

verb

• to command or call
• to name
• to bid
• "I hight ye take me with ye."

15th Century English
Middle English, past tense of hoten (to command, call, or be called)
Old English heht/hātan (to name, call, promise, command)
Old High German heissen/heizzan (to call, be called, mean)
Modern German heißen (named)
Related to English behest (a command, directive, or strongly worded request)

Yep. Geoffrey Chaucer (d. 1400) once refers to Dante (d. 1321) as "this great poet of Italie, that highte Dent". I think that's the first mention of Dante in the English language.[/list]

[Hob]

How on earth did I not notice this thread before? Fabulous thread, Justric!

Bookmarked. There's some amazing words in here that I just know I'm going to have to use.

Thanks, Blythe!  Originally, it was going to be an official project sort of thing, but I decided to keep it light and informal for fellow logophiles, lexophiles, etymologists, and inkhorns.  :D



Hey, Louise, glad to have you with us!  Feel free to fill in relevant details where you will!

[Hob]

Titivullus

noun

• A demon who was said to collect all the fragments of words from the Bible which the priests had skipped over or mutilated in the performance of the service, and to carry them to hell to be counted against the offenders
• A demon who writes down the gossip and idle chatter of people to use against them in hell.
• A demon responsible for errors written into religious texts. The inevitable little accidents that happen when copying manuscripts, such as jogging of elbows and skipping of pens that caused blots, false strokes, and ink smears, were also attributed to him
• The patron demon of writers.
• a very small trifle, a bagatelle
• a mischievous tale-bearer or more generally a ne’er-do-well or scoundrel
• also as tut, a general term applied to British supernatural creatures

13th - 17th Century English
from Latin titivillitium (a mere trifle or a trivial bit of gossip in comedic plays)
also as tutivillus and titivil
Possibly the source of latter "twit" and "tit" in sense of an insult

[Rinzler]

Titivullus

noun

• A demon who was said to collect all the fragments of words from the Bible which the priests had skipped over or mutilated in the performance of the service, and to carry them to hell to be counted against the offenders
• A demon who writes down the gossip and idle chatter of people to use against them in hell.
• A demon responsible for errors written into religious texts. The inevitable little accidents that happen when copying manuscripts, such as jogging of elbows and skipping of pens that caused blots, false strokes, and ink smears, were also attributed to him
• The patron demon of writers.
• a very small trifle, a bagatelle
• a mischievous tale-bearer or more generally a ne’er-do-well or scoundrel
• also as tut, a general term applied to British supernatural creatures

13th - 17th Century English
from Latin titivillitium (a mere trifle or a trivial bit of gossip in comedic plays)
also as tutivillus and titivil
Possibly the source of latter "twit" and "tit" in sense of an insult

There's a disturbing phonetic similarity between 'Titivullus' and 'Twitterverse'.

A cloud crossed the moon and somewhere a wolf howled...

[Hob]

Lackaday

exclamation

• an expression of surprise, regret, or grief
• possibly meaning "the day is lacking"

English 17th Century
from  alack the day (regret the day) -> lackaday -> modern lackadaisy/lackadaisical (passionless)
often used with Middle English alas (from Anglo-French, ah + las (weary), from Latin lassus (weary)
the idea that the day is just too full of sorrow to bother doing anything

[Hob]

Jitney

noun

• term for an American nickel (five-cent piece)

American, early 20th Century
possibly from French New Orleans jeton (coin-sized metal disk, slug, counter)
jitney was also used in reference to something cheap
"Jitney bus" was a private bus you could ride for five cents
"Jitney box" was another way of saying "jukebox" (jitney and juke are not thought to be related)

"I'll give a nickel for a kiss,"
Said Cholly to a pretty miss.
"Skiddo," she cried, "you stingy cuss,"
"You're looking for a jitney buss."
["Jitney Jingle," 1915]

[Flower]

Hahaha @ the example for jitney. xD

[Hob]

Cacoethes

noun

• An urge to do something inadvisable.
• A mania or irresistable urge.
• uncontrollable urge or desire, esp for something harmful
• an itch for doing something
• a bad habit

English, mid-1600s
from Latinized form of Greek kakoethes (ill-habit, wickedness)
from kakos (bad) + ethe- (disposition, character)

insanabile scribendi cacoethes "incurable passion for writing."

[Sain]

Cacoethes

noun

• An urge to do something inadvisable.
• A mania or irresistable urge.
• uncontrollable urge or desire, esp for something harmful
• an itch for doing something
• a bad habit

English, mid-1600s
from Latinized form of Greek kakoethes (ill-habit, wickedness)
from kakos (bad) + ethe- (disposition, character)

insanabile scribendi cacoethes "incurable passion for writing."

Well this is especially nifty term. How come could something so useful have been forgotten?

[gaggedLouise]

When the delicious avocado first appeared in Europe, it was called, in some languages, "Advocate pear" = "Lawyer's pear". :)

[Hob]

When the delicious avocado first appeared in Europe, it was called, in some languages, "Advocate pear" = "Lawyer's pear". :)

Now this I definitely did not know!  Thanks, Louise!

Not the same thing, I know, but when I hear "Lawyer's Pear", I think of the Pear of Anguish:

[Hob]

Lubency

noun

• willingness; pleasure

English, early 17th C
No known etymology, possibly Latin
May be related to lubric (English 15th Century, 1480–90; < Latin lūbricus (slippery, smooth))
May be related to Middle English lewd.

[Hob]

Baisemain

noun

• in feudalism, homage which the vassal used to give to the fief seigneur, by kissing his hand
• modern, polite manner to greet or leave a lady, by kissing her hand, hand-kissing.
• a kissing of the hand; thus, a sign of respect

Also baise-mains

French, from baiser (to kiss, from Old French baisier, from Latin basiare) + mains (plural of main hand, from Latin manus)

"This gesture is for the man to bend deeply, even to bend humbly the knee and the neck in front of the lady, and to gently grasp the hand of the latter to bring it to his lips to wear silently and the more respectfully possible his lips as a sign of homage." (Wikipedia)

[Sain]

Baisemain

noun

• in feudalism, homage which the vassal used to give to the fief seigneur, by kissing his hand
• modern, polite manner to greet or leave a lady, by kissing her hand, hand-kissing.
• a kissing of the hand; thus, a sign of respect

Also baise-mains

French, from baiser (to kiss, from Old French baisier, from Latin basiare) + mains (plural of main hand, from Latin manus)

"This gesture is for the man to bend deeply, even to bend humbly the knee and the neck in front of the lady, and to gently grasp the hand of the latter to bring it to his lips to wear silently and the more respectfully possible his lips as a sign of homage." (Wikipedia)

Love this word! Need to write a knight of some sort now ;D

[Hob]

colporteur

noun

• A person who sells books, newspapers, and similar literature.
• A pedddler of religious books
• Someone employed by a religious society to distribute bibles and other religious tracts.

Late 18th Century
"The word traces to the Latin prefix com- ("together") plus the verb "portare" ("to carry"), two elements that were brought together to create "comportare" ("to bring together"). Middle French speakers tucked that word into their linguistic pack as "comporter" ("to carry" or "to peddle"), giving rise to "comporteur." Over time, perhaps influenced by the phrase "porter à col" ("to carry on one's back or neck"), the term's spelling shifted to the form now used." (Merriam-Webster)

[Flower]

How wonderful.

[solkar]

colporteur

noun

• A person who sells books, newspapers, and similar literature.
• A pedddler of religious books
• Someone employed by a religious society to distribute bibles and other religious tracts.

Late 18th Century
"The word traces to the Latin prefix com- ("together") plus the verb "portare" ("to carry"), two elements that were brought together to create "comportare" ("to bring together"). Middle French speakers tucked that word into their linguistic pack as "comporter" ("to carry" or "to peddle"), giving rise to "comporteur." Over time, perhaps influenced by the phrase "porter à col" ("to carry on one's back or neck"), the term's spelling shifted to the form now used." (Merriam-Webster)

Interesting. As a native speaker of Dutch, I can attest to the fact that this word made it into our language too, but it's far from forgotten and has assumed a broader meaning, referring to any person who sells goods or services essentially on a door-to-door basis. There's even a law regulating colportage which under some conditions affords the client a period of two weeks to reconsider and revert the transaction. While colportage is legal, I don't think there are many people here who view it in a favorable light.

