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General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 11:54:33

Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 11:54:33: On my local radio station recently the Breakfast Show presenter asked listeners to text him their list of words that are no longer in common use (1 listener poignantly suggested "please" and "thank you"). Having an outstanding command of English vocabulary (indubitably, a veritable lexical mage!), I had a few to send him.

But it got me thinking... some of those words are wonderful & it's a shame they're no longer used.

So, which words that have dropped out of favour would you like to see brought back into use? Maybe we could choose 1 word in particular from our lists and start a campaign to bring it back into use. Chris & Co could use it on the TNS radio Show as part of our campaign [:)]

Here are some of my suggestions:

Scallywag
Nincompoop
Rapscallion
Rascal
Brigand
Waif
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: another_someone on 06/02/2008 13:37:39: Could we please recover the terms for second person plural and second person singular (a distinction that used to be enshrined the you and thee).
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 13:59:16: George - I believe thee is the accusative (objective) case of the 2nd person singular.

In that case we should re-use thou, thy & thine also. And to do it properly, we should resort to correct conjugation of verbs to match.

To whit (all 2nd person singular):

you have - thou hast
you do - thou doest
you are - thou art
you will - thou wilt

CHRIS! Are you taking note for the radio show? [;D]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 06/02/2008 14:06:55: OH.. In thine own heart be true and wise and loving!

Thou art so beautiful that thee brilliance from thou eyes, light a path for thine soul to follow straight into thy heart!
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 06/02/2008 14:11:13: Oh you beat me.. LOL But you have my original line of verse from yours truly on the second part!! I hope I got them all right! LOL!!
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 14:21:24: Your use of "thee" is the archaic form of "the".
"Thine eyes" (for various grammatical reasons)
"Lights a path" not "Light a path"
"Thy soul"

But not bad for a Yank [:P]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 06/02/2008 14:30:39: LOL.. I knew I would blow it! LOL... Mucho Gracias for the correction... LOL.. A yank indeed...LOL
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 15:05:31: De nada, Gringo [:D]

P.S. Esta muchAS gracias
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 06/02/2008 15:12:52: Merci! LOL!
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 15:37:50: C'est mon plaisir, cherie [:X]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 06/02/2008 16:09:59: ""smail"
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Mirage on 06/02/2008 16:21:57: I want to see the word poppycock used more often [;)]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Vcoolspice on 06/02/2008 16:59:04: Quote from: Mirage on 06/02/2008 16:21:57
I want to see the word poppycock used more often [;)]

Whats poppycock????
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Mirage on 06/02/2008 17:13:52: Quote from: Vcoolspice on 06/02/2008 16:59:04
Quote from: Mirage on 06/02/2008 16:21:57
I want to see the word poppycock used more often [;)]

Whats poppycock????

It means nonsense [;D]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 06/02/2008 17:35:37: Poppycock is great!

How about ""tallywagger"
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 21:33:13: Quote from: Mirage on 06/02/2008 16:21:57
I want to see the word poppycock used more often [;)]

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fthumbs%2F2.gif&hash=3f487b885b1d97b5c2758910a7c1ec2d)
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 21:33:36: Quote from: Karen W. on 06/02/2008 17:35:37
Poppycock is great!

How about ""tallywager"

[???]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: i am bored on 06/02/2008 21:34:45: balderdash
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 08:05:40: Quote from: i am bored on 06/02/2008 21:34:45
balderdash

Oh yes!

So what about piffle or codswallop?
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 07/02/2008 08:42:15: Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 06/02/2008 21:33:36
Quote from: Karen W. on 06/02/2008 17:35:37
Poppycock is great!

How about "tallywagger"

[???]

In some parts of the country I hear it was called a Talleywhacker, Where I was raised it was a "tally wagger" = A part of the male anatomy, but growing up we used it in reference to a large animals Penis. Like a horse or such animal! LOL I honestly don't know its origins, but I have heard it since I was a wee thing.. from my grandparents and my great grandma! LOL!
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: JimBob on 07/02/2008 14:03:13: Ah I have always enjoyed "crumudgeon" as well as "hirsute," and "humbug."

