Antique Words, Or Words of Changed Usage

Antique words, or words of changed usage

Consult the right hand for words to watch out for: words that are too modern, slang, or out of place in any attempt to render an old style, or antique flavor in dialogue or text Sometimes the meanings are vastly changed; Consult the left hand, for the older expression.

Sometimes it's useful to look up the other word, too: sometimes both are acceptable, but at least the left hand column will give you a sense of what to look for and what should trigger alarm bells in a writer attempting the older style. Remember that the circulation of the blood and the function of the brain were late scientific discoveries, and while explosions can happen in the ancient world, explosive agents were a little rarer...as a rough example of knowledge we tend to take for granted… At a certain point in the list (which is not scholarly, but rather composed as my own checklist) you will find I reverse the procedure and list modern things and their equivalents in the pre-1900's world.

Examples of usage are in [ ]'s.

a merry : a fine [mess]

a plague on : damn . . .

abandon : lack of concern for appearance

abide : allow

about : around [about the house]

above : [heaven, residence of deities]

abroad : running around in the world

absent a reason : without a cause

absented : gone away [absented himself]

abundant : a lot of

accomplished : skilled

account : [give an account of oneself]

accursed : cursed

acknowledge : own up to as offspring

act : [act the fool]

acute : sharp, as pain

addled : [addled wit] confused, shaken up

ado : commotion

ado : fuss

afforded : gave [afforded a view, a smile]

affrighted : scared

affrighted : frightened

again : once more

aggrieved : offended [esp. aggreived party]

ague : fever

aha : ah

air : appearance of [have the air of] feeling of; 2) heaven

alarm, take : be startled

along : beside

aloud : out loud

altogether : entirely

amends : [make amends, amend] apologize

amid : in the middle of

amiss : wrong

amongst : in the midst of [people or objects]

an : if

anguish : pain

anon : soon

another : another [person]

answer : respond to

anxious : worried

appetite : desire

appointed : authorized

apt : inclined to

arms : weapons

arrived : got there [eliminate the word `got' except as `obtained'

ashore : onto the shore

aside : away from the others

askance : [look askance at] give a sidelong, misgiving glance

ass : donkey

astir : moving around

athwart : across

atop : on top of

attained : [attained to] reached; 2) get, got

aught : anything

autumn : fall

avenge : take vengeance or revenge upon or for

awaiting : waiting for

aware : conscious

awash : flooded

aye : yes, 2) [for aye] for ever

a-with verb : in the process of a-twinkle, a-stream, later elided

babes : babies

backward : shy, awkward

bandit : different than outlaw

bar : prevent, block; lock

barb : catch, hook

barked : skinned, as knee

barren : childless 2) lacking produce, a barren land

bartered : traded

bathe : take bath, give bath

bay : at bay; back to wall

bear bearing : having offspring; giving birth to 2) carry

beckon : gesture to come

become becoming : appropriate for

bedclothes : sheets

befallen : happened to

befell : happened to

beg : ask

bent : inclination [a wicked bent]

bereft : robbed of

besetting : attacking, prevalent [a besetting sin]

beside : besides

besmirched : muddy

best : had best= had better

bestir : get moving

betters : one's superiors in rank

bid : tell, order

bidding : orders

bid, bade, bidden : tell, order

binding : tying

blast : explosions are unknown: this word applies to divine apparitions

blow: only the wind can blow, unless A Blow, a strike: no explosives

bog : marshy area, esp. peat

bore : carried

born : be born, ie come into the world

borne : carried, or born as in bear a child

bosom : breast

bothy : small shack, hut

boughs : branches with leaves

bound : tied; bent on; sworn to do

bowstaves : body of bow with string undone

brace : pair of

bracken : fern

brain : not clearly understood as site of thought or feeling: seen in split skull

branch : line of descent

brave : gutsy

breast : 1) chest, male or female 2) female 3) plow through, vb.

breath : life, [the breath in him]

bridge : span

bridle : 1) a bridle 2) control [bridle your temper] 3) take umbrage at

brink : edge

briskly : energetically

brook : creek

brow : forehead

brute : raw, as in force

budge : make move

burn : a river

canny : smart

care : concern about

cared : was worried about: not used for `love'

careful, be : watch out, look out

cast : throw, pitch

cauldron : large round pot

cause : reason for

cell : a priest's room

certain : sure, inevitable

chance : luck [by chance, perchance] 2) happen [he chanced by]

charged : instructed

charity : compassion

charm : a luck piece

chary : cautious, careful

chase : the chase chided : scolded

chill : cold

choice : the best

choler : anger

choleric : habitually angry

churlish : unmannerly, ill bred

circuit : a course around

cistern : rain-catching basin or well, as opposed to spring-fed

clap : slap [on shoulder]

clasped : shook as hands

clever : smart

cling : hang on

close : to close with, to join battle; also 2) a narrow alley between building

clothe : dress

clue : idea

companion : buddy

compel : make

confound : confuse

confusion : panic, mental disarray

constancy : faithfulness

content in : happy with

contest, vb : argue with [ do not contest him]

contrary : nay-saying

convenience : agreement, also, later, a W.C.

convenient : agreed [a convenient day]

cord : rope or twine

counsel : advise; advise also used

countenance : expression on face; also 2) look on with acquiescence to

course : the hunt; give chase: pursue, chase

courted : was suitor to

cozening : tricking, tricky, lying

crofter : smallholder, Scot.

