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Some, such as <em>bedlam</em>, reveal the origin of their current meaning, while others reveal the origin of a different modern word, as with <em>gentle</em>, the sense of which is preserved in <em>gentleman</em>. Some, such as <em>learn</em> and <em>let</em>, now mean the opposite of their former use.</p><p><br></p><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>abroad</strong></td><td>out of doors</td></tr><tr><td><strong>accouchement</strong></td><td>birthing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>advertisement</strong></td><td>a notice to readers in a book</td></tr><tr><td><strong>afeard</strong>/<strong>afeared</strong></td><td>frightened</td></tr><tr><td><strong>affright</strong></td><td>frighten (someone)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>ague</strong></td><td>malaria or a similar illness</td></tr><tr><td><strong>aliment</strong></td><td>food; nourishment</td></tr><tr><td><strong>ambuscade</strong></td><td>an ambush</td></tr><tr><td><strong>animalcule</strong></td><td>a microscopic animal</td></tr><tr><td><strong>apothecary</strong></td><td>a person who prepared and sold medicine</td></tr><tr><td><strong>appetency</strong></td><td>a longing or desire</td></tr><tr><td><strong>assay</strong></td><td>attempt</td></tr><tr><td><strong>asunder</strong></td><td>apart</td></tr><tr><td><strong>audition</strong></td><td>the power of hearing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>aught</strong></td><td>anything at all</td></tr><tr><td><strong>avaunt</strong></td><td>go away</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bane</strong></td><td>poison</td></tr><tr><td><strong>baseborn</strong></td><td>of low birth or social standing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bedlam</strong></td><td>an asylum</td></tr><tr><td><strong>behold</strong></td><td>see or observe</td></tr><tr><td><strong>behoof</strong></td><td>benefit or advantage</td></tr><tr><td><strong>beldam</strong></td><td>an old woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bethink oneself of</strong></td><td>remember; recollect</td></tr><tr><td><strong>betimes</strong></td><td>in good time; early</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bibliopole</strong></td><td>a dealer in books</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bijoux</strong></td><td>jewellery; trinkets</td></tr><tr><td><strong>billow</strong></td><td>a large sea wave</td></tr><tr><td><strong>blackguard</strong></td><td>a scoundrel</td></tr><tr><td><strong>blow</strong></td><td>produce flowers or be in flower</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bodkin</strong></td><td>a dagger</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bootless</strong></td><td>(of a task) ineffectual; useless</td></tr><tr><td><strong>breech</strong></td><td>a person's buttocks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bridewell</strong></td><td>a prison or reform school for petty offenders</td></tr><tr><td><strong>brimstone</strong></td><td>sulphur</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bruit</strong></td><td>a report or rumour</td></tr><tr><td><strong>buck</strong></td><td>a fashionable and daring young man</td></tr><tr><td><strong>bumper</strong></td><td>a generous glass of an alcoholic drink</td></tr><tr><td><strong>burgess</strong></td><td>a full citizen of a town or borough</td></tr><tr><td><strong>buss</strong></td><td>a kiss</td></tr><tr><td><strong>caboose</strong></td><td>a kitchen on a ship's deck</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cadet</strong></td><td>a younger son or daughter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>caducity</strong></td><td>the infirmity of old age; senility</td></tr><tr><td><strong>camelopard</strong></td><td>a giraffe</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cannonade</strong></td><td>bombard</td></tr><tr><td><strong>carl</strong></td><td>a man of low birth</td></tr><tr><td><strong>ceil</strong></td><td>line or plaster the roof of (a building)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>champaign</strong></td><td>open level countryside</td></tr><tr><td><strong>chapman</strong></td><td>a peddler</td></tr><tr><td><strong>chicane</strong></td><td>deceive; hoodwink</td></tr><tr><td><strong>circumjacent</strong></td><td>surrounding</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cicisbeo</strong></td><td>a married woman's male companion or lover</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cispontine</strong></td><td>on the north side