[Hob]

uhtceare

noun

• The experience of waking before dawn and not being able to get back to sleep because you’re worrying about something.
• "dawn care"
• insomnia at daybreak

Old English, from The Wife's Lament
pronounced "oot-char-a" or "oot-car-a"
uht (“the hour before sunrise” "dawn") and ceare (“care or worry”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSxVOQ9VF8M (at 0:43)

[solkar]

yestreen

noun

• last evening or night

Chiefly Scotland; first use 1773, from Middle English (Scots) yistrevin, from yisterday + evin evening

[Hob]

quidnunc

noun

• an inquisitive or gossipy person
• a busybody, one keenly interested in gossip

English, early 18th Century
from Latin quid (what) + nunc (now)
"what now?"

[Hob]

potation

noun

• a drink or beverage that is alcoholic in nature
• the act of drinking, especially in terms of alcohol
• a drinking bout
• the amount of drink consumed in a bout of drinking

late Middle English
from Old French, from Latin potatio(n-), from potare ‘to drink.’
related to potable (drinkable)

[Hob]

persiflage

noun

• light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter
• frivolous bantering talk : light raillery
• a teasing kind of banter
• Ridicule or malicious mockery made under the guise of good-natured raillery

English, mid-18th century
from French persifler (to banter) based on siffler (to whistle)

[Sain]

I really like potation sounds like something dwarves need to use in my stories.

[Hob]

I really like potation sounds like something dwarves need to use in my stories.

Needs to be with the word quaff.

[Hob]

maugre

preposition

• in spite of
• not withstanding

Middle English, 13th Century
from Anglo-French malgré (ill will) from mal/mau (evil) + gré (grace, favor, agree)

[Mirrah]

uhtceare

noun

• The experience of waking before dawn and not being able to get back to sleep because you’re worrying about something.
• "dawn care"
• insomnia at daybreak

Old English, from The Wife's Lament
pronounced "oot-char-a" or "oot-car-a"
uht (“the hour before sunrise” "dawn") and ceare (“care or worry”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSxVOQ9VF8M (at 0:43)

*Sighs.*

Also, I'm liking the word "quaff." :D Brings back memories.

[Hob]

*Sighs.*

Also, I'm liking the word "quaff." :D Brings back memories.

Hey, Mirrah!  *hugs*  Welcome to the thread!

[stormwyrm]

stramash

noun

• uproar, din
• turmoil; affray; a fight

Scotland, c. 1788. Origin doubtful. May be an altered intensive form of smash, or connected with Italian strammazare, to knock down, or strammazone, a stramazon, a downward slash with a rapier in fencing. May also be a corruption of Old French escarmoche or one of its many forms, scar(a)musshe, skarmische, skrimishe, skrummage, which have produced Eng. scrimmage, skirmish.

I've been writing some characters of Scottish extraction and this is one interesting word that came up while trying to add dialectal flavour to their speech.

[Hob]

Marvelous!! Thanks for the contribution, stormwyrm!!

[Hob]

Odynometer

noun

• an instrument for measuring pain
• An instrument for measuring the degree of sensitivity to a painful stimulus
• An algometer; an algesimeter

English, late 19th Century

[Hob]

Yelve

noun

• A fork used to carry dung; such a fork used as a garden tool.
• A pitch fork
• An algometer; an algesimeter

verb

• To use a garden- or dung fork.

English, 11th - 18th Century
from Proto-Turkic jelbe (?)
Also, a type of European greenfinch

[stormwyrm]

Meed

noun

• an earned reward or wage
• a fitting recompense

Before 12th Century, Middle English, from Old English mēd; akin to Old High German miata reward, Greek μισθός (misthos), reward.

[Mirrah]

Hey, Mirrah!  *hugs*  Welcome to the thread!

Thank you, Justric! This thread is fascinating!

[Argyros]

Succuss

[sŭ-kŭs']

"Vodka martini. Succussed, not stirred."

verb

1. to shake vigorously.
2. (Homeopathy). To shake a solution with sudden force.
3. (Medical). To shake a patient in order to determine if a fluid is present in the thorax or other bodily cavities.

Etymology

Succuss (c. 1860–1865). From the Latin succussus – a past participle of the verb succutere, which roughly translates as "shaken",
"flung aloft" or "tossed up" (prefix, sub– (away) + verb quatere (to shake)).

[Hob]

Alexithymia

noun

• inability to identify and express or describe one’s feelings
• a personality construct characterized by the subclinical inability to identify and describe emotions in the self.
• marked dysfunction in emotional awareness, social attachment, and interpersonal relating.
• difficulty in experiencing, expressing, and describing emotional responses.

Medical English, mid-20th Century
from Greek: ἀ- (a-, 'not') + λέξις (léxis, 'words') + θῡμός (thȳmós, 'heart' or 'emotions'), literally meaning "no words for emotions."

[Hob]

Hope everyone is having a marvelous holiday season!!

Hoggelly bog

noun

• a stocking with the foot cut off, used as a gaiter
• cloth footwear with a skin sole
• socks soled with deerskin or sealskin and worn in winter, not inside but outside the moccasins
• 'Saboos,' 'oglibogs,' 'clunks,' 'God walkers'

Newfoundland English ("Newfie")
No established etymology.

[Argyros]

Obambulate

ob·​am·​bu·​late

\äˈbambyəˌlāt, əˈ-\

"Haters Gonna Hate."

verb

1. (Intransitive) To walk about, to wander aimlessly.
2. (Transitive) To walk or go up to, so as or as if to meet.

Etymology

Obambulate. From the Latin obambulatus – a past participle of the verb obambulare, which roughly translates as "to walk to" (prefix, ob– (to, against, over) + verb ambulare (to walk)).

[Nico]

circumjacent   

Adjective

• Surrounding.
  
• Example: 'the circumjacent parts of the mouth'

Origin

Late 15th century: from Latin circumjacent- 'lying round about, bordering upon', from the verb circumjacere, from circum 'around' + jacere 'to lie'.

[Hob]

Thank you both for the contributions! They're perfect!!

[Sain]

I really love 'obambulate' it has the funny word taste all over!

[Hob]

whipjack

noun

• a beggar impersonating a distressed sailor
• a pirate disguised as a shipwrecked sailor
• a poor whining seaman who never was at sea
• a freshwater mariner

from Middle English whippen or wippen (shaken or whipped)
from Old Dut. wippen (to shake)
from Old High German wipph (swinging motion) [Ger. weifen (to move)]

[Argyros]

Mumpsimus

[muhmp-suh-muh's]

"I'm such a genious [sic]."

noun (singular)

1. Adherence to, or persistence in, an erroneous use of language, memorization, practice or belief out of habit or obstinacy.
2. A person who persists in a mistaken expression or practice.
3. A person who obstinately adheres to old customs or ideas in spite of evidence that they are wrong or unreasonable.

Etymology

Mumpsimus (c. 1520–1530). From Middle English, an archaic term for "an incorrigible, dogmatic old pedant". According to Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, the word was originally a
misspelling of sūmpsimus (Latin, sūmere ("to take", "to pick up") from the phrase sumpsimus in quod in ore sumpsimus ("[this Eucharist] which we have taken into the mouth")) by an
illiterate clergymen while reciting the liturgy for mass. The priest refused to change his opinion when corrected, replying, "I will not change my old mumpsimus for your new sumpsimus".

[Hob]

Plebicolar

adjective

• Courting or appealing to the common people
• Favored by commoners
• Pandering to the masses

English, 1626 - 1820
from Latin plebeius (from plebs, pleb- ‘the common people’)
plus Latin color (appearance).

[Argyros]

Plebicolar

adjective

• Courting or appealing to the common people
• Favored by commoners
• Pandering to the masses

English, 1626 - 1820
from Latin plebeius (from plebs, pleb- ‘the common people’)
plus Latin color (appearance).

Sounds like my D&D 5e Bard. He has a noble background (i.e. position of privilege); thus, he appeals to the masses and is loved by the people. I am so using this word in our campaign  :-)

[Hob]

Sounds like my D&D 5e Bard. He has a noble background (i.e. position of privilege); thus, he appeals to the masses and is loved by the people. I am so using this word in our campaign  :-)

Ooooo, I love Bards! Every edition (except 4th) I've played a bard. Including 1st Ed, and let me tell you, that was freaking hard!! 

