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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Literature with currently unfashionable words #164146 12/09/06 10:01 PM Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 74 Sandy, Utah pennyless OP journeyman OP pennyless journeyman Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 74 Sandy, Utah With a nod to Helen, for her attention to outmoded words, I find myself thinking of literary works which are enriched by language from past times. I just found an intriguing story by Neil Gaiman, called "A Study in Emerald" (it won a Hugo Award for Best Short Story in August of 2004), which creates a world similar to Victorian-era England, largely through the use of vocabulary. Evocative examples: repair (as a verb) gouts of drying ichor magic lantern trickery shag (tobacco) procrustean bed ash and dottle strongbox Another work which is strongly colored by specific vocabulary and voice is Charles Frazier's novel Cold Mountain . I immensely enjoy a book which sends me to the dictionary to look up obscure or archaic words that enhance a story. So I thought I'd open up a discussion, where people might share literary works which are richer for rare words. Any takers? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Literature with currently unfashionable words #164147 12/10/06 02:23 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 I don't think of "repair" as a verb being at all uncommon, but I think you mean as in "repair to the drawing room." Edit: A quick check in the AHD shows that the two words have different roots. The repair meaning to set right is from the Latin re- and parare, to prepare, to put in order. The repair meaning to betake oneself is from Latin repatriare, to return to one's country. Last edited by Faldage; 12/10/06 02:30 AM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Literature with currently unfashionable words #164148 12/10/06 09:48 PM Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 74 Sandy, Utah pennyless OP journeyman OP pennyless journeyman Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 74 Sandy, Utah You were right about the meaning for "repair" I intended. Thanks. Fascinating etymology! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,913 Posts229,316 Members9,182 Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011 Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV 9,182 Registered Users Who's Online Now 0 members (), 497 guests, and 1 robot. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 30 A C Bowden 13 LukeJavan8 1 ddrinnan 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 tsuwm 10,542 wofahulicodoc 10,533 LukeJavan8 9,916 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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