Steve Luttrell

February 16th: The outdated word for today is "hleōr-bolster" meaning "pillow."

Pronunciation (I think): h'LEE-OOR-bowl-stir.

Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.

#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish

February 13th: Today's outdated word is "ambesas," meaning "snake eyes" (as in dice).

Pronunciation (I think): am-BEHS-as.

Source: Coleridge, H. (1863.) A Dictionary of the First, or Oldest Words in the English Language. London: John Camden Hotten.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

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February 12th: The outdated word for today is "froward," meaning "willful."

Source: Shakespeare, W. (Approx. 1590.) The Taming of the Shrew. See Act V, Scene 2, line 131.

#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #ShakespeareanEnglish

February 11th: The outdated word for today is "calibogus," a 19th century term for an American drink consisting of rum mixed with spruce beer.

Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.

#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish

February 10th: The outdated word for today is "gedlyng," meaning "fellow," but in a contemptous way.

Pronunciation (I think): GEDD-ling with a hard "g" at the beginning.

Source: Anonymous. (Approx. 1435.) The York Play 'Harrowing of Hell.' See line 212.

February 9th: The outdated word for today is "eōton-weard," meaning "protection from giants."

Pronunciation (I think): eh-OH-tun-weh-ARD.

Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 668.

#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish

February 6th: The outdated word for today is "sunder-lupes," meaning "severally."

Pronunciation (I think): SUN-der-lup-EHS.

Source: "The Pearl Poet." (Late 1300s.) Patience; see line 12.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

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February 5th: The outdated word for today is "extreate," meaning "origin."

Pronunciation (I think): ex-TREE-ate.

Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words, Especially from the Dramatists. Clarendon Press (Oxford).

#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish

February 4th: The outdated word for today is "bidene," meaning "together" or "at once." This is sometimes spelled "bydene."

Pronunciation (I think): bi-DEHN-eh.

Source: Anonymous. (1300s.) The Stanzaic Morte Arthur (where it's used lots).

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

February 3rd: The outdated word for today is "fen-hōp," meaning "a mound in marshland."

Pronunciation (I think): fen-HOOP.

Source: Anonymous (Date unknown.) Beowulf; see line 764.

#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish

February 2nd: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.

"Youthy," adjective. "Young, youthful. A bad word (sic)."

Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.

#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson

January 30th: The outdated word for today is "rown," meaning "whisper."

Source: Lydgate, J. (1415.) The Siege of Harfleur and the Battle of Agincourt.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

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January 29th: The outdated term for today is "to be cagged," which is 19th-century British slang for being "sulky or out of humour."

Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.

#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish

January 28th: The outdated word for today is "unketh," meaning "unknown" or "strange." Compare the Modern English "uncouth."

Source: Source: Anonymous. (1400s.) A Little Geste of Robin Hood.

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January 27th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.

"Chark," verb. "To burn to a black cinder, as wood is burned to make charcoal."

Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.

#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson

January 26th: The outdated word for today is "encheson," meaning "by reason of" or "because."

Pronunciation (I think): en-CHEH-sawhn.

Source: Occleve, T. (1402.) The Letter of Cupid.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

Definition of MURRAIN a pestilence or plague especially affecting domestic animals… See the full definition

January 23rd: Today’s outdated word is "moreyn," meaning "plague." This is the basis of the later word “murrain.”
(www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/m...)

Pronunciation: moor-AEHN.

Source: Trivisa, J. (1387.) Translation of Higdon's Polychronicon.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

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January 22nd: The outdated word for today is "mundungus," a 19th-century British slang term for "bad or rank tobacco."

Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.

#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish

January 21st: The outdated word for today is "niȝt-olde," meaning literally "night-old." That weird letter is a yogh (pronounced "yoke").

Pronunciation (maybe): NIKT-old-eh.

Source: Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 303 of the B-Text.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

January 20th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.

"Fy," interjection. "A word of blame and disapprobration."

Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.

#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson

January 19th: The outdated word for today is "outraye," meaning "to trangress." Compare the Modern English "outré."

Pronunciation (I think): oo-TRAH-yeh.

Source: Anonymous. (1377.) On the Death of Edward III; see line 69.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

January 16th: The outdated word for today is "rerd," meaning "loud voice."

Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1475.) The Towneley Play of Noah; see line 100.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

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January 15th: The outdated expression for today is "napper of naps," 19th-century thieves' cant for a sheep-stealer.

Source: Grose, F. (1811.) Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. London: publisher unclear.

#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish

January 14th: The outdated word for today is "hauer-cake," meaning "oat-cake."

Pronunciation (I think): HAV-er-CAY-keh.

Source: Langland, W. (Approx.1362) Piers Plowman; see line 277 of the B-Text.

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

January 13th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.

"Plenist," noun. "One that holds all space to be full of matter."

Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.

#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson

The Brus - Wikipedia

January 12th: The outdated word for today is "foysoune," meaning "abundance" or "great number."

Pronunciation (I think): foy-SOWN-eh.

Source: Barbour, J. (Circa 1375.) The Bruce; see line 166.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brus

#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish

January 9th:

Durham Proverb 1:
"Geþyld byð middes ēades."
("Patience is at the center of happiness.")

Pronunciation (I think):
YEH-thyld bith MID-des ee-AHD-es.

#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish

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January 8th:

Durham Proverb 36:
"Sēo nȳdþearf feala lǣređ."
("Necessity teaches much.")

Pronunciation (I think):
SEE-oh nide-THEH-arf feh-AH-la lay-RETH.

#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish

January 7th:

Durham Proverb 28:
"Gyfena gehwilc underbæc besihþ."
("Gifts each see backwards," meaning that every gift is given in the expectation of a gift in return.)

Pronunciation (I think):
YIF-eh-neh yeh-WILK under-BEHK beh-SEITH.

#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish

January 6th:

Durham Proverb 20:
"Gyf þū well sprece, wyrc æfter swā."
("If you speak well, work after so," meaning "practice what you preach.")

Pronunciation (I think):
YIF thoo well spreh-CHEH, WERK ehf-TER SWAY.

#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish