Posted on 05/31/2013 8:49:04 AM PDT by EveningStar
Just like facts and flies, English words have life-spans. Some are thousands of years old, from before English officially existed, others change, or are replaced or get ditched entirely.
Here are 18 uncommon or obsolete words that we think may have died early. We found them in two places: a book called "The Word Museum: The Most Remarkable English Words Ever Forgotten" by Jeffrey Kacirk, and on a blog called Obsolete Word of The Day that's been out of service since 2010. Both are fantastic- you should check them out.
(Excerpt) Read more at deathandtaxesmag.com ...
I did not know it was his birthday today.
I think pussyvan took on a different meaning in the 60’s. Speaking of pussies, now I know what I can call my cats when I’m eating...groaks!
Two that I thought should have been immediately banned from the get-go are “Parenting” and “Quality time”.
“In the Navy they were called West Pac[ific] widows. The West Pac widows are generally thought to cheat on their husbands while they are out on deployment.”
Living in Jacksonville Fl, I encountered one of the East Coast variety in a bar one night. She was really attractive, and very enthusiastic about kissing me after only having known me for a few minutes, (and she must have lived in Paris at some point). Not wearing a ring, she finally let it slip that her hubby had just put to sea and she was looking for a ‘friend’ to ward off loneliness. Being a practical lass she also asked if my apartment complex had a pool, thinking of her two kids. I made my exit with apologies for having to run, but I’m honest enough to admit to a little reluctance, that girl really could kiss, and was a looker to boot.
Pussyvan, Wonder-wench, Spermologer, Queerplungers
COME ON! The author must be having us on.
You have been duly informed. Turned 83 today.
The word, seemingly becoming obsolescent, is sneaked, the past tense form of the verb "to sneak."
The poor vulgar colloquialism replacing it is the word snuck, a truly inelegant form that reminds one of other rude words ending in "-uck," with neither present nor past tense form. In the past tense, it ought to at least be expressed as "snucked."
The correct and proper past these of the verb "to sneak" is "sneaked," as mentioned.
Using the word "snuck" marks one as either rude of education, or ignorant of the use of the simplest dictionary for preparing articles fit to be printed, from the language syntax sense.
Let's have the word "sneaked" back again, eh?
I asked a friend who was stationed there where did they all come from, as this wasn't normal for the past 2-3 weeks... He replied, “Oh, the Navy put out to sea this morning! These are “Fleet Widows”! His term for them.
Now Mr. has no meaning, so it is disappearing from usage.
Not in the Army. "Mr." pronounced "mister" is the preferred title of Warrant Officer or CWO. Here to stay, permanently. Still used as honorific; or in scolding, say, for a child.
Miss has disappeared, since it’s perceived as patronizing.
Not in the genteel Mid-states or South, where it is a term of respect and honor of station, whether deserved or undeserved by behavior.
Mrs. and Ms. aren’t far behind.
Oh? and what does one do with introducing a scholar or physician or cleric or magistrate or military officer and his wife? One uses the appropriate honorific coupled with "Mrs." pronounced "Missiz." And certainly "Ms." pronounced "Miss" or "Miz" for a female WO or CWO.
Just an observation, the title prefixes perhaps a little less elusive than were suggested. Master is pretty much gone though, in an egalitarian society. But not in the Marines, Army, and Air Force (which are not egalitarian), it is used vocally in addressing Senior NCOs, abbrieviated as just "M" (MSgt) in writing.
Kind of interesting thought you had, though, St.
Spermophile is a Ground Squirrel.
Ugh. What's it going to be, the "couple's bedroom?" That won't last long, when polygamy comes along.
Ha ha ha ha — “I caught my cats groaking me wile I ate a tuna sandwich!” — hahaaaHA oh heeee! This is differen than grokking, eh? ahhhmmmm —
Like Mark Morford.
Let me comment that the text of the article does not suggest that there are no more than eighteen such words, thus "which" is selective and appropriate.
The words that should not have gone out of style are a subclass of the words that have gone out of style.
This is not correct.
The words that should not have gone out of style are is a subclass of the words that have gone out of style.
Which words are we talking about? We are talking about 18 of the words which (referring to the words)(selective, plural) form a subclass that (referring to the subclass unit)(demonstrative, singular) ought not to have become obsolete.
Furthermore, from Webster's Third New International Dictionary Unabridged (1981):
A. The definition of "which" that applies: (grin)
Second example (excerpt):
which - pronoun - used as a function word to introduce a restrictive or non-restrictive relative clause and to serve as a substitute within that clause for the substantive modified by that clause; used in any grammatical relation within the relative clause except that of a possessive; used esp. in reference to animals, inanimate objects, groups, or ideas
B. The definition of "that" which applies: (big grin)
Fourth example:
that - pronoun - no plural sense - (1a) used as a function word used to introduce a restrictive relative clause and to serve as a substitute within that clause for the substantive modified by that clause; used in any grammatical relation within the relative clause except that of a possessive or the object of a preceding preposition
**********
As the article is given, the lack of the definite article before the substantive "18 words" clearly announces that this class is not restrictive--there may be more words (and there definitely are more) than those selected. Therefore, here the definition of "which" applies, and that for "that" does not.
Capisce?
No.
'Sneaked' is one of those words that, while technically correct, sounds ugly... though not as bad as pleaded or bleeded.
I’ll have to tell my boyfriend that he’s an incredible snoutfair and see what he says. To be on the safe side I’m bookmarking that website so I can show him.
None taken; though I have to wonder how not liking 'sneaked', 'pleaded', 'bleeded' in favor of functionally equivalent and equally correct words (snuck, pled, bled). English is a rather screwed-up language when it comes to consistency/regularity*; if you want consistency in a language then Japanese is much better (it only has two irregular verbs, IIRC).
* Noah Webster didn't go far enough in simplifying/standardizing spelling! [;)]
Dropped part of the sentence should end with: "makes someone uneducated" at the asterisk.
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