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General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: Jimbee on 18/05/2023 09:19:48

Title: The Linguistic Status Of 'Thrice'?
Post by: Jimbee on 18/05/2023 09:19:48

What exactly is the linguistic status of the word "thrice" now? Words are acceptable. Then they become archaic. Then they are obsolete. It's obviously not obsolete yet. But is it archaic?

In the US, where I live, it's used more in an ironic or humorous sense. People rarely use it otherwise. What's it like in other English-speaking countries? Because I would argue it is archaic. But Webster's New World Dictionary claims it is not yet.

Title: Re: The Linguistic Status Of 'Thrice'?
Post by: evan_au on 18/05/2023 10:48:08

"Once" and "Twice" seems to be alive and well, where I live (Australia).
"Thrice" seems to be endangered.

Title: Re: The Linguistic Status Of 'Thrice'?
Post by: alancalverd on 26/05/2023 14:32:20

There are definitely two forms of English in any Anglophone country: impotent quotidien prose (now castrated by Act of Parliament), and the rich magical thunder of the King James Bible. "Thrice" was good enough for Shakespeare. 

Use it or lose  it!

Title: Re: The Linguistic Status Of 'Thrice'?
Post by: Bored chemist on 26/05/2023 17:45:03

Quote from: alancalverd on 26/05/2023 14:32:20

and the rich magical thunder of the King James Bible

... castrated when people realised that magic doesn't work.
I still use thrice. It's a perfectly cromulent word.