And in talking about bard, let's go for something musical today! Not a forgotten one, but definitely not a common one, either!

Melopoeia

noun

• a melody, a composition of music
• the art or theory of inventing melody
• a classification of poetry put forth by the poet Ezra Poun, where words are "charged" beyond their normal meaning with some musical property which further directs its meaning, inducing emotional correlations by sound and rhythm of the speech.
• the musical and rhythmic qualities of poetic language, especially as suited to the tone or mood of the text.

English, early 18th Century
Late Latin, from Greek melopoiïa
from melopoiein (to write a lyric poem, to set to music)
from melo- (song) + poiein (to make)

[Nico]

excogitate

Transitive verb

• Think out, plan, or devise.
• In a sentence: She is a master at excogitating reasons not to do her assigned work.

Synonyms:

concoct, construct, contrive, cook (up), devise, drum up, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, think (up), trump up, vamp (up)

Early 16th century: from Latin excogitat- 'found by process of thought', from the verb excogitare, from ex- 'out' + cogitare 'think'.

Pronunciation:

excogitate/ɛksˈkɒdʒɪteɪt//ɪksˈkɒdʒɪteɪt/

[Argyros]

Palfrey

[pal·​frey | ˈpȯl-frē]

"I want to ride the pretty palfrey."

noun (archaic)

1. A saddle horse not bred or trained for war.
2. A docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women.

Etymology

Palfrey (c. 13th Century, Middle English). From the Anglo-French word palefrei, which is derived from medieval Latin palafredus and Late Latin paraveredus, a portmanteau of Greek prefix para- ("beside", "subsidiary") and Latin veredus ("light horse").

[Mister Morgue]

I'll present to you one of my favourite words! Well, I like the adjective version more then the noun, just because it's an ugly word for something beautiful and it's pretty fun to say!

Pulchritude
_{[pul·​chri·​tude | \ˈpəl-krə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\]}

Noun

• used of persons only having great physical beauty, comeliness.
  
• (literary) Having great physical beauty.

pulchritudinous, adj. | Attractive, beautiful
pulchrify, verb | Synonym of "beautify"
pulchritudeness, noun | same meaning as pulchritude
pulchrous, adj. | Fair, beautiful

Middle English (circa 15th century)
from Latin pulchritudin-, pulchritudo, from pulchr-, pulcher beautiful

[Hob]

Excellent well!  Thank for all the new contributions!

[stormwyrm]

Entelechy

Noun

• The complete realisation and final form of some potential concept or function; the conditions under which a potential thing becomes actualized.
• A particular type of motivation, need for self-determination, and inner strength directing life and growth to become all one is capable of being; the need to actualize one's beliefs; having both a personal vision and the ability to actualize that vision from within

Middle English 1593, From Late Latin entelechia, from Ancient Greek ἐντελέχεια (entelékheia), coined by Aristotle from ἐντελής (entelḗs, “complete, finished, perfect”) (from τέλος (télos, “end, fruition, accomplishment”)) + ἔχω (ékhō, “to have”).

[Hob]

Entelechy

Noun

• The complete realisation and final form of some potential concept or function; the conditions under which a potential thing becomes actualized.
• A particular type of motivation, need for self-determination, and inner strength directing life and growth to become all one is capable of being; the need to actualize one's beliefs; having both a personal vision and the ability to actualize that vision from within

Middle English 1593, From Late Latin entelechia, from Ancient Greek ἐντελέχεια (entelékheia), coined by Aristotle from ἐντελής (entelḗs, “complete, finished, perfect”) (from τέλος (télos, “end, fruition, accomplishment”)) + ἔχω (ékhō, “to have”).

Now THAT is a word! 

[Hob]

Giggle Water

noun

• alcohol
• champagne

American English, slang, 1920s

[Flower]

Definitely true for me. xD

[Sain]

That has to be one of my favourite words for alcohol up there with 'somersault potion'.

[Argyros]

Sennight

"I've been playing Fortnite for a sennight."

[sen·​night | ˈse-ˌnīt ]

noun (archaic)

1. A period of seven days and nights.
2. One week.

Variant(s): Se'nnight


Etymology

Sennight (c. 15th Century, Middle English). From Old English seofon nihta ("seven nights").

[Hob]

Sennight

"I've been playing Fortnite for a sennight."

[sen·​night | ˈse-ˌnīt ]

noun (archaic)

1. A period of seven days and nights.
2. One week.

Variant(s): Se'nnight


Etymology

Sennight (c. 15th Century, Middle English). From Old English seofon nihta ("seven nights").

That's definitely one I've never heard before! Thanks, Argyos!

[Hob]

Eye-Wash

noun

• Official deceit or pretentiousness
• An appearance of virtue designed to conceal a disgraceful reality
• Artificial tidiness, especially in regards to an inspection.
• A threat of punishment that could never actually be carried out
• Something that is intended to obscure or conceal actual facts or motives

British military slang, 1914-1918
Taken from the notion that certain lotions used by oculists would cause temporary blindness or blurred vision when first applied. An example would be officers coloring in hand-drawn maps in the hopes of concealing inaccuracies.

[stormwyrm]

Therianthrope

noun

• A mythical being that is part-human, part-animal

From Ancient Greek θηρίον (thēríon, “wild beast”) and ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, “man”).

It's the general term for any human/animal hybrid creature, and would include werewolves, catgirls, centaurs, fauns, satyrs, minotaurs, the various animal-headed gods of ancient Egypt, sphinxes, etc.

[Hob]

Jannock

adjective

• straightforward and fair
• upright; decent
• outspoken; honest; outgoing

noun

• Northern British dialect for bannock
• a small loaf of oatmeal or oatmeal bread
• a usually unleavened flat bread or biscuit made with oatmeal or barley meal
• corn bread (New England), especially a thin cake baked on a griddle

Northern England from Middle English ianock
(etymology unknown)

[Argyros]

Septentrional

"I'm made up of more stars than the Chicago Bears."

[sep·​ten·​tri·​o·​nal | sep-ˈten-trē-ə-nᵊl ]

adjective (archaic)

1. Of the north, originating from the north.
2. Northern.
3. Boreal.


Etymology

Septentrional (c. 14th Century, 1350–1400, Middle English). From Middle English septemtrion, a word derived from the Latin septemtriones (septem, "seven" + triones, "plough-oxen").
Septemtriones refers to the seven stars of the northern constellation of Ursa Major (Great Bear), and thus was associated with "the northern quarter of the sky" or "north".

[Sain]

Some of these are going to be super tricky to use, but I like the eye-wash.

[Argyros]

Gallimaufry

"My life is a gallimaufry."

[ gal·​li·​mau·​fry | ga-lə-ˈmȯ-frē ]


noun (alt. gallimaufrey, gallimaufray)

(pl. gallimaufries)

• A confused jumble or medley of things.
• A hodgepodge, hotchpot or hotchpotch.
• (US) A dish made from diced or minced meat, especially a hash or ragout.

Etymology

Gallimaufry (c. 16th Century, Archaic). From the French galimafrée ("unappetizing dish"), loosely derived from Old French galer ("to have fun") + picard mafrer ("to eat copious quantities", "to eat gluttonously").

[Hob]

Epeolatry

noun

• the worship of words

British, 1860
From Ancient Greek ἔπος (épos, “word”) + -latry (“worship of”).
Coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. in "Professor At The Breakfast Table."

[Hob]

Black Maria

noun

• a type of German howitzer shell that sent up columns of greasy black smoke upon impact (British, 1914-1919)
• slang for a 19th Century American police van

[Argyros]

Grimalkin

"No."

[ gri·​mal·​kin | gri-ˈmȯ(l)-kən, - 'mal - ]


noun

(alt. greymalkin)

• A domestic cat.
• An old female cat.
• An ill-tempered old woman.

Etymology

Grimalkin (c. 1595–1605, Shakespearean English). From Shakespeare's Macbeth, from greymalkin (grey, "grey") + malkin (malkin, "cat").
Malkin can also be a diminutive (nickname) of Matilda or Maud. In the opening scene, one of the three witches awaiting the protagonist suddenly announces,
"I come, Graymalkin", which is a reference to her familiar or spirit embodied in the form of a cat. By 1630, the alteration of greymalkin (grimalkin) was used.