of the Thames in London</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cleanse</strong></td><td>restore to health</td></tr><tr><td><strong>clerk</strong></td><td>a literate or scholarly person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>clew</strong></td><td>a ball of thread</td></tr><tr><td><strong>clout</strong></td><td>a piece of cloth or clothing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>collogue</strong></td><td>talk confidentially</td></tr><tr><td><strong>commend</strong></td><td>entrust someone or something to</td></tr><tr><td><strong>commons</strong></td><td>provisions shared in common; rations</td></tr><tr><td><strong>communicant</strong></td><td>a person who imparts information</td></tr><tr><td><strong>compass</strong></td><td>encircle or surround</td></tr><tr><td><strong>compeer</strong></td><td>a companion or close associate</td></tr><tr><td><strong>con</strong></td><td>study attentively or learn by heart (a piece of writing)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>condition</strong></td><td>social position</td></tr><tr><td><strong>conjure</strong></td><td>implore (someone) to do something</td></tr><tr><td><strong>contemn</strong></td><td>treat or regard with contempt</td></tr><tr><td><strong>contumely</strong></td><td>insolent or insulting language or treatment</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cordwainer</strong></td><td>a shoemaker</td></tr><tr><td><strong>corrupt</strong></td><td>rotten or putrid</td></tr><tr><td><strong>corse</strong></td><td>a corpse</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cottier</strong></td><td>a rural labourer living in a cottage</td></tr><tr><td><strong>coxcomb</strong></td><td>a vain and conceited man; a dandy</td></tr><tr><td><strong>coz</strong></td><td>cousin</td></tr><tr><td><strong>crinkum-crankum</strong></td><td>elaborate decoration or detail</td></tr><tr><td><strong>crookback</strong></td><td>a person with a hunchback</td></tr><tr><td><strong>crumpet</strong></td><td>a person's head</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cruse</strong></td><td>an earthenware pot or jar</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cully</strong></td><td>a friendly form of address for a man</td></tr><tr><td><strong>cutpurse</strong></td><td>a pickpocket</td></tr><tr><td><strong>dame</strong></td><td>an elderly or mature woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>damsel</strong></td><td>a young unmarried woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>dandiprat</strong></td><td>a young or insignificant person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>darbies</strong></td><td>handcuffs</td></tr><tr><td><strong>dark</strong></td><td>ignorant</td></tr><tr><td><strong>degrade</strong></td><td>reduce to a lower rank, especially as a punishment</td></tr><tr><td><strong>degree</strong></td><td>social or official rank</td></tr><tr><td><strong>delate</strong></td><td>report (an offence)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>demesne</strong></td><td>a region or domain</td></tr><tr><td><strong>demit</strong></td><td>resign from (an office or position)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>demoralize</strong></td><td>corrupt the morals of</td></tr><tr><td><strong>dight</strong></td><td>clothed or equipped</td></tr><tr><td><strong>discover</strong></td><td>divulge (a secret)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>disport</strong></td><td>frolic</td></tr><tr><td><strong>dispraise</strong></td><td>censure or criticize</td></tr><tr><td><strong>divers</strong></td><td>of varying types; several</td></tr><tr><td><strong>doit</strong></td><td>a very small amount of money</td></tr><tr><td><strong>dot</strong></td><td>a dowry from which only the interest or annual income was available to the husband</td></tr><tr><td><strong>doxy</strong></td><td>a lover or mistress</td></tr><tr><td><strong>drab</strong></td><td>a slovenly woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>drought</strong></td><td>thirst</td></tr><tr><td><strong>egad</strong></td><td>exclamation of surprise, anger, or affirmation</td></tr><tr><td><strong>embarrass</strong></td><td>hamper or impede</td></tr><tr><td><strong>embouchure</strong></td><td>the mouth of a river</td></tr><tr><td><strong>equipage</strong></td><td>gear; equipment</td></tr><tr><td><strong>ere</strong></td><td>before (in time)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>espousal</strong></td><td>a marriage or engagement</td></tr><tr><td><strong>estate</strong></td><td>a particular state, period, or