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Saturday 3 January 2015
FORGOTTEN ENGLISH AN ARTICLE
English changes all the time, often in subtle ways—so it's not surprising that we've lost many delightful words and phrases along the way. In his wonderful book Forgotten English, Jeffrey Kacirk takes a closer look at the origins and histories of these language relics. Here are a few of our favorite words from the book; for more, check out Kacirk's website.
1. ASTROLOGAMAGE
The medieval era's Miss Cleos, these so-called wise men made predictions based on what was happening in the sky.
2. CRAPULENCE
This word, from the Latin root crapula, arose in the 18th century. According to Kacirk, it "denoted intestinal and cranial distress ... arising from intemperance and debauchery." Put another way: If you get crunk, expect crapulence.
3. EYE-SERVANT
A term describing a servant who did his duty only lazily except when within sight of his master, "a form of insincerity known as 'eye-service,'" Kacirk notes. Replace servant with employee and master with boss, and you could probably know a few people to whom this term would apply.
4. FLITTERWOCHEN
This Old English expression (probably borrowed from German) meant "fleeting weeks," and refers to what we today call a honeymoon. Flitterwochen is, obviously, a much better word.
5. FRIBBLER
Though this term comes from the 18th century, chances are you know a fribbler. He says he's really into a lady, but just won't commit. The behavior of a fribbler was called fribbledom, by the way.
6. GROANING-CHEESE
Back in the day, husbands didn't just hold their wives' hands during childbirth—they gave them the medieval version of an epidural: Cheese. Groaning-cheese was said to soothe a lady in labor, and so husbands paired it with groaning-cake and groaning-drink. READ MORE LINK-http://mentalfloss.com/article/56845/16-weird-forgotten-english-words-we-should-bring-back-Inspired by this -Curious glimpses of old English words, Western customs, social history, holidays and etiquette–one day at a time.
candle_guyHave you ever wondered what a bowelhive (a Scottish intestinal ailment), a dabbit (a small amount; less than a dab), a celebaterian (a bachelor), an opscheplooper (an uninvited dinner guest), or a bloacher (any large animal) might be? If you can enlarge something, can you also ensmall it? And what caused London’s Top Hat Riot of 1797, the bizarre prosecution of animals and objects in the Middle Ages, and Lady Godiva’s famous ride in the buff?
Each year the Forgotten English Calendar offers readers a brimming cartful of once indispensable terms and rough-hewn folklore. Sign up for the Forgotten English daily email (above) or buy the paper calendar for factual but lively, light-hearted, and thought-provoking explanations to these questions and many others, accompanied by a startling array http://forgottenenglish.com/of vintage line drawings. As Shakespeare commented in Othello, “These are fond paradoxes to make fools laugh in the alehouse.link to site-
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