Social Question

NovDel's avatar

Are there words in English which have fallen out of use that you would like to see revived?

Asked by NovDel (847points) May 28th, 2022

I’m thinking of words like ‘ereyesterday’ (the day before yesterday) and ‘overmorrow’ (the day after tomorrow). I think it’s a shame these are no longer used.

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24 Answers

YARNLADY's avatar

Hunky Dory

Brian1946's avatar

Boss (as an adjective)
Groovy
Bitchin’
Twitchin’
Knave
Snollygoster

She was a bitchin’ boss, but her spousal unit was a ne’er-do-well knave!

Dutchess_III's avatar

You’re thinking of antiquated Olde English.

JLeslie's avatar

I still use groovy sometimes.

A lot of the trendy words from my day, the 1980’s, I am happy to let die.

Interesting the word ereyesterday. I don’t remember that word, I wonder if it is old English or maybe middle English. Erev in Hebrew is the day before.

filmfann's avatar

Main’t, which is the conjunction of May Not.

raum's avatar

And ereyesterday. :)

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

Please and thank you.

HP's avatar

Chiropodist, fatbacker

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

I’m sorry is desperately needed.

LostInParadise's avatar

People still say thank you, but the response of you’re welcome is less common. I would not like to see a return to it, but it would be nice to have a reply to thank you. What does you’re welcome mean? You’re welcome to ask for something else?

The Spanish reply to gracias is de nada, roughly meaning, it’s nothing. That is sometimes used in English. I wonder if we could improve upon it.

SnipSnip's avatar

If I want to use a word, I do. That’s it.

janbb's avatar

Happenstance
Fortnight ( still used in England)
Mustacheod
Fussbudget

Strauss's avatar

‘Twas mere happenstance that the mustachioed fussbudget missed the fortnightly meeting!

Kardamom's avatar

Yonder

Ne’er do well

Scoundrel

Slacks

JLeslie's avatar

I still say slacks, but usually pants, but that made me think of pocket book. I think most people have been saying purse for years, but I think in the northeast pocketbook is still used. I still use it sometimes.

NovDel's avatar

@JLeslie ‘Ere’ as used in a literary sense means ‘before’, as in a harvest festival hymn we used to sing in school

All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin

Strauss's avatar

Even older—Breeches!

HP's avatar

pantaloons

NovDel's avatar

@Kardamom ‘Yonder’ is still in use in some dialects in England. In my youth you could hear,

“Ha’ yer seen wor Joe?”.
“Aye, he’s owah yonder”.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

American English “hoosegow” for jailer of lock-up.

WhyNow's avatar

@Dutchess_III Britches… I like! I put on my britches one britch at a time.

Strauss's avatar

“Hoosegow” = “Whose cow?”

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