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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 12
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 12 |
OBSOLETE, adj. No longer used by the timid. Said chiefly of words. A word which some lexicographer has marked obsolete is ever thereafter an object of dread and loathing to the fool writer, but if it is a good word and has no exact modern equivalent equally good, it is good enough for the good writer. Indeed, a writer's attitude toward "obsolete" words is as true a measure of his literary ability as anything except the character of his work. A dictionary of obsolete and obsolescent words would not only be singularly rich in strong and sweet parts of speech; it would add large possessions to the vocabulary of every competent writer who might not happen to be a competent reader.
What do you think it means?
This is from the Devil's dictionary.
Especially the last sentence.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
you must have a predilection for irony.
here is a bit of good advice that I found:
You should use obsolete or archaic words when:
1 No other word will serve (as in a scholarly piece about history or linguistics, for example).
2 You want to confuse your audience or make them laugh.
3 You want to sound pretentious or pedantic.
Note: this is hard advice for me to pass on, as I have an entire web site based on obscure, abstruse and/or recondite words, which often run to obsolete and archaic extremes.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Ambrose Bierce, author of The Devil's Dictionary, was noted for his acerbic definitions. Another example: Conservative
(n.) A statesman who is enamoured of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 12
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 12 |
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