[Sain]

Grimalkin

"No."

[ gri·​mal·​kin | gri-ˈmȯ(l)-kən, - 'mal - ]


noun

(alt. greymalkin)

• A domestic cat.
• An old female cat.
• An ill-tempered old woman.

Etymology

Grimalkin (c. 1595–1605, Shakespearean English). From Shakespeare's Macbeth, from greymalkin (grey, "grey") + malkin (malkin, "cat").
Malkin can also be a diminutive (nickname) of Matilda or Maud. In the opening scene, one of the three witches awaiting the protagonist suddenly announces,
"I come, Graymalkin", which is a reference to her familiar or spirit embodied in the form of a cat. By 1630, the alteration of greymalkin (grimalkin) was used.

This is awesome ;D Makes for a wonderful old timey deregatory term.

[Hob]

Keckle

verb

• to wind with rope to prevent chafing
• to protect by binding with rope
• (nautical) to wind old rope or chains around a cable to protect its surface from friction, abrasion, or ice.

noun

• the materials used to keckle a cable

Less commonly as kackle
No known etymology
Possibly Scottish
generally nautical

(I'm sorry, this sounds like word that should be used by bondage riggers who are into shibari.)

[Sain]

Keckle

verb

• to wind with rope to prevent chafing
• to protect by binding with rope
• (nautical) to wind old rope or chains around a cable to protect its surface from friction, abrasion, or ice.

noun

• the materials used to keckle a cable

Less commonly as kackle
No known etymology
Possibly Scottish
generally nautical

(I'm sorry, this sounds like word that should be used by bondage riggers who are into shibari.)

Will adopt this in my next rope scene ;D Thank you!

[Hob]

Ragmatical

adjective

• wild, rowdy, or riotous
• turbulent, riotous

British, mid-18th Century
Entymology unclear but may be from ragged in the sense of being rough or roughly cut + -matic (being given to or likely to

[Mirrah]

Ragmatical

adjective

• wild, rowdy, or riotous
• turbulent, riotous

British, mid-18th Century
Entymology unclear but may be from ragged in the sense of being rough or roughly cut + -matic (being given to or likely to

This is interesting. Would it be like ragmatical sea/waves?

[Hob]

Jackanape

noun

• impudent child; conceited fellow
• an impertinent person
• a smart mouthed, rascally person
• a tame monkey (derogatory)

British, mid 15th Century
Unclear etymology
- from "Jack Napis" a nickname for an unpopular nobleman who lost land to France.
- from "Jack o' Ape" in reference to someone who dealt with monkies
- from "Jacketed Ape" in terms of a crude person posing as a gentleman
- from "Jack of Naples" in regards to incompetent but dressy sailors from Italy

[Argyros]

Welkin

[ wel·​kin | ˈwel-kən ]


noun (chiefly literary)

• The sky.
• The vault of heaven; firmament.
• The celestial abode of God or the gods; heaven.
• The upper atmosphere.

Etymology

Welkin (c. < 900 BCE, Old English). From Middle English welken, which is derived from Old English welcn, variant of wolcen (cloud, sky); cognate with German wolke (cloud).

[Hob]

Caliginous

adjective

• misty
• dim
• obscure
• dark

English, mid-16th Century
from Middle French caligineux
from Latin caliginosus, caligin-, caligo (darkness)

[Mirrah]

Welkin

[ wel·​kin | ˈwel-kən ]


noun (chiefly literary)

• The sky.
• The vault of heaven; firmament.
• The celestial abode of God or the gods; heaven.
• The upper atmosphere.

Etymology

Welkin (c. < 900 BCE, Old English). From Middle English welken, which is derived from Old English welcn, variant of wolcen (cloud, sky); cognate with German wolke (cloud).

Caliginous

adjective

• misty
• dim
• obscure
• dark

English, mid-16th Century
from Middle French caligineux
from Latin caliginosus, caligin-, caligo (darkness)

Really liking these words. ^^

[Hob]

Eftsoons

adverb

• soon after
• presently
• once again; anew
• repeatedly

from Old English eftsona (a second time, repeatedly, soon after, again,)
from eft (afterward, again, a second time)
from Proto-Germanic aftiz
from PIE root apo- (off, away;) + sona (immediately, soon)

[Hob]

Dight

adjective

• clothed
• equipped

verb

• to dress or adorn
• to equip, especially for battle
• to make ready for a use or purpose; prepare
• to wipe clean or dry (Northern Scottish)

British, 13th - 18th Century
from ME dihten
from OE dihtan (to arrange, dispose, compose, make)
from Latin dictare (to say)

[Argyros]

Moble

"I've been mobled."

[ mo·​ble | ˈmäbəl | mob-uh l ]


verb (used with object) (-ed, -ing, -s)

• To wrap or muffle the head of, as in a hood.

Etymology

Moble (c. 1595–1605, English). A variant of muffle.

[Hob]

Accoy

verb

• to pacify or render calm
• tp overwhelm or bring under control
• to soothe, calm, assuage, or subdue

English, 14th-19th Centuries
From Middle French acoyer, from a- + coi(“quiet, calm”).

[Argyros]

Fardel

"I got this fardel from far in the dell."

[ far·​del | fahr-dl | ˈfär-dᵊl ]


noun

• A bundle.
• A burden or load.

Etymology

Fardel (c. 1375 – 1425, Late Middle English). From the Anglo-French, Old French and Old Provençal fard(a) ("bundle"). Also, possibly from Arabic fardah ("load") + -el (suffix, Latin -ellus).

[Hob]

Scrump

verb

• to steal fruit, especially apples, from a garden or orchard

Scrumpy

noun

• A rough cider, normally more alcoholic than usual, and typically produced through natural fermentation.
• something that is shriveled or cooked to a crisp

British, mid-19th Century dialect scrump (“withered apple”)
Possible Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish & Danish skrumpen (shriveled)

[Polymorph]

Scrumping was still a popular pastime when I was a kid, though that was forty years ago. The more belligerent the landowner the better for us children. Petit's orchard was the favourite as the owner would shout loudly and wave a stick and urge his dog to chase us. The dog itself was less fearsome than the owner and seemed to think it was a great game and would jump about barking.

[Argyros]

Contumelious

"Rude."

[ con·​tu·​me·​li·​ous | ˌkɒn tuˈmi li əs | kon-too- mee -lee- uhs (-tyoo-)ˌ]


adjective

• Scornful and insulting; insolent.
• Abusive and humiliating.

Similar Words

Contumeliously (adverb)


Etymology

Contumelious (c. 1350–1400, Middle English) From Anglo-French contumelieus derived from Latin contumeliosus (abusive, insolent) and the root word contumelia (abuse, insult).

[Yuna]

Bibliopole

noun

• a bookseller, especially a dealer in rare or used books.

From Latin bibliopōla, from Greek bibliopōlēs: bookseller, from biblio- + pōlein: to sell

[Hob]

Scrumping was still a popular pastime when I was a kid, though that was forty years ago. The more belligerent the landowner the better for us children. Petit's orchard was the favourite as the owner would shout loudly and wave a stick and urge his dog to chase us. The dog itself was less fearsome than the owner and seemed to think it was a great game and would jump about barking.

Scrumping is one of those words that I knew... but I forgot I knew it, if that makes senses?

Bibliopole

noun

• a bookseller, especially a dealer in rare or used books.

From Latin bibliopōla, from Greek bibliopōlēs: bookseller, from biblio- + pōlein: to sell

I'm not sure I love more: the word or the picture!

[Nowherewoman]

distaff

'dis-taff

1. n the staff on which wool or flax is wound before spinning

2. n the sphere of work by women

3.  nthe female branch or side of a family

3. adj characteristic of or peculiar to a woman

[Argyros]

Cozen

"Cozen me if you can."

[ coz·​en | ˈkə-zən | kuhz-uh n ]


verb (with or without an object)

• To swindle by artful deception.
• To cheat, deceive or trick.