condition in life</td></tr><tr><td><strong>esurient</strong></td><td>hungry</td></tr><tr><td><strong>expectations</strong></td><td>one's prospects of inheritance</td></tr><tr><td><strong>expiry</strong></td><td>death</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fain</strong></td><td>pleased or willing under the circumstances</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fainéant</strong></td><td>an idle or ineffective person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fair</strong></td><td>beautiful</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fandangle</strong></td><td>a useless or purely ornamental thing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fane</strong></td><td>a shrine or temple</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fare</strong></td><td>travel</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fell</strong></td><td>an animal skin; a pelt</td></tr><tr><td><strong>feminal</strong></td><td>feminine; womanly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fervent</strong></td><td>hot or glowing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fie</strong></td><td>exclamation used to express disgust or outrage</td></tr><tr><td><strong>filibeg</strong></td><td>a kilt</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fishwife</strong></td><td>a woman who sells fish</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fizgig</strong></td><td>a silly or flirtatious young woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>flux</strong></td><td>diarrhoea or dysentery</td></tr><tr><td><strong>forfend</strong></td><td>avert or prevent (something evil or unpleasant)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>forsooth</strong></td><td>indeed</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fourscore</strong></td><td>eighty</td></tr><tr><td><strong>freak</strong></td><td>a whim</td></tr><tr><td><strong>frore</strong></td><td>frozen or frosty</td></tr><tr><td><strong>froward</strong></td><td>(of a person) difficult to deal with; contrary</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fruit</strong></td><td>offspring</td></tr><tr><td><strong>fudge</strong></td><td>nonsense</td></tr><tr><td><strong>furbish</strong></td><td>polish (a weapon)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>gadzooks</strong></td><td>an expression of surprise or annoyance</td></tr><tr><td><strong>gage</strong></td><td>a valued object deposited as a guarantee</td></tr><tr><td><strong>gallant</strong></td><td>a dashing gentleman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>gammer</strong></td><td>an old woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>garland</strong></td><td>a literary anthology</td></tr><tr><td><strong>garth</strong></td><td>a yard or garden</td></tr><tr><td><strong>gaud</strong></td><td>a trinket</td></tr><tr><td><strong>gentle</strong></td><td>noble or courteous</td></tr><tr><td><strong>glabriety</strong></td><td>baldness</td></tr><tr><td><strong>glaciate</strong></td><td>freeze over</td></tr><tr><td><strong>glebe</strong></td><td>a meadow</td></tr><tr><td><strong>glim</strong></td><td>a candle</td></tr><tr><td><strong>go-cart</strong></td><td>a baby walker</td></tr><tr><td><strong>God's acre</strong></td><td>a churchyard</td></tr><tr><td><strong>goodly</strong></td><td>attractive, excellent, or virtuous</td></tr><tr><td><strong>goody</strong></td><td>(with a name) an elderly woman of humble position</td></tr><tr><td><strong>grateful</strong></td><td>received with gratitude</td></tr><tr><td><strong>greenwood</strong></td><td>a forest</td></tr><tr><td><strong>grimalkin</strong></td><td>a cat</td></tr><tr><td><strong>gudgeon</strong></td><td>a credulous person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>guerdon</strong></td><td>a reward</td></tr><tr><td><strong>gyve</strong></td><td>a fetter or shackle</td></tr><tr><td><strong>habiliment</strong></td><td>clothing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>halt</strong></td><td>lame</td></tr><tr><td><strong>handmaid</strong></td><td>a female servant</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hearken</strong></td><td>listen</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hence</strong></td><td>from here</td></tr><tr><td><strong>herbary</strong></td><td>a herb garden</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hereat</strong></td><td>as a result of this</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hereunto</strong></td><td>to this document</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hereupon</strong></td><td>after