I am very conscious that certain words that I have used all my life seem to be becoming extinct.
Here are some which I would like to see preserved.
Presently An adverb
Definition: in a short while, soon, at the moment
Example: We will arrive presently
Plethora a noun
Definition: excess, a large amount
Example: My daughter has a plethora of pebbles in her collection
Albeit - Conjunction
Definition: although
Example: Tom began washing his Disco, albeit rather too late.
Obfuscate: Verb
Definition: to confuse or make something difficult to understand.
Example: “The politician’s rhetoric was designed to obfuscate the truth.”
I'm sure you can all add many more, as I will do from tie to time
NJSSAm I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
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7th Jun 2023 9:33 am
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2821
Nigel hi
If it's any consolation I use all of them except obfuscate on a very regular basis.
But I have to admit obfuscate is new one on me.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
7th Jun 2023 9:42 am
john watson
Member Since: 10 Nov 2011
Location: lanark
Posts: 973
It would appear that the use of adverbs is dying out. As usual I blame the appalling grammar we hear on the BBC.
One of my favourite words is efficacious. As in “ have another G&T you will find it very efficacious”.Once you have defeated the idiots any job is half done. Pity there are so many idiots to defeat.
Here are a couple more I'd like to see used more often:-
Defunct (adjective)
Definition: no longer existing or functioning
Example: Funky music and clothes from the 1970s are probably now defunct!
Munificence (noun)
Definition: being extremely generous, the quality of being lavishly generous
Example: The king’s munificence helped feed thousands of the poor, starving villagers.
NJSS
7th Jun 2023 10:45 am
john watson
Member Since: 10 Nov 2011
Location: lanark
Posts: 973
Maybe this should be in “what gets up my goat” just reading cooking instructions for mussels in tomato and wine sauce. Obviously the person who wrote it had never heard of an adverb or its use in grammar.
It stated “ add the onions and garlic and let them fry gentle for about 20 minutes” whatever happened to “gently”?Once you have defeated the idiots any job is half done. Pity there are so many idiots to defeat.
7th Jun 2023 11:11 am
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13605
Nefarious (Adjective)
Definition: morally corrupt, evil, wicked
Example: AI can be used for good but there is a risk it will be used for nefarious purposes such as blackmail.Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
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7th Jun 2023 11:19 am
defector
Member Since: 23 Feb 2009
Location: Greater Manchester
Posts: 1476
I like this thread, although I do use some of these words, others I do not but are words that I should include in my vocabulary.
7th Jun 2023 12:07 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2929
Indolence
noun
avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.
Partiularly useful when relating to council or government officials Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
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7th Jun 2023 12:52 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8147
Not necessarily words expected to be used frequently but these are probably my two favourite words, partially because you know the hearing person doesn't know their meaning, and in the case of the second word just how it became to be, I actually won a pub quiz for knowing the meaning of this word!!!
oxymoron
noun
a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true ).
"that fashionable rhetorical novelty, the humblebrag, is itself an oxymoron"
antimacassar
noun
UK /ˌæn.ti.məˈkæs.ər/ US /ˌæn.t̬i.məˈkæs.ɚ/
a cloth, used mainly in the past, for putting over the back of a chair in order to keep it clean or to decorate it
7th Jun 2023 2:45 pm
robsmith
Member Since: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 2403
indubitably
Adverb : in a way that is patently evident or certain; unquestionably; without doubtRob Smith
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7th Jun 2023 5:05 pm
Oxford-boy
Member Since: 07 Sep 2015
Location: Oxford
Posts: 1122
Onomatapoeic Noun
Words that sound like the act they are depicting...
WHOOSH
CRASH
BANG
BOOM
BARK
CRACKLE
SCRATCH
From my school days. Always liked it and wondered who the hell came up with it and when?!Jim
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7th Jun 2023 7:28 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8147
Wiki says; The English term comes from the Ancient Greek compound onomatopoeia, 'name-making', composed of onomato- 'name' and -poeia 'making'. Thus, words that imitate sounds can be said to be onomatopoeic or onomatopoetic.
The word was first used in 1577 apparently!
Different languages have different words for the 'same' sound
8th Jun 2023 6:47 am
JordsDisco
Member Since: 22 May 2020
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 1626
Wastrel - a lovely word that sums up the majority of people in the UK.
8th Jun 2023 8:26 am
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13605
Your failure to follow the form of defining the word might be considered to be a sign of indolence. Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
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2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
8th Jun 2023 8:53 am
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8147
^^^^^
pedant
noun
a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
"the royal palace (some pedants would say the ex-royal palace)"
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