{"id":2899,"date":"2014-12-09T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2014-12-09T08:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/?p=2899"},"modified":"2014-12-04T13:34:19","modified_gmt":"2014-12-04T13:34:19","slug":"obscure-english-words-that-need-to-make-a-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/obscure-english-words-that-need-to-make-a-comeback\/","title":{"rendered":"Obscure English Words That Need to Make a Comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ObscureEnglishWordsComeback\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the first things you learn when studying language, particularly in a socio-cultural context, is that it refuses to be static. It ebbs and flows like the tide, allowing new words to rest upon the sandy shore, and reclaiming old ones, pulling them back to the shadowy depths.<\/p>\n

It is remarkably dynamic. It adapts and changes to the cultural landscapes it inhabits and reflects the current need for new and more fitting words. Plenty of people have voiced their opinions regarding new additions to the dictionary \u2013 some love it, some hate it \u2013 but despite expressed disdain and in some cases, remorse, the evolution of language is inevitable.<\/p>\n

Consider this: 200 years ago, microwave wasn\u2019t in the dictionary. Why would it have been? Before some invented the wonderful contraption that made university life a breeze, there was no need for the word. And since then, new words have continuously been added<\/a> \u2013 for instance, muggle<\/i>, as in \u2018a person who is not conversant with a particular activity or skill\u2019 was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2003.<\/p>\n

But just as words are added, they are also abandoned. We cannot always be sure why, but we can suggest reviving them. Check out this list of obsolete words that sound so cool we might as well bring them back from the grave!<\/p>\n

***<\/h4>\n

Callipygian (adj.)<\/h2>\n

Definition <\/i><\/h4>\n

having shapely buttocks<\/p>\n

Origin <\/i><\/h4>\n

Greek \u2018kallipygos\u2019, from kalli-<\/i> + pyg\u0113<\/i> buttocks<\/p>\n

First Known Use <\/i><\/h4>\n

circa 1800<\/p>\n

Doesn\u2019t it sound so...classy? Just think - what if rap, hip-hop and modern pop artists started tossing callipygian<\/i> into their hit songs? That would certainly make for an interesting Top 40; although I suppose it doesn\u2019t quite roll off the tongue like \u201cI like big butts and I cannot lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slubberdegullion (n.)<\/b><\/h2>\n

Definition<\/i><\/h4>\n

a dirty rascal; a slovenly person<\/p>\n

Origin<\/i><\/h4>\n

Dutch or Low German \u2018overslubberen\u2019<\/a> meaning to wade through mud, or \u2018slubbern\u2019 meaning to gobble; probably an irregular from slubber (v.)<\/b> meaning to stain or sully; or to perform in a slipshod fashion<\/p>\n

First Known Use<\/i><\/h4>\n

circa 1800 (slubber, though, originated in 1530)<\/p>\n

Slubberdegullion. It rolls off the tongue. Just saying the word aloud brings to mind a rascally, disheveled man completely content to sit in filth.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoey is such a slubberdegullion<\/i>! His dirty dishes are stacked a mile high, and he slubbered<\/i> the living room carpet!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tardigradous (adj.) <\/b><\/h2>\n

Definition <\/i><\/h4>\n

moving slowly; slow-paced<\/p>\n

Origin <\/i><\/h4>\n

Latin \u2018tardus\u2019 slow + \u2018gradi\u2019 to step, go<\/p>\n

First Known Use <\/i><\/h4>\n

1860<\/p>\n

Say it slowly: tar-di-gra-dous. This one is definitely a keeper, even saying it out loud requires slow-paced pronunciation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tour guide\u2019s tardigradous<\/i> pace might have been relaxing for some people, but it was infuriating for me considering my growling stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n

After-wise (adj.)<\/b><\/h2>\n

Definition <\/i><\/h4>\n

wise afterwards or too late<\/p>\n

Origin <\/i><\/h4>\n

Middle English \u2018after\u2019 + \u2018wise\u2019<\/p>\n

First Known Use <\/i><\/h4>\n

Webster\u2019s 1828 Dictionary<\/a><\/p>\n

This is the perfect<\/i> word to describe that feeling of knowing exactly what you wish you would have said moments after the opportunity to say it has passed. It\u2019s frustrating, my friends, I know.<\/p>\n

\u201cJill always makes backhanded comments toward me, but I\u2019m afterwise \u2013 I only ever have a reply when she\u2019s already gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brabble (v. or n.)<\/b><\/h2>\n

Definition <\/i><\/h4>\n

to quarrel about trifles; esp.<\/i> to quarrel noisily, brawl, squabble<\/p>\n

Origin <\/i><\/h4>\n

Middle Dutch \u2018brabbelen\u2019<\/p>\n

First Known Use<\/i><\/h4>\n

circa 1530<\/p>\n

It sounds like exactly the type of action (or noun!) to which it refers. It essentially means to argue loudly, get into a physical skirmish and annoy each other for no apparent reason. My two siblings and I were frequent brabblers (see what I did there?) on long car rides when we were young.<\/p>\n

\"book-92771_640\"<\/a><\/h4>\n

You have to admit, those Middle English, Low German, Latin, Middle Dutch, and Greek speakers came up with some astoundingly fun-to-say words. They knew just how to describe actions, people, and situations that we simply don\u2019t have words for today. So if we can add \u2018mansplaining\u2019<\/a> and \u2018side-eyeing\u2019<\/a> to the dictionary, can\u2019t we also throw in an occasional \u2018nuncupatory\u2019<\/a> or \u2018hugger-mugger<\/a>\u2019? You have to admit, it would make talking to each other a whole lot more fun!<\/p>\n

And if we started borrowing words from old English, couldn\u2019t we also steal a few from other languages<\/a>? Check out our list of available language courses<\/a> and try one out \u2013 and soon enough you\u2019ll be codeswitching<\/a> like a pro!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the first things you learn when studying language, particularly in a socio-cultural context, is that it refuses to be static. It ebbs and flows like the tide, allowing new words to rest upon the sandy shore, and reclaiming old ones, pulling them back to the shadowy depths. It is remarkably dynamic. It adapts(\u2026)<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t \t\t\t\tCONTINUE READING »<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2900,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[360,59,66,125,31],"class_list":["post-2899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-humour-offbeat","tag-dictionary","tag-english","tag-language","tag-oed","tag-words"],"yoast_head":"\nObscure English Words That Need to Make a Comeback<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As words are added to the dictionary, they are also abandoned \u2013check out this list of obsolete words that sound so cool we might as well bring them back from the grave!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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