or as a result of this</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hie</strong></td><td>go quickly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hight</strong></td><td>named</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hither</strong></td><td>to or toward this place</td></tr><tr><td><strong>hoar</strong></td><td>frost</td></tr><tr><td><strong>horse-coper</strong></td><td>a person who deals in horses</td></tr><tr><td><strong>horseless carriage</strong></td><td>a car</td></tr><tr><td><strong>host</strong></td><td>an army</td></tr><tr><td><strong>howbeit</strong></td><td>nevertheless</td></tr><tr><td><strong>husbandman</strong></td><td>a farmer</td></tr><tr><td><strong>immedicable</strong></td><td>untreatable</td></tr><tr><td><strong>imminent</strong></td><td>overhanging</td></tr><tr><td><strong>indite</strong></td><td>write; compose</td></tr><tr><td><strong>inscribe</strong></td><td>enter the name of (someone) on a list</td></tr><tr><td><strong>in sooth</strong></td><td>actually</td></tr><tr><td><strong>intelligence</strong></td><td>news</td></tr><tr><td><strong>intelligencer</strong></td><td>a person who gathers intelligence</td></tr><tr><td><strong>invest</strong></td><td>surround (a place) in order to besiege or blockade it</td></tr><tr><td><strong>iron horse</strong></td><td>a steam locomotive</td></tr><tr><td><strong>izzard</strong></td><td>the letter Z</td></tr><tr><td><strong>jade</strong></td><td>a bad-tempered or disreputable woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>jakes</strong></td><td>an outdoor toilet</td></tr><tr><td><strong>job</strong></td><td>turn a public office or a position of trust to private advantage</td></tr><tr><td><strong>kickshaw</strong></td><td>a fancy but insubstantial cooked dish</td></tr><tr><td><strong>kine</strong></td><td>cows collectively</td></tr><tr><td><strong>kirtle</strong></td><td>a woman's gown or a man's tunic</td></tr><tr><td><strong>knave</strong></td><td>a dishonest or unscrupulous man</td></tr><tr><td><strong>larcener</strong></td><td>thief</td></tr><tr><td><strong>latchet</strong></td><td>a narrow thong or lace for fastening a shoe or sandal</td></tr><tr><td><strong>laud</strong></td><td>praise</td></tr><tr><td><strong>laver</strong></td><td>a basin or similar container used for washing oneself</td></tr><tr><td><strong>learn</strong></td><td>teach</td></tr><tr><td><strong>leech</strong></td><td>a doctor or healer</td></tr><tr><td><strong>leman</strong></td><td>a lover or sweetheart</td></tr><tr><td><strong>let</strong></td><td>hinder</td></tr><tr><td><strong>levant</strong></td><td>abscond leaving unpaid debts</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Levant</strong></td><td>the eastern part of the Mediterranean</td></tr><tr><td><strong>levy</strong></td><td>a body of enlisted troops</td></tr><tr><td><strong>lief</strong></td><td>as happily; as gladly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>like enough</strong></td><td>probably</td></tr><tr><td><strong>loathly</strong></td><td>repulsive</td></tr><tr><td><strong>lordling</strong></td><td>a minor lord</td></tr><tr><td><strong>love apple</strong></td><td>a tomato</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Lucifer</strong></td><td>a match</td></tr><tr><td><strong>lurdan</strong></td><td>an idle or incompetent person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>lying-in</strong></td><td>seclusion before and after childbirth</td></tr><tr><td><strong>magdalen</strong></td><td>a reformed prostitute</td></tr><tr><td><strong>mage</strong></td><td>a magician or learned person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>magnify</strong></td><td>glorify; extol</td></tr><tr><td><strong>maid</strong></td><td>a girl or young woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>malapert</strong></td><td>presumptuous and impudent</td></tr><tr><td><strong>malison</strong></td><td>a curse</td></tr><tr><td><strong>man-at-arms</strong></td><td>a soldier</td></tr><tr><td><strong>marry</strong></td><td>an expression of surprise, indignation, or emphatic assertion</td></tr><tr><td><strong>mayhap</strong></td><td>perhaps; possibly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>mazed</strong></td><td>bewildered</td></tr><tr><td><strong>measure</strong></td><td>a dance</td></tr><tr><td><strong>meat</strong></td><td>food of any kind</td></tr><tr><td><strong>mechanical</strong></td><td>a manual worker</td></tr><tr><td><strong>meet</strong></td><td>suitable or proper</td></tr><tr><td><strong>melodist</strong></td><td>a singer</td></tr><tr><td><strong>methinks</strong></td><td>it