Some researchers have concluded that English contains more than one million words; English is nigh on a boundless array of words for selecting to yield a more scintillating message, yet we often choose mundane expressions. Approximately 31% of our speech is composed solely of one hundred words, which means that about 0.01% of all words account for nearly a third of our speech.
Perhaps you aspire to incorporate more scarce words into your vocabulary to vivify your promulgations, or you simply intend to discover tragically uncommon words; whatever your perspective may be, I have provided a list of fifteen seldom used words to broaden your horizons.
Candid
The word Candid means truthful and straightforward, or frank. It comes from the Latin candidus, meaning white; candidus had also been used with the definitions pure, innocent, unbiased, and free from malice.
It is advisable to speak to a person of authority such as the President in a candid manner.
Dismay
Dismay is synonymous with consternation and distress, however, typically used in a sense of unexpectedness; it comes from the Old French word that is based on the Latin dis- (expressing negation) and the Germanic may.
The Colonists were dismayed when the British imposed taxation on them without representation in Parliament.
Facetious
This word is used to describe the treatment of a serious issue with deliberately inappropriate humor. Facetious is from the French facétieux that is from facétie, which is based on the Latin facetia, jest, and facetus, witty.
A facetious remark from the President during the Cold War could have resulted in disaster.
Grandeur
Grandeur is used to express splendor and impressiveness, especially in appearance. This elegant word is woefully underused; it is derived from the French base word grand, which unsurprisingly translates to great or grand.
The grandeur of the Rocky Mountains is worth beholding.
Henceforth
Henceforth is a compound word that is a more concise way of saying from this time on or from that time on. This word has been experiencing a roughly 160 year long interval of infrequent usage.
After writing the Declaration of Independence, the Colonists considered themselves henceforth independent.
Jocose
Jocose is an uncommon and relatively short word with a simple definition: playful or humorous. It is derived from the Latin word jocosus that is from jocus simply meaning joke. This is apparently the most infrequently used word in this list.
The Confederate siege of Fort Sumter was anything but jocose.
Obsequious
This word’s definition is obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree; Obsequious is a derivative of the Latin word obsequiosus, from obsequium, compliancy, and obsequi, follow or comply with.
Thousands of obsequious loyalists left the United States in 1783 for British North America, modern day Canada.
Posterity
Posterity is a descriptive word that is currently unparalleled in our vocabulary. The word means all future generations of people; archaic: the descendants of a person. It stems from the Old French posterite that originates from the Latin posteritas, from posterus meaning following.
Many brave men sacrificed their lives during the War for Independence for the welfare of their nation’s posterity.
Prudence
Prudence is a word that describes the quality of acting with or showing care and thought for the future; it comes from the Latin word prudent, which is a contraction of provident. This intricate word has virtually no alternative in modern, daily language. Prudence reached its zenith of usage during the final stages of the Revolutionary War, ever plummeting thereafter. Prudence has not been this severely underemployed since the 1590s.
Prudence has been an invaluable quality in the development of the United States.
Seldom
Seldom means not often or rarely; the word is based on the Old English word seldan, which is related to the Dutch zelden and the German selten, meaning rare or rarely. This word is ironically true to its definition as it is seldom used.
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska is seldom visited.
Sublime
It’s a shame that this word isn’t used frequently anymore as it is a pleasant word. Sublime is used to describe something of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration. It originates from the Latin sub– (up to) and an unknown, second element that is possibly limen (threshold).
The Great Lakes are a sublime spectacle.
Sylvan
Sylvan describes a noun that consists of or is associated with woods, equivalent to wooded. It traces back to the Latin word silva that means forest or woods.
The sylvan landscapes of the New England states are marvelous.
Vehemence
Vehemence is a display of a strong feeling or passion; this word comes from the French véhément or Latin vehement, which means impetuous or violent.
Americans celebrate their independence with great vehemence on July 4.
Yearn
Yearn is a fascinating word that means to have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that has been lost or separated. The origin of this word is the Old English giernan that is from a Germanic base meaning eager.
Britain’s infringement of the Colonies’ freedoms awakened a deep yearning within the Colonists for the restoration of such freedoms.
Yon
Yon can be a determiner meaning that or those (when referring to something distant), an adverb meaning over there or in that direction, or a pronoun meaning that person or thing. Yon is derived from the Old English geon that is of Germanic origin; related to the German jener (that one).
Many modern American wars have been fought in the Middle East and yon regions of the world.
I trust that this list of unfrequented words was helpful in expanding your vocabulary.
Which one of these words is your favorite?
Onward American 🇺🇸
Source: 100 Most Common English Words
Source: Words Nobody Uses Anymore
Onward American 