Words Now Seldom Used

Discussion in 'Evolution of Language' started by William DeFox, Mar 22, 2019.

  1. William DeFox

    William DeFox Very Well-Known Member
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    I was thinking of words once used in common parlance that now are less often used. One such word that comes to mind is hark, which my mother used to hurl at me in the meaning of shut up, I'm trying to listen to something! When Mother told me to hark, I was expected to be quiet, immediately. Most Americans haven't heard the word hark lately except for in the Christmas carol, Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

    What words can you think of that have fallen from popular usage, or even become obscure?
     
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  2. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    Right off the cuff, I cannot think of any particular word that has gone into obscurity but my own observation is that there IS a definite decrease in the number of people who have a good conversational vocabulary.
    It seems that a major portion of our population has opted out of speaking with eloquence to some form of jargon filled with expletives and street speak.

    Now, I’m not saying that everyone should speak the Queen’s English or that their vocabulary excellence should be riddled with $10 words no one outside of Mensa would understand but to be able to conjugate the whole of “I am” would be a good start.

    I’ll keep thinking of single words that are in rare use nowadays and come back later. It’s an interesting topic by the bye.

    Gadzooks! I think I have found one. Scrutiny (noun...critical observation or perusal.).
     
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  3. Patsy Faye

    Patsy Faye Supreme Member
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    I still use it, whether correctly is another matter …..
    I will say 'Ooo - hark at him' …. not that I pronounce me aitches - so it would be - 'Ark at 'im' :p
     
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  4. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    I remember when the word "rad" was used quite often. Now the word "cool" has made a come-back to our speech.
     
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  5. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    Still used a lot here....
     
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  6. Bob Kirk

    Bob Kirk Veteran Member
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    How about

    Hoopla
    as in what's all the hoopla about

    Dander
    as in don't get your dander up.

    Gander
    as in have a gander at this
     
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    Last edited: Mar 22, 2019
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  7. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    ..or...


    hearken.. ?..or scallywag?
     
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  8. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    I used to love the word "Yowsah", meaning "Yessir" or "You Bet" or similar.

    The great bandleader Ben Bernie, the "Old Maestro" of the 1930's used that word when opening and closing his popular radio show, and this caught on with millions in his listening audience, becoming viral nationwide. Everyone was saying "Yowsah", and it felt good to say it!

    Of course, anyone younger than 90 on this forum probably doesn't know what I'm talking about.

    Hal
     
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    Last edited: Mar 22, 2019
  9. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    A word we high school guys in the '50's used to denote something special or great was "Bitchin".

    Like: "Hey, did you see Larry's Chevy since he had it lowered? It really looks Bitchin!"

    On some occasions, if it was REALLY great, it was "Most Bitchin"!

    This was a regional slang, from the Los Angeles area mostly.
    Hal
     
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  10. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    again..still used here a lot.. perhaps not Hoopla. but certainly the other 2 are in common usage...
     
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  11. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    I hope Professor Cole will credit me with being able to conjugate the verb "To Be"...

    I am
    He
    is
    They are

    Dr. Harold Pollner,
    Dean, Harvard University School of Literature
    Mensa Alumnus
     
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  12. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    I do not know who “Professor” Cole is but not to be circumlocutory nor derogatory concerning the subject at hand, in order to avoid some confusion I would also add, “She or It is” along with the He.

    Jus’ sayin’

    Edit: by the bye, I have never really liked Mensa, but whatever floats another’s boat is fine with me.
     
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    Last edited: Mar 22, 2019
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  13. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    circumlocutory ?


    wow now there's a good word? :D
     
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  14. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    There seems to be a shortage of "please" and "thank you" nowadays. :p
     
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  15. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    I kinda get irritated , maybe unjustly so because language has to evolve.. but all my life the question when requesting something , in a store or coffee shop or at home.. is..

    may I have...? ''Get'' was considered impolite

    then it morphed into Can I have ..

    Now it's ''Can I get''...

    now I'm always tempted to say , yes you can get it, if you're prepared to do it for yourself ....if you want someone to prepare and supply you with something..Just ask ''Can I have ''
     
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