seems to me</td></tr><tr><td><strong>moil</strong></td><td>drudgery</td></tr><tr><td><strong>mooncalf</strong></td><td>a foolish person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>morrow, the</strong></td><td>the following day</td></tr><tr><td><strong>mummer</strong></td><td>an actor in the theatre</td></tr><tr><td><strong>natheless</strong></td><td>nevertheless</td></tr><tr><td><strong>natural</strong></td><td>a person born with impaired intelligence</td></tr><tr><td><strong>naught</strong></td><td>nothing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>nay</strong></td><td>no</td></tr><tr><td><strong>neat</strong></td><td>a bovine animal or animals</td></tr><tr><td><strong>nice</strong></td><td>fastidious</td></tr><tr><td><strong>nigh</strong></td><td>near</td></tr><tr><td><strong>nithing</strong></td><td>a contemptible or despicable person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>noise (something) about</strong></td><td>talk about or make known publicly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>nubbing- cheat</strong></td><td>a gallows</td></tr><tr><td><strong>numbles</strong></td><td>a deer's entrails as food</td></tr><tr><td><strong>orison</strong></td><td>a prayer</td></tr><tr><td><strong>orts</strong></td><td>scraps; remains</td></tr><tr><td><strong>otherwhere</strong></td><td>elsewhere</td></tr><tr><td><strong>otiose</strong></td><td>lazy; slothful</td></tr><tr><td><strong>overbrim</strong></td><td>spill; overflow</td></tr><tr><td><strong>overleap</strong></td><td>jump over or across</td></tr><tr><td><strong>overset</strong></td><td>capsize; flip over</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pale</strong></td><td>an area within determined bounds or subject to a particular jurisdiction</td></tr><tr><td><strong>palfrey</strong></td><td>a docile riding horse</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pate</strong></td><td>a person's head</td></tr><tr><td><strong>paynim</strong></td><td>a pagan</td></tr><tr><td><strong>peccant</strong></td><td>sinful; offending</td></tr><tr><td><strong>peeler</strong></td><td>a police officer</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pelf</strong></td><td>money, especially when gained dishonestly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>peradventure</strong></td><td>perhaps</td></tr><tr><td><strong>perchance</strong></td><td>by some chance</td></tr><tr><td><strong>peregrinate</strong></td><td>travel or wander from place to place</td></tr><tr><td><strong>periapt</strong></td><td>a charm or amulet</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pest</strong></td><td>bubonic plague</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pestilence</strong></td><td>a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague</td></tr><tr><td><strong>peterman</strong></td><td>a thief or safecracker</td></tr><tr><td><strong>physic</strong></td><td>medicinal drugs or medical treatment</td></tr><tr><td><strong>picaroon</strong></td><td>a scoundrel</td></tr><tr><td><strong>piepowder</strong></td><td>a traveller or an itinerant merchant or trader</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pismire</strong></td><td>an ant</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pistoleer</strong></td><td>a soldier armed with a pistol</td></tr><tr><td><strong>plain over</strong></td><td>lament; cry over</td></tr><tr><td><strong>plight</strong></td><td>solemnly pledge or promise (faith or loyalty)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pollard</strong></td><td>an animal that has lost its horns or cast its antlers</td></tr><tr><td><strong>poltroon</strong></td><td>an utter coward</td></tr><tr><td><strong>popinjay</strong></td><td>a parrot</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pore on</strong></td><td>think about</td></tr><tr><td><strong>portage</strong></td><td>the action of carrying or transporting</td></tr><tr><td><strong>portion</strong></td><td>a dowry</td></tr><tr><td><strong>portion</strong></td><td>a person's destiny or lot</td></tr><tr><td><strong>posy</strong></td><td>a short motto or line of verse inscribed inside a ring</td></tr><tr><td><strong>potation</strong></td><td>a beverage</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pouncet-box</strong></td><td>a small box with a perforated lid used for holding a substance impregnated with perfume</td></tr><tr><td><strong>prithee</strong></td><td>please</td></tr><tr><td><strong>profess</strong></td><td>teach (a subject) as a professor</td></tr><tr><td><strong>purblind</strong></td><td>short-sighted</td></tr><tr><td><strong>purfle</strong></td><td>an