As for "talleywhacker" - it has come from being used for farm animals to being used for the male's member of any species. I believe it originally arose from the degenerative terms applied to teamsters who were referred to as bull whackers or talley whackers (if mules). As to why - I have no idea.
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 16:31:55: I think you'll find the word is CURMUDGEON
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 16:33:14: OK... shall we try to persuade Chris to refer to a "curmudgeon's tallywhacker" on the radio show? [:D]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 07/02/2008 17:30:03: Good point.. LOL.. I don't think so!! [:o]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 19:03:04: It would be a good challenge for him (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emotihost.com%2Fsigns12%2F16.gif&hash=960250fc66bce1714d1984a7652f965f)
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: opus on 07/02/2008 19:46:31: Hast thou had a blow to the pate by some dashed bounder?
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: opus on 07/02/2008 19:48:53: what about a sagger-maker's bottom-knocker....
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 20:33:07: Quote from: opus on 07/02/2008 19:46:31
Hast thou had a blow to the pate by some dashed bounder?

Verily! Yon dastardly ne'er-do-well waylayed me 'neath the lycugate
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: opus on 07/02/2008 20:45:34: That scallywag has need of a taste of the cat-o-nine-tails- what sayest thou?
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 21:13:52: Skin his brigandish hide with a flagellum!
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: opus on 07/02/2008 21:28:02: then box his wanton ears, the cur...
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 21:29:23: Wanton ears? [???]
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: opus on 07/02/2008 21:32:14: yes, he has the most wanton ears I've seen for ages....
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 21:34:01: I thought a wanton was a Chinese dumpling
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: opus on 07/02/2008 21:37:03: It is, that's why your assailant was partially deaf...
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 21:39:22: Ahh, that explains why he didn't stop when I ordered him to cease and desist. I thought he may have been a TRIFLE deaf.
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: Karen W. on 07/02/2008 22:07:03: LOL LOL LOL!!! Very good guys!
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: JimBob on 07/02/2008 22:09:15: No, Chris should scrupulously eschew obfuscation of scientific cognition and judiciously apply the cogent reasoning of the perspicuous perspective of the production aforementioned.
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: JimBob on 07/02/2008 22:10:04: Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 19:03:04
It would be a good challenge for him (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emotihost.com%2Fsigns12%2F16.gif&hash=960250fc66bce1714d1984a7652f965f)

See above
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 07/02/2008 22:21:03: Quote from: JimBob on 07/02/2008 22:09:15
No, Chris should scrupulously eschew obfuscation of scientific cognition and judiciously apply the cogent reasoning of the perspicuous perspective of the production aforementioned.

I wondered where my dictionary had gone & now I know - YOU ATE IT! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emotihost.com%2Feating1%2F15.gif&hash=3ab703eb890a25de5909dc718639e459)
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: JimBob on 07/02/2008 23:29:46: (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emotihost.com%2Fglass%2F12.gif&hash=14145471f06bb1616706b4aea9ca4844)
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: JnA on 08/02/2008 05:17:51: I like the word 'switch' as in 'Boy, go outside and cut me a switch' I wish I was living in a time where I could use that sentence without fear of retribution.

I do use the words codswallop, hirsute and humbug, frequently...

I also make up words... I have to.. apparently it's not kosher to swear in front of children these days. I'm sure my children will be relentlessly teased at school when they start using words like "forestal" and "crumpaliscious" in place of more accepted cuss words. But they are both perfectly cromulent words.
Title: Words we should bring back into use
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 08/02/2008 09:12:21: Quote from: JnA on 08/02/2008 05:17:51
I like the word 'switch' as in 'Boy, go outside and cut me a switch' I wish I was living in a time where I could use that sentence without fear of retribution.

I do use the words codswallop, hirsute and humbug, frequently...

I also make up words... I have to.. apparently it's not kosher to swear in front of children these days. I'm sure my children will be relentlessly teased at school when they start using words like "forestal" and "crumpaliscious" in place of more accepted cuss words. But they are both perfectly cromulent words.

I used to do that in lectures when I was trying to make a point about not wishing to seem ignorant in front of one's peers. Hardly anyone would ask me what the words meant. Point proven, methinks! [:P]