Similar Words

Cozener (noun)
Cozeningly (adverb)


Etymology

Cozen (c. 1565–1575). Origin unknown. Believed to be from Old North French coçonner (to resell), verbal derivative of coçon (retailer)
and derived from Latin coctiōnem, accusative of cōciō (dealer). Also believed to have been influenced by Middle French cousin (dupe, gullible person).

[Hob]

distaff

'dis-taff

1. n the staff on which wool or flax is wound before spinning

2. n the sphere of work by women

3.  nthe female branch or side of a family

3. adj characteristic of or peculiar to a woman

This reminds me of a D&D game I was in. "How did I cast Dispell?" -points to the rod-carrying female wizard- "With Distaff."

[Hob]

Gobemouche

noun

• a credulous, naive, or gullible person
• one who believed everything they hear
• Literally, a fly swallower; hence, once who keeps his mouth open; a boor; a silly and credulous person. (1913)

French/English, early 19th Century
from French gober (to gulp down, swallow) + mouche (fly), from Latin musca

[Mirrah]

This reminds me of a D&D game I was in. "How did I cast Dispell?" -points to the rod-carrying female wizard- "With Distaff."

That pun... XD

[Yuna]

I'm not sure I love more: the word or the picture!

Haha, right? Glad you liked it.

I have another one that's almost too convenient for the time we live in, despite it being archaic:

Trumpery

Noun

• Attractive articles of little value or use.
  ‘None of your woollen drapery, nor linen drapery, nor any of your frippery or trumpery. I hate ostentation’
  
• Practices or beliefs that are superficially or visually appealing but have little real value or worth.
  ‘he exposed their ideals as trumpery’
  ‘theatrical trumpery’

Adjective

• Showy but worthless.
  ‘trumpery jewellery’
  
• Delusive or shallow.
  ‘that trumpery hope which lets us dupe ourselves’

Origin
Late Middle English (denoting trickery): from Old French tromperie, from tromper ‘deceive’.

[Sain]

O god is that real ;D

[Yuna]

O god is that real ;D

It would appear so!

[Hob]

Welmish

adjective

• pale or sickly color
• white or greenish in color

British, mid-17th Century
Origin uncertain.
Perhaps early modern German qualm (swoon, faint, half-conscious or unconscious state0 (16th cent.)
Compare Danish kvalm, qvalm (nausea, fit of sickness)

[Argyros]

Incarnadine

[in·​car·​na·​dine | in-ˈkär-nə-ˌdīn | in-kahr-nuh-dahyn, -din, -deen ]


adjective

• Having a dark pink, flesh-coloured hue.
• Crimson; blood-red.

noun

• An incarnadine colour.

verb (used with object) (-ed, -ing).

• To make incarnadine; redden.

Etymology

Incarnadine. (c. 1585–95). From Middle French incarnadin (flesh-coloured), which is derived from Italian incarnatino, a portmanteau
of incarnat(o) (incarnate, made flesh) + -ino. Also inspired by carnation (from Dianthus caryophyllus, a species of pink herbaceous perennials).

[Hob]

Lentor

noun

• vicisity —used of the blood
• slowness, sluggishness
• lethargy

Latin, from lentus (sticky, flexible, slow) + -or

[Argyros]

Bruit

"Hear ye, hear ye!"

[ bruit | broot | brüt | brü-​ē ]



noun

• A noise, din or clamour.
• A report or rumour.
• (Medical) Any generally abnormal sound or murmur heard on auscultation.

verb (transitive; used with object, often passively and followed by "about") (-ed, -ing).

• To voice abroad.
• To rumour.

Etymology

Bruit (c. 1400–1450, Late Middle English). From Anglo-French bruit (noise, clamour) derived from
Old French bruire (to roar) and Latin brūgere, a conflation of rūgīre (to bellow) and bragere (to bray).

[Hob]

Hochle

verb

• To walk with a slow, awkward, hobbling or tottering gait
• To do anything awkwardly, to be untidy in dress
• To fornicate, “to tumble lewdly with women in open day”
• An ungainly heaving movement of the body, an awkward shifting of position

verb

• Anything which is in a tumbledown or ramshackle condition

Scottish, late 18th Century- early 20th Century
Possibly from English hock/hoch/hough (the joint of an animal's hind leg)
from Old English hōh (heel or possibly joint)

[Sain]

Hochle

verb

• To walk with a slow, awkward, hobbling or tottering gait
• To do anything awkwardly, to be untidy in dress
• To fornicate, “to tumble lewdly with women in open day”
• An ungainly heaving movement of the body, an awkward shifting of position

verb

• Anything which is in a tumbledown or ramshackle condition

Scottish, late 18th Century- early 20th Century
Possibly from English hock/hoch/hough (the joint of an animal's hind leg)
from Old English hōh (heel or possibly joint)

Wow what a many faceted verb. This is wonderful ;D Well, so are most of these words you guys find. This thread is just <3

[Argyros]

Anguilliform

"Slippery as an eel."

[ an·​guil·​li·​form | ang-gwil-uh-fawrm | aŋˈgwiləˌfȯrm ]



adjective

• Having the shape or form of an eel; eel-like.
• Characteristic of an eel.

Etymology

Anguilliform (c. 1685–1695). From Latin anguill(a) (eel) or angu(is) (snake) + -illa (diminutive suffix) + -i- + -form.

[stormwyrm]

Shend

Verb (transitive)

• To disgrace or put to shame.
• To blame.
• To destroy, to spoil.
• To overpower, to surpass.

From Middle English shenden, from Old English sċendan (“to put to shame, blame, disgrace”), from Proto-Germanic *skandijaną (“to scold, berate”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kem- (“to cover”). Cognate with Dutch schenden (“to infringe, profane, defile”), German schänden (“defile”), Danish skænde (“defile”). Related to Old English sċand (“infamy, shame, scandal”).

[Hob]

Nympholepsy

Noun

• A demonic enthusiasm held by the ancients to seize one bewitched by a nymph
• A frenzy of (erotic) emotion
• Passion aroused in men by beautiful young women
• Wild frenzy caused by desire for an unattainable ideal.
• An unappeasable longing, not one that can be acted upon

Late 18th century
from Greek numpholēptos (caught by nymphs)
from numphē (nymph) and lambanein (take hold of, in reference to epilepsy)

[Kitteredge]

Incarnadine

[in·​car·​na·​dine | in-ˈkär-nə-ˌdīn | in-kahr-nuh-dahyn, -din, -deen ]


adjective

• Having a dark pink, flesh-coloured hue.
• Crimson; blood-red.

noun

• An incarnadine colour.

verb (used with object) (-ed, -ing).

• To make incarnadine; redden.

Etymology

Incarnadine. (c. 1585–95). From Middle French incarnadin (flesh-coloured), which is derived from Italian incarnatino, a portmanteau
of incarnat(o) (incarnate, made flesh) + -ino. Also inspired by carnation (from Dianthus caryophyllus, a species of pink herbaceous perennials).

I believe Shakespeare invented this word:

Macbeth:
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appalls me?
What hands are here? Hah! They pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.

[Argyros]

I believe Shakespeare invented this word:

Macbeth:
Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appalls me?
What hands are here? Hah! They pluck out mine eyes.
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.

Shakespeare was the quintessential neologist. We owe him many thanks for new-fangled (!) terminologies such as bedazzled, pageantry, multitudinous and yes, incarnadine.  ;D

[Argyros]

Avaunt

"Avaunt, you dalcop bespawler!"

[ a · vaunt | uh-vawnt, -vahnt | ə-ˈvȯnt, -ˈvänt ]



adverb (exclamation)

• Go away; depart

Etymology

Avaunt (c. 1275–1325, Middle English). From Anglo-French avant (to the front), derived from Late Latin abante (forward) (ab- = from, -ante = before).

[Hob]

Blissom

transitive verb

• of a ram, to copulate with a ewe. Also "tup".

intransitive verb

• of a ewe, to be in heat
• To be lustful or lascivious.

adjective

• lascivious
• subject to or having strong sexual desires
• in heat (ewe)

Middle English blissomen, of Scandinavian origin
akin to Old Norse blæsma (in heat, said of goats)
akin to Old Norse blāsa (to blow)
Oddly enough, not related to "blissome" (characterised or marked by bliss; joyous)

[Argyros]

Wanion

"I see a bad moon rising."