ornamental or embroidered edge of a garment</td></tr><tr><td><strong>pythoness</strong></td><td>a woman believed to be possessed by a spirit and to be able to foresee the future</td></tr><tr><td><strong>quaggy</strong></td><td>marshy or boggy</td></tr><tr><td><strong>quality</strong></td><td>high social standing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>quean</strong></td><td>an impudent girl or woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>quick, the</strong></td><td>the living</td></tr><tr><td><strong>quidnunc</strong></td><td>an inquisitive, gossipy person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>quiz</strong></td><td>look intently at (someone)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>quoth</strong></td><td>said (in I/he/she quoth)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>rack</strong></td><td>(of a cloud) be driven by the wind</td></tr><tr><td><strong>raiment</strong></td><td>clothing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>rapscallion</strong></td><td>a mischievous person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>rathe-ripe</strong></td><td>(of fruit) ripening early in the year; (of a person) precocious</td></tr><tr><td><strong>reave</strong></td><td>carry out a plundering raid</td></tr><tr><td><strong>receipt</strong></td><td>a recipe</td></tr><tr><td><strong>recipe</strong></td><td>a medical prescription</td></tr><tr><td><strong>recompense</strong></td><td>punish or reward appropriately</td></tr><tr><td><strong>recreant</strong></td><td>cowardly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>rede</strong></td><td>advice or counsel</td></tr><tr><td><strong>reduce</strong></td><td>besiege and capture (a town or fortress)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>relieve</strong></td><td>make (something) stand out</td></tr><tr><td><strong>remit</strong></td><td>diminish</td></tr><tr><td><strong>repair</strong></td><td>an abode or haunt</td></tr><tr><td><strong>repulsive</strong></td><td>lacking friendliness or sympathy</td></tr><tr><td><strong>riband</strong></td><td>a ribbon</td></tr><tr><td><strong>rover</strong></td><td>a pirate</td></tr><tr><td><strong>rude</strong></td><td>ignorant and uneducated</td></tr><tr><td><strong>ruth</strong></td><td>a feeling of pity, distress, or grief</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sables</strong></td><td>black mourning clothes</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sacring</strong></td><td>the consecration of a bishop, a sovereign, or the Eucharistic elements</td></tr><tr><td><strong>saddle-bow</strong></td><td>the pommel of a saddle</td></tr><tr><td><strong>salamander</strong></td><td>a red-hot iron or poker</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sanative</strong></td><td>healing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sanguinary</strong></td><td>involving or causing much bloodshed</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sap</strong></td><td>make (a building, etc.) insecure by removing its foundations</td></tr><tr><td><strong>saturnism</strong></td><td>lead poisoning</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scantling</strong></td><td>a specimen, sample, or small amount</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scapegrace</strong></td><td>a mischievous person; a rascal</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scaramouch</strong></td><td>a boastful but cowardly person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>schoolman</strong></td><td>a teacher</td></tr><tr><td><strong>science</strong></td><td>knowledge</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sciolist</strong></td><td>a person who pretends to be knowledgeable</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scold</strong></td><td>a woman who nags or grumbles constantly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scot</strong></td><td>a tax-like payment</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scrag</strong></td><td>a neck</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scruple</strong></td><td>a very small amount of something, especially a quality</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scullion</strong></td><td>a menial servant</td></tr><tr><td><strong>scurvy</strong></td><td>worthless or contemptible</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sea coal</strong></td><td>mineral coal</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sea smoke</strong></td><td>fog</td></tr><tr><td><strong>seizing</strong></td><td>a