Lost and forgotten words

DanaC · 10-10-2013, 05:15 AM

Saw this in the Guardian today and it made me smile. Mark Forsyth, author of The Etymologicon and The Horologicon sets out ten of his favourite lost and forgotten words:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/boo...-10-lost-words

Who doesn't love a good lost word eh?

here are a couple of my favourites from the list:

Quote:

1. Wamblecropt

... overcome with indigestion. Once upon a time, you might observe that your stomach was wambling a bit. If the wambles got so bad you couldn't move, you were wamblecropt. It's the most beautiful word in the English language to say aloud. Try it.

Quote:

4. Uhtcaere.

...is an Old English word that refers to anxiety experienced just before dawn. It describes that moment when you wake up too early and can't get back to sleep, no matter how tired you are, because you're worried about the day to come.

Quote:

5. Snollygoster

...is a 19th century American word for "a dishonest or corrupt politician". Or, to take an original definition from the editor of a Georgia newspaper: "a snollygoster is a fellow who wants office, regardless of party, platform or principles, and who, whenever he wins, gets there by the sheer force of monumental talknophical assumnacy". The only reason I can imagine such a delicious word would die out is that all politicians are now honest.

Check out the link for more. And I highly recommend the books

Sundae · 10-10-2013, 06:16 AM

I would expect gynaecologists suffering from stress to experience uhtcaere.

lumberjim · 10-10-2013, 08:37 AM

6. Ultracrepidarian
Ultracrepidarianism is when you give your opinion on a topic about which you know nothing. What makes this word so useful is that nobody knows what it means. Tell someone they are ultracrepidarian and they'll probably consider it a compliment.

Seems like this one could be useful. Like for when I post in the politics forum.

Sundae · 10-10-2013, 08:40 AM

Would you consider yourself an egregious person?

lumberjim · 10-10-2013, 10:18 AM

No. ...I thought egregoius meant badly mistaken. ... or when used to modify making an error. An egregious error.

Are you thinking of gregarious? Cuz, I'm that. According to ute, anyway.

Lamplighter · 10-10-2013, 10:50 AM

LJ: I tried to use "ultracrepidarian" over in the Politics forum,
but it instantly transmutated into "ultracrepadakian".

Sundae · 10-10-2013, 10:50 AM

Sorry, it was in a sketch from The League of Gentlemen.

In an Q&A session one character is obvious trying to best the other. Which he does, completely. Then gets walloped with a clipboard for his temerity.

lumberjim · 10-10-2013, 01:59 PM

Good story, lamp.

Gravdigr · 10-10-2013, 02:51 PM

Fistmele - modern term is 'brace height' - it's the distance between the deepest part of the grip of a bow and the bowstring.

Alternatively, the width of the hand with thumb extended.

sexobon · 10-11-2013, 11:31 AM

This could just as easily go in LJ's Need a new Euphemism thread for use as a noun to describe cunnilingus: Honey, I'd really like a ...

lickety-split

10-10-2013, 06:16 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I would expect gynaecologists suffering from stress to experience uhtcaere. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-10-2013, 08:37 AM	#3
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	6. Ultracrepidarian Ultracrepidarianism is when you give your opinion on a topic about which you know nothing. What makes this word so useful is that nobody knows what it means. Tell someone they are ultracrepidarian and they'll probably consider it a compliment. Seems like this one could be useful. Like for when I post in the politics forum. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

10-10-2013, 08:40 AM	#4
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Would you consider yourself an egregious person? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-10-2013, 10:18 AM	#5
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	No. ...I thought egregoius meant badly mistaken. ... or when used to modify making an error. An egregious error. Are you thinking of gregarious? Cuz, I'm that. According to ute, anyway. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

10-10-2013, 10:50 AM	#7
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Sorry, it was in a sketch from The League of Gentlemen. In an Q&A session one character is obvious trying to best the other. Which he does, completely. Then gets walloped with a clipboard for his temerity. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac Last edited by Sundae; 10-10-2013 at 11:02 AM.

10-10-2013, 10:50 AM	#6
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	LJ: I tried to use "ultracrepidarian" over in the Politics forum, but it instantly transmutated into "ultracrepadakian".

10-10-2013, 01:59 PM	#8
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	Good story, lamp. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

10-10-2013, 02:51 PM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Fistmele - modern term is 'brace height' - it's the distance between the deepest part of the grip of a bow and the bowstring. Alternatively, the width of the hand with thumb extended. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

10-11-2013, 11:31 AM	#10
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	This could just as easily go in LJ's Need a new Euphemism thread for use as a noun to describe cunnilingus: Honey, I'd really like a ... lickety-split

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