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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Literature with currently unfashionable words #164146 12/09/2006 10:01 PM Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 74 Sandy, Utah pennyless journeyman 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 Share Post on Reddit Re: Literature with currently unfashionable words #164147 12/10/2006 2:23 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; 12/10/2006 2:30 AM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: Literature with currently unfashionable words #164148 12/10/2006 9:48 PM Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 74 Sandy, Utah pennyless journeyman 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 Share Post on Reddit 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 Topics13,915 Posts230,285 Members9,208 Most Online4,606 Sep 17th, 2025 Newest Members JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery, Forix Richard 9,208 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 25 A C Bowden 6 JerryC 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,140 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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