length of cord or rope on board a ship</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sennight</strong></td><td>a week</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sepulture</strong></td><td>burial</td></tr><tr><td><strong>shambles</strong></td><td>a slaughterhouse</td></tr><tr><td><strong>shrift</strong></td><td>forgiveness</td></tr><tr><td><strong>shrive</strong></td><td>(of a priest) absolve (a person making a confession)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>silly</strong></td><td>helpless; defenceless</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sippet</strong></td><td>a small piece of bread or toast for dipping into soup or sauce</td></tr><tr><td><strong>skirt</strong></td><td>an edge, border, or extreme part</td></tr><tr><td><strong>slay</strong></td><td>kill in a violent way</td></tr><tr><td><strong>slipshod</strong></td><td>(of shoes) worn down at the heel</td></tr><tr><td><strong>slugabed</strong></td><td>a lazy person who stays in bed late</td></tr><tr><td><strong>small beer</strong></td><td>weak beer</td></tr><tr><td><strong>smite</strong></td><td>defeat or conquer</td></tr><tr><td><strong>soak</strong></td><td>drink heavily</td></tr><tr><td><strong>soft tack</strong></td><td>bread, especially as rations for sailors or soldiers</td></tr><tr><td><strong>soil</strong></td><td>a stain</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sooth</strong></td><td>truth</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sore</strong></td><td>extremely; severely</td></tr><tr><td><strong>speed</strong></td><td>success; prosperity</td></tr><tr><td><strong>spence</strong></td><td>a pantry or larder</td></tr><tr><td><strong>statuary</strong></td><td>a sculptor</td></tr><tr><td><strong>steed</strong></td><td>a horse</td></tr><tr><td><strong>stoup</strong></td><td>a container for drinking beer, etc.; a flagon</td></tr><tr><td><strong>stripe</strong></td><td>a blow with a lash</td></tr><tr><td><strong>strumpet</strong></td><td>a female prostitute or a promiscuous woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>success</strong></td><td>a good or bad outcome</td></tr><tr><td><strong>suffer</strong></td><td>endure; tolerate</td></tr><tr><td><strong>surety, of</strong>/<strong>for a</strong></td><td>for certain</td></tr><tr><td><strong>swain</strong></td><td>a country youth</td></tr><tr><td><strong>swash</strong></td><td>flamboyantly swagger about or wield a sword</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sweeting</strong></td><td>darling</td></tr><tr><td><strong>sweetmeat</strong></td><td>an item of confectionery or sweet food</td></tr><tr><td><strong>taiga</strong></td><td>a forest</td></tr><tr><td><strong>tantivy</strong></td><td>a rapid gallop or ride</td></tr><tr><td><strong>tapster</strong></td><td>a person who serves at a bar</td></tr><tr><td><strong>tenter</strong></td><td>a person in charge of something, especially factory machinery</td></tr><tr><td><strong>thenceforth</strong></td><td>from that time, place, or point onward</td></tr><tr><td><strong>thereunto</strong></td><td>to that</td></tr><tr><td><strong>therewith</strong></td><td>with or in the thing mentioned</td></tr><tr><td><strong>thither</strong></td><td>to or toward that place</td></tr><tr><td><strong>thrice</strong></td><td>three times</td></tr><tr><td><strong>tilt with</strong></td><td>engage in a contest with</td></tr><tr><td><strong>timbrel</strong></td><td>a tambourine or similar instrument</td></tr><tr><td><strong>'tis</strong></td><td>it is</td></tr><tr><td><strong>tithe</strong></td><td>a tenth</td></tr><tr><td><strong>tocsin</strong></td><td>an alarm bell or signal</td></tr><tr><td><strong>tope</strong></td><td>drink to excess</td></tr><tr><td><strong>trespass</strong></td><td>a sin or offence</td></tr><tr><td><strong>trig</strong></td><td>neat and smart</td></tr><tr><td><strong>trigon</strong></td><td>a triangle</td></tr><tr><td><strong>troth</strong></td><td>faith or loyalty when pledged in a solemn undertaking</td></tr><tr><td><strong>truck</strong></td><td>an exchange or transaction</td></tr><tr><td><strong>turnkey</strong></td><td>a jailer</td></tr><tr><td><strong>'tween</strong></td><td>between</td></tr><tr><td><strong>tweeny</strong></td><td>a maid who assisted both the cook and the housemaid</td></tr><tr><td><strong>twelvemonth</strong></td><td>a year</td></tr><tr><td><strong>uncle</strong></td><td>a pawnbroker</td></tr><tr><td><strong>uncommon</strong></td><td>remarkably</td></tr><tr><td><strong>unhand</strong></td><td>release from one's grasp</td></tr><tr><td><