crossed : irritated

cry : shout

cuffed : boxed, hit lightly

curious : odd

darkling : dark and getting darker

darksome : dark

deadfall : a downed limb

deal : a deal; a lot

deal a blow : hit

dear : expensive

dearth : shortage, scarcity

deceive : lie [deceive me of=lie to myself about]

deed : action

deeds : actions

degree : rank

delve : dig

delver : digger

despite : in spite of

device : pattern or image on heraldic banner or shield

dire : serious

direly : in a serious manner

discomfit : set off balance mentally

disposed : inclined to [do]

dispossessed : put out of

dispute, to : quarrel with [he disputed his king]

disquieted : upset

disspirited : crushed

distracted : crazed, acting irrationally

doff : take off

dog, to : track

doings : actions

doom : judgement

doubtful : up for grabs [a doubtful contest]

dour : humorless; dull

douse : wet down

downcast : depressed

draw : pull

draw (bow) : aim but not fire

ducking : throwing in water

dumb : mute

duress : compulsion by force

durst : dared

earnest : a pledge, an earnest of

else : or

embers : glowing stage, often interchanged with coals

embrace : hug

enamored : in love with

enough! : cut it out!

ere : before; before is also acceptable

erstwhile : once

exceeding : very [no -ly]

except : [Except he come] if he doesn't; with Subjunctive

faint : pass out

fair : light

faithless : disloyal

false : faithless, or lying

familiar : belonging to close group of associates [one's familiar] fare : do, as in welfare

fast : firm, tight

fast : strongly [hold fast]

fellow : buddy, companion

fellow : companion [not polite as term of address]

fever : any sickness

fisher : fisherman

fishes : pl. of fish

fit : able, 2) a seizure

fling : throw

folk : a people, a certain group of people

font : fountain, source

forbear : stop

forbear : restrain oneself from

forswear : give up; forsworn: having broken an oath, a serious business

forthwith : quickly, now

fortnight : 14 days

foxes : common European pest

front : confront

fruitless : useless

furious : frenetic

gall : irritate

garments : clothes

gentle : wellborn, attribute of wellborn

gibed : teased, jeered

give over! : cut it out!

glamor : fairy illusion, making something seem better than it is

glanced : bounced

glean : pick up spare grain

gleaned : picked out

gnaw : erode

go to : buzz off

gorse : tumbleweed like brush

gory : bloody

grace : favor, good will

granddam : grandma

grateful : pleasing

greatly, often : a lot

grievously : seriously, severely

gull : trick [gullible]

hail : greet

hale : cause to come along, often by force

hallow : supernatural, either sacred or ghostly

happy : fortunate

hare : rabbit

haste : to hurry

haste : hurry

hasty : impetuous

haunts : ghosts

hazard : to risk

head : not considered seat of purposeful thought or resolution, but of reason

headlong : headfirst

heap : pile

heart : not understood to circulate blood, only to beat quickly when excited

heart : considered seat of emotions; head considered seat of reason

heaviness : depression

heavy : sad

hereabouts : near here

hindmost : last

hist : psst!

hoard : store

hold . . .tongue : shut up

hold! : stop! cut it out!

hour : highly imprecise: usually 1/10 of available daylight, with 6th at noon

household : includes servants

hoyden : tomboy, trollop

humor : disposition

hurtled : plummeted

husband : save back

hush : shut up

idly : to no purpose or meaning

ilk : sort, kind

ill : harm

inconstant : fickle

instant : quick to move [instant upon]; pressing upon, original meaning

intend : ain

iron : believed to harm fairies

itch : yen

jape : prank

jest : joke

joiner : carpenter

joint : roast

jug : bottles were too expensive for most purposes

just : fair

keen : sharp, eager

keep : castle center

ken : know, know also acceptable

knoll, knowe : small hill

laden : loaded

laggard : slowpoke

least : smallest

lesser : smaller

lest : so that . . . not, used with Subjunctive: [lest he come]

let : rent

let : hinder [without let or hindrance]

lightly : fecklessly

lips : mouth; : mouth generally taken to be inside

loath to : reluctant to

lodge : stay [temporarily]

lonely : isolate, as house

lost : done for

lump : oaf

mad : crazy: never means angry

maiden : first-timer, of either gender [maiden knight]

manner : behavior, Attitude

marches : borders

marked : noticed

marsh : a wide bog

master : form of address

mazed : amazed, dazed

measure : [his measure] how tough he is

meek : quiet

meet [on the field] : armed meeting

mend your . . . : behave!

merriment, mirth : laughter

mettle : guts

mid : the middle [the mid of the night, the watch, etc.]

might : energy

millrace : water headed for millwheel

mince : walk effeminately

mind : remember

mind your . . . : behave!

mirth : laughter

mischief : no good actions

mistake me : are wrong about me, my intentions

mock : make fun of

moderately : reasonably [answered him moderately]

mortal : human

mote : small speck

nape : back of neck

naught : nothing

neath : beneath

nether : bottom, under

nets, snare : trap

nice : precise

nimble : agile

nock : fit arrow to bowstring

noisome : nasty

nook : small recess

nor . . . nor : [Nor one nor 't other.]: neither-nor; same with either-or=or-or

not, n't : to avoid n't, use never, neither, nor did he, etc.

not : in really old English comes after simple verbs: come not

also with pronoun intervening: come ye not: a command

oath, on my : on my word

oddments : scrap

over- : too, excessively, as prefix

over-long : too long

own to : confess, claim as one's own

pains : hurts [it pains me]

passable : ok

passage of arms : a bout, a brief clash

passing : momentary

peculiar : one's own

pine : grieve

porridge : oatmeal, grain cereal

portcullis : barred gate of castle

potent : powerful politically or religiously

pray : ask

pray : please

preferred : passed someone in front of someone else

prickled : itches and prickles announced omens

prithee : please

privates : genitals; balls

privily : privately

prone : flat on face

prove : turn out [he proved a fool]

pyre : funeral fire