[ wan·​ion | won-yuh n | wän-yən ]



noun (can be used with the preceding phrase, "with a")

• Vengence; curse.

Etymology

Wanion (c. 1540–1550, Middle English). Alteration of waniand, a present participle of wanien (wane) derived
from the phrase "in the waniand" (unluckily) or "in the time of the waning (moon)", which is comparative to "in an unlucky hour".

[stormwyrm]

Eruct

Verb (intransitive)

• To burp, to belch

From Latin ēructō.

I first came across this word in a translation of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote, where Don Quixote advises Sancho Panza, on the eve of his assuming the post of governor of the island of Barataria, to avoid frequent "eructing". Sancho is confused, not knowing the word, and Quixote explains that it means 'belching', but that ordinary word sounded much too ugly and vulgar, so he coined the word 'eruct' from the Latin. I've never yet seen the word elsewhere in the wild. I think in the original Spanish the exchange involved the words 'eructo' and 'regüeldo':

Eructar, Sancho, quiere decir regoldar, y éste es uno de los más torpes vocablos que tiene la lengua castellana, aunque es muy significativo; y así, la gente curiosa se ha acogido al latín, y al regoldar dice eructar, y a los regüeldos, eructaciones; y cuando algunos no entienden estos términos, importa poco, que el uso los irá introduciendo con el tiempo, que con facilidad se entiendan, y esto es enriquecer la lengua, sobre quien tiene poder el vulgo y el uso.

[Argyros]

Gyve

[ gyve | jahyv, gahyv | jīv, gīv ]



noun (usually gyves)

• A shackle, especially for the leg.
• A chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles; a fetter.

verb (transitive, used with an object) [-ed, -ing]

• To shackle or restrain.

Etymology

Gyve (c. 1175–1225, Middle English). Origin unknown.

[Hob]

Tarradiddle

noun

• a petty lie, a fib
• pretentious nonsense

British, informal, late 18th-Century
Etymology unknown
possibly related to diddle (in the sense of 'to cheat' or 'a hoax or swindle')

[Argyros]

Varlet

[ var·​let | vahr-lit | vär-lət ]



noun

• A knavish or unprincipled person; rascal.
• An attendant or servant.
• A page who serves a knight.

Etymology

Varlet (c. 1425–1475, Late Middle English). From Anglo French. Variant of valet or vadlet (male servant, groom, knight's attendant).
Derived from Gallo-Romance vassellittus, diminutive of vassellus, diminutive of early Medieval Latin vassus (serf, servant, vassal).

[Sain]

Ooo, I like that word. It also works as a wonderful fantasy name ;D

[Argyros]

Agathokakological

[ ag·​a·​tho·​kak·​o·​log·​i·​cal | a-gə-thō-ˌka-kə-lä-ji-kəl]



adjective

(also agathocacological)

• Composed of both good and evil.

Etymology

Agathokakological (c. 1800–1843). From Ancient Greek ἀγαθός (agathós, “good”) and κακός (kakós, “bad”) + -logical.
Believed to have been first used as a nonce word by English poet Robert Southey.

[Hob]

Fescennine

adjective

• scurrilous or obscene
• licentious, sexually unrestrained, lewd
• marked by the use of vulgarity or obscene language

English, early 17th Century
Etymology unclear. Related to fescennini verses (early Italian/Roman ribald songs sung at rustic weddings.) Possibly from Latin fascinus (a phallus-shaped amulet used to ward off the evil eye) or from Fescennia (an ancient city of Etruscan/Faliscan origin.)

[Argyros]

Tantivy

[ tan·​tivy | tan-tiv-ee | tan-ˈti-vē ]



adverb

• At a full gallop.

adjective

• Swift; rapid.

noun (pl. tantivies)

• A rapid gallop or ride; rush.
• (Exclamation) Used as a hunting cry; tantara.

Etymology

Tantivy (c. 1635–1658). Origin unknown. One theory surmises that the adverb tantivy represents or imitates the sound of a galloping horse's hooves. The noun version can also mean "the blare of a trumpet or horn", likely due to similarities with the word tantara – a word for the sound of a trumpet that came about as an imitation of that sound. As both tantivy and tantara were used during foxhunts, it was likely that people used the two words interchangeably.

[Hob]

Quatrayle

noun

• great-great-great-grandfather
• the grandfather of the grandfather of one's father
• ancestor

English, "archaic"
quadri/quatra from Latin quattuor (four)
ayle from old French legal term for grandfather.
Found in The Nation: A Weekly Journal Dedicated to Politics, Literature, Science, and Art, Volume 19, 1874

[Argyros]

Amain

[ a·​main | uh-meyn | ə-ˈmān ]



adverb

• With full force.
• At full speed.
• Suddenly; hastily.
• Exceedingly; greatly.

Etymology

Amain (c. 1530–1540). From a +‎ main (strength, power, force).

[Argyros]

Sciolist

[ sci·o·list | sahy-uh-list | sī-​ə-​list​ ]



noun

• A person who pretends to be knowledgeable and well informed.
• One who exhibits only superficial knowledge; a self-proclaimed expert with little real understanding of that subject.

Etymology

Sciolist (c. 1810–1820). From Late Latin sciolus ("one who knows little"), a diminutive of scius ("knowing") + -ist (suffix, "a person who practices").

[Argyros]

Pismire

[ ​pis·​mire | pis-mahyuh r, (piz-) | pis-ˌmī(-ə)r | pɪsmaɪə(ɹ) ]



noun

• An ant.

Etymology

Pismire (c. 1350–1400). From Middle English pissemyre, a portmaneau of pisse (to urinate) + mire (ant); a pejorative name from the stench of formic acid proper to ants.
May also relate to Danish myre, Swedish myra or Dutch mier.

[Hob]

Mollynogging

verb

• Frequenting the company of loose or immoral women
• Associating with women of questionable character

Etymology unclear
supposedly from Lincolnshire, British
Molly as a diminuative of "Mary" (a common name) and possibly nog (a strong beer)

[Argyros]

Malapert

[ ​mal·​a·​pert | mal-uh-purt | ma-lə-ˈpərt ]



adjective

• Impudently bold or saucy.
• Boldly disrespectful, especially to a person of higher standing.

noun

• An impudent person.

Etymology

Malapert (c. 1375–1425, Late Middle English). A portmanteau of the prefix mal-, which is borrowed from the Latin root malus ("bad", "badly") and Middle English apert and Latin "apertus" ("open").

[Sain]

I'd like to see people try to write coherent sentences using words found only in this thread ;D Or maybe 50% of the sentence being from this thread? Either way, would love to see some forgotten old timey word salad.

[Argyros]

Glebe

[ ​glebe | glēb | gleeb ]



noun (also, glebe land)

• A meadow or field.
• A plot of cultivated land.
• (Archaic) Soil, turf or sod.
• (Historical) Land belonging to or yielding revenue to a parish church or ecclesiastical benefice.

Etymology

Glebe (c. 1275–1325, Middle English). From Old French glebe, derived from Latin glaeba ("lump of earth", "clod").

[Argyros]

Quockerwodger

[ KWOK·​er·​wad·​jer​ ]



noun (slang) (pl. quockerwodgers)

• A wooden puppet operated by string mechanics; a marionette.
• (Political) A politician whose actions are controlled by somebody else, usually a corporation or person of authority.

Etymology

Quockerwodger (c. 1859). First recorded in A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words by John Camden Hotten (1859, p. 197). Origin unknown.

[Argyros]

Appetency

[ ap·​pe·​ten·​cy | a-pə-tən(t)-sē | ap-i-tuh n see ]



noun

• Intense, strong or fixed desire.
• Instinctive inclination or natural tendency.
• Attraction or affinity.

Etymology

Appentency (c. 1600–1610). From the obsolete appete ("to seek for", to long for"), a derivative of Latin appetere ("seek after"),
a portmaneau of the prefix ap- ("to", "toward", "near") + Latin petere ("to seek") + suffix -ence ("action", "state", "quality", "process"). Also has roots from the French appétence.

[Sain]

Appetency

[ ap·​pe·​ten·​cy | a-pə-tən(t)-sē | ap-i-tuh n see ]



noun

• Intense, strong or fixed desire.
• Instinctive inclination or natural tendency.
• Attraction or affinity.

Etymology

Appentency (c. 1600–1610). From the obsolete appete ("to seek for", to long for"), a derivative of Latin appetere ("seek after"),
a portmaneau of the prefix ap- ("to", "toward", "near") + Latin petere ("to seek") + suffix -ence ("action", "state", "quality", "process"). Also has roots from the French appétence.

Could have actually used this yesterday!

[Argyros]

Houppelande

[ houppe·​lande | hoop-lahnd, (-land) | ˈhüˌpländ ]



noun (alt. houpelande)

• A robe or long tunic, belted or with a fitted bodice, usually having full trailing sleeves and often trimmed or lined with fur.

Etymology

Houppelande (c. 1350–1400). From Middle English hopeland, derived from Old French hoppelande.

[Argyros]

Timbrel

[ tim·​brel | tim-brəl | tim-bruh l ]



noun

• A small drum, tambourine or similar instrument.

Etymology

Timbrel (c. 1490 – 1520, Middle English). Diminutive of Old French timbre ("small drum", "tambourine") + -el (agent suffix)

[Argyros]

Reave

[ reave | rēv | reev ]



verb (intransitive) reaved or reft, reaving

• To take away by or as by force; to seize.
• To plunder or rob.
  
• To rend, break or tear.

Etymology

Reave (c. < 900, Middle English reven). From Old English rēafian, cognate with German rauben and Dutch roven ("to rob").

[Argyros]

Esurient

[ esu·​ri·​ent | i-ˈsu̇r-ē-ənt (-ˈzu̇r-) | ih-soo r-ee-uh nt ]



adjective

• Hungry; greedy.

Etymology

Esurient (c. 1665–1675). From Latin esurient, a stem of esuriens, present participle of esurīre ("hungering"), which is equivalent to esur- ("hunger") + -ent (agent suffix).

[Argyros]

Sepulture

[ sep·​ul·​ture | se-pəl-ˌchu̇r | sep-uh l-cher ]



noun

• The act of placing in a sepulchre; a burial.
• A sepulchre, tomb or grave.

Etymology

Sepulture (c. 1250–1300, Middle English). From Old French sepulture or sepoutre ("tomb, coffin"), ultimately derived from
Latin sepultura ("burial, funeral obsequies") which is based off of Latin sepult, past participle stem of sepelire ("to bury").

[Argyros]

Tithe

[ tithe | ˈtīt͟h | taɪð | tahyth ]



noun

• One-tenth; a small fraction.
• A small tax or levy.
• (Religious) A tenth of something paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax, especially for the support of a religious establishment.

verb [tithed, tithing] (used with or without an object)

• To give, pay or receive a tithe.

Etymology

Tithe (c. < 900 AD). (n.) From Middle English ti(ghe)the, derived from Old English teogotha ("tenth"); (v.) From Middle English tithen, derived from Old English teogothian ("to take the tenth of").

[Argyros]

Trig

[ trig ]



adjective

• Stylishly or jauntily trim, neat or smart.
• Extremely precise and proper; prim.
• (British) In good physical condition; sound, firm, vigorous or well.

Etymology

Trig (c. 1150–1200). From Middle English trigg ("true", "trusty"), derived from Old Norse tryggr ("loyal", "safe") and cognate with Gothic triggws ("true", "faithful").

[Argyros]

Buss

[ buss | bəs | buhs ]



noun or verb (transitive)

• Kiss.

Etymology

Buss (c. 1560–1570). Believed to be a combination of Middle English bass(en) ("kiss") and cuss (cognate with German kuss), which replaced the Old English coss (cognate with Old Norse koss).

[Argyros]

Cruse

[ cruse | krüs, krüz | kroos, krooz ]



noun

• An earthenware pot, jar or bottle used for storing liquids.
• A small vessel for holding a liquid.

Etymology

Cruse (c.1225–1275). From Middle English crouse, equivalent to Old English crūse (cognate with German krause (a type of pot with a lid)). Conflated with croo, derived from Old English crōh and crōg (cognate with German krug ("jug")).

[Sain]

Thanks for keeping the curiosities going while Justric is taking a break Argyros. They're fun to check.

I want to see people constructing sentences with over 50% of the words picked from this thread ;D

[Argyros]

Thanks for keeping the curiosities going while Justric is taking a break Argyros. They're fun to check.

You're welcome, Sain! My pleasure.

I want to see people constructing sentences with over 50% of the words picked from this thread ;D

Doth thou foreshadow a contest?  ;)

[Sain]

You're welcome, Sain! My pleasure.

Doth thou foreshadow a contest?  ;)

A forgotten challenge ;D

[Argyros]

Venery

[ ven·​ery | ve-nə-rē | ven-uh-ree ]




noun

• The art, act, practice or sport of hunting; the chase.
• Animals that are hunted; game.

Etymology

Venery (c. 1275–1325). From Middle English venerie, borrowed from Anglo-French vénerie ("hunting") and derived from Old French vener and Latin vēnārī ("to hunt").

[Argyros]

Dandiprat

[ dan·​di·​prat | dandēˌprat | dan-dee-prat]

noun¹

• A small silver coin minted in 16^th Century England, valued at approximately twopence.

noun²

• A person of diminutive stature; a dwarf, pygmy, or midget.
• A silly, finicky, contemptible or puerile person.
• A child, especially a street urchin.

Etymology

Dandiprat (c. 1510–1520). Origin unknown.

[Sain]

Dandiprat

[ dan·​di·​prat | dandēˌprat | dan-dee-prat]

noun¹

• A small silver coin minted in 16^th Century England, valued at approximately twopence.

noun²

• A person of diminutive stature; a dwarf, pygmy, or midget.
• A silly, finicky, contemptible or puerile person.
• A child, especially a street urchin.

Etymology

Dandiprat (c. 1510–1520). Origin unknown.

I like this. The word actually sounds sorta like what it means so it might be usable today still ;D

[Nico]

Scurryfunge

Verb

• sku-ree-fun-j
• Hasty tidying of the house between the time you see a neighbor and the time they knock on your door.

Old/Middle English, commonly in the late 19th century.

First documented use:

1777 - Horæ Subsecivæ (in English Dialect Dictionary);
"SCURRIFUNGE - to lash tightly; coire"

Example:

"I scurryfunge when I see my mother in law coming over."

[Argyros]

Purfle

[ pur·​fle | pər-fəl | pur-fuh l ]

verb (purfled, purfling)

• To finish an object with an ornamental border.
• To decorate a shrine or tabernacle with architectural forms in miniature.

noun (alt. purfling)

• An ornamental border, as the inlaid border near the outer edge of the table and back of a stringed instrument.

Etymology

Purfle (c. 1275–1325). From Middle English purfilen and French porfiler ("to adorn a border"), equivalent to por- ("in favour of") + filer ("to spin"), derivative of Latin filium ("thread").

[Argyros]

Shrift

[ shrift | srift ]


noun

• Absolution or remission of sins granted after confession and penance.
• (Religion) The act of shriving; confession.

Etymology

Shrift (c. < 900 AD). Middle English shrift, derived from Old English scrift ("penance") and cognate with German or Dutch schrift ("writing").

[Mellific]

Maffle

Verb

• to speak indistinctly : MUMBLE, STAMMER


• to cause to become confused or bewildered

Middle English mafflen, probably of imitative origin

[Argyros]

Agelast

[ ag·​e·​last | a-jə-ˌlast]


noun

• A person who never laughs.

Etymology

Agelast (c. 1877). Borrowed from Middle French agelaste, a derivative of Greek agélastos ("not laughing", "grave", "gloomy"),
which is a conjunction of a- ("not", "without") + gelastós, verbal adjective of gelân ("to laugh").

[Mellific]

Tortiloquy

Noun

• Crooked or dishonest speech.

Sample sentence: I will not tolerate such tortiloquy in my court!

1656 -1656

[Argyros]

Nithing

[ nith·​ing | naɪðɪŋ ]



noun (pl. nithings)

• A contemptible, despicable, meanly, covetous or stingy person; a miser.
• A cowardly or craven person, especially one who breaks a code of honour.
• (Mythology) A malicious creature.

Etymology

Nithing (c. 1731, Middle English). From Old English nīþing ("wretch", "villain", "coward", "outlaw") and Old Norse níðingr, derived from the root word níð ("defamation", "libel").

[Argyros]

Boulevardier

“Feeling fancy, might buy a house
made of gold later. I don’t know.”

[ bou·le·vard·i·er | bu̇-lə-ˌvär-ˈdyā | booluh-var-dyey ]



noun (pl. boulevardiers)

• A cultivated, cultured person who frequents the most fashionable locales in cities such as Pairs, London or New York; a wealthy, fashionable socialite.
• A person who lives luxuriously and enjoys good food and drink; a bon vivant.
• (Mixology) A cocktail consisting of Campari, sweet vermouth, and rye whisky or bourbon.

Etymology

Boulevardier (c. 1875–1880). From French boulevard (“promenade, avenue, rampart”) + the noun-forming suffix -ier.

[Argyros]

Pavonine

[ pav·​o·​nine | ˈpavəˌnīn, -nə̇n | pav-uh-nahyn, -nin ]



adjective

• Of, relating to, or resembling a peacock.
• Coloured like a peacock's tail or neck; iridescent.
• Of the colour peacock blue.

Etymology

Pavonine (c. 1650–1660). From Latin pāvōnīnus, derivative of pāvō (stem pāvōn-) ("peacock") + suffix adjective -ine (of, or pertaining to).

[Argyros]

Cupreous

[ cu·​pre·​ous | ˈk(y)üprēəs | kyoo-pree-uh s, (koo-) ]



adjective

• Containing or resembling copper: coppery.
• Copper-coloured; metallic reddish-brown.

Etymology

Cupreous (c. 1660–1670). From Late Latin cupreus, equivalent to cupr(um) ("copper") + the suffix forming adjective -eus or -eous ("relating to or having the nature of").

[Argyros]

Anfractuous

[an·frac·tu·ous | an-ˈfrak-chə-wəs  (-shə-; -chü-əs, -shü-) | an-frak-choo-uh s]



adjective

• Characterized by windings and turnings; sinuous, circuitous, torturous.

Etymology

Anfractuous (c. 1615–1625). From Latin anfractus (“winding”, “bending”), a combination of the prefix an- (“around”) and the verb frangere (“to bend”, “to break.”).

[Argyros]

Deracinate

[de·rac·i·nate | dē-ˈra-sə-ˌnāt | dih-ras-uh-neyt]



verb (used with an object) deracinated, deracinating

• To pull up by the roots; uproot, extirpate, eradicate.
• To isolate or alienate a person from a native or customary culture or environment.

Etymology

Deracinate (c. 1590–1600). From French verb déracin(er), a combinative derivative of prefix de- (“remove”, “separate”) + Latin noun radix (“root”) + the verb-forming suffix –ate.

[stormwyrm]

Apodictic

Adjective

• Incontrovertible; demonstrably true or certain.
• A style of argument, in which a person presents their reasoning as categorically true, even if it is not necessarily so.
• (theology, Biblical studies) Absolute and without explanation, as in a command from God like "Thou shalt not kill!"

From the Ancient Greek ἀποδεικτικός (apodeiktikós, “affording proof”, “demonstrative”), from ἀποδείκνυμι (apodeíknumi, “I demonstrate”).

[Ozolosterna]

Farrago

noun

• A confused, volatile mixture, a hodgepodge
• mixed fodder for cattle

[Ozolosterna]

Filibeg

Noun

• A type of Kilt worn by Scottish Highlanders

Scotland: 1700's
Philibeg
Kilt. Scottish Skirt

[Inkidu]

Shrift

[ shrift | srift ]


noun

• Absolution or remission of sins granted after confession and penance.
• (Religion) The act of shriving; confession.

Etymology

Shrift (c. < 900 AD). Middle English shrift, derived from Old English scrift ("penance") and cognate with German or Dutch schrift ("writing").

I like this one because it still exists in the modern lexicon today because of the phrase short shrift.

[stormwyrm]

Art for art's sake?

Autotelic

Adjective

• Having purpose or meaning in and not apart from itself.
• Not motivated by anything outside of itself, self-contained.

From Greek αὐτοτελής (autotelēs), formed from αὐτός (autos, "self") and τέλος (telos, "end" or "goal"). First used in English ca. 1901.

[stormwyrm]

A fine specimen of Mephitis mephitis.

Mephitic

Adjective

• Foul-smelling or noxious, particularly of a gas or atmosphere.

From Latin mephitis, a poisonous or pestilential gas from the ground. Also originally the name of the Samnite goddess of the poisonous gases of swamps and volcanoes. Also a genus of North American skunks.

[dakabn]

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"

"Mommy, why are the old ladies in market calling me merry begot. I thought you named me Ester."

"Oh, child, one cold evening, after a traveling bard had regaled us with song and tale, I was eager to hear more. And he eager to tell more. We strolled to the outside of town, toward the cliff overlooking the river. The moonlight, his honey tongue," She paused looking at her young child, "told sweet stories and sang ballads that made me sway. We were merry, and you were begotten that eve."

After a moment, the child saw a bard in town telling a tale. Ester ran toward the women gathered and shouted, "MORE BABIES COMING!"



I tried to make that all poetic but  ... well... this is the literary version of....

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

[Chaeronea]

Buss

[ buss | bəs | buhs ]



noun or verb (transitive)

• Kiss.

Just a quick note - buss is used to refer to a quick kiss, usually to the lips, cheek or forehead as a gesture of affection. Two people passionately making out are not engaged in bussing.

Quockerwodger

[ KWOK·​er·​wad·​jer​ ]

Oh, I love this word! As an avid D&D player I have to get our GM to use it as the name for some type of malevolent construct :)

Cozen

"Cozen me if you can."

[ coz·​en | ˈkə-zən | kuhz-uh n ]


verb (with or without an object)

• To swindle by artful deception.
• To cheat, deceive or trick.

Similar Words

Cozener (noun)
Cozeningly (adverb)

'Cozening' can apparently be used to refer to the process of someone cleaning themselves up or making them look respectable. I saw it used in one of Anne McCaffrey's Dragons of Pern novels - a man was told he 'needed cozening' by his girlfriend after she finally awoke from a week-long coma to find he'd been waiting by her bedside the whole time, and as a result was unshaven, exhausted and overall unkempt.

Palfrey

[pal·​frey | ˈpȯl-frē]

"I want to ride the pretty palfrey."

noun (archaic)

1. A saddle horse not bred or trained for war.
2. A docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women.

Often used in modern fantasy novels as a term for a horse ridden by a lady, so a fair number of people know that a palfrey is a horse. To be precise a palfrey is a small or light horse capable of an amble, a smooth gait faster than a walk but slower than a canter which could be maintained for long periods of time.

[FortunatePilgrim]

I always liked "Gruntle" meaning to please or make happy. It's fallen out of use because it sounds like the opposite of what it is. But I'm always fascinated that we kept the opposite and it sounds fine.

[Ozolosterna]

Defenestration

Noun

• The act of throwing someone or something out of the window
• A swift expulsion or dismissal from an office (usually political).

Prague, 1419, 1618

Related Term: Yeet

[solkar]

Sorry to be nitpicking but it's 'defenestration', without the 'r'.

[Ozolosterna]

Sorry to be nitpicking but it's 'defenestration', without the 'r'.

Whoopsie... There, I fixed it.

[Ozolosterna]

Gerrymandering

Noun

• Rigging an election in favor of a specific party/group/candidate.
• Protecting Incumbents via Cracking: diluting the voting power of the opposing party's supporters across many districts or Packing: concentrating the opposing party's voting power in one district to reduce their voting power in other districts

Massacheutsets, 1812
politician name + mander (Jerrymander, Henrymander, Tullymander)
Rig, Political-Sleight-of-Hand. Electoral Fraud.

[TexasWarren]

This is a GREAT thread and I am only posting to try and spark a revival. I will be looking for words to use.

[Oniya]

I'm not sure if this counts, as the word was nearly forgotten in the 1930's, but has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity:

Verb

bloviate (bloviates, bloviating, bloviated)

    (intransitive, US) To speak or discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner.

1845, US, Ohio, from blow (“speak idly, boast”) + -i- +‎ -ate, by analogy with deviate.