Sometimes when in conversations, an instance will arise where I wonder why English does not have a formal word to describe the situation.
Modern English is estimated to have over a million words — most of which are woefully unused — but to my surprise, I discovered that previous versions of English, particularly Old English, used to have many words that accurately describe situations and things that we still encounter, yet we lost the words to describe them.
By no means am I the first to call for the return of old English words, but I want to share a list of the words that I find the most fascinating; perhaps you’ll enjoy and even use them!
Apricity
This unique word was first recorded in the early 17th century, and it is used to describe the warmth of the sun on a winter’s day.
Betwixt
Betwixt simply means between; while we do have a common word used in its place, I feel this word that is now mostly unused should make a comeback — it just sounds more intriguing.
Constellate
To constellate means to gather into a group or to cause to gather into a group. This word comes from the Latin con- (together) and stellatus (arranged like a star).
Curmuring
Apparently there was a word that was used to describe that rumbling sound your stomach makes when you’re hungry: curmuring!
Fudgel
Fudgel is a verb from the 18th century that is obsolete now, however, the action it describes is anything but extinct. To fudgel means to pretend to work or to act busy when you are not truly being productive.
Overmorrow
We have a modern English word for yesterday, today, and tomorrow, but when we attempt to describe the day after tomorrow, it sounds rather clumsy and verbose. Thankfully, the archaic word overmorrow contains all of that meaning in a single, graceful word. It’s a shame that English abandoned this handy word, unlike German, which still uses their equivalent of overmorrow: übermorgen.
Peg-Puff
Have you met a young woman who behaves and dresses as an old woman? Well, that is a woman you could describe as a peg-puff.
Perendinate
Derived from Latin for the day after tomorrow, perendinate means to procrastinate, but to a higher degree. To perendinate means to delay until the day after tomorrow, or to perpetually postpone until tomorrow.
Snowbrowth
While we do have the word snowmelt, this old English word from the late 16th century to early 17th century was used to describe the water that results from melting snow or the slushy mixture of water and snow.
Twain
Twain comes from the Old English word twegen, which is the masculine form of twā. Again, we do have a modern version of this word, which is two, but somehow twain sounds more elegant and interesting — imagine explaining that you saw something with your own twain eyes.
What obsolete, yet useful, word is your favorite?
Onward American 🇺🇸
Source: Old English Words We Can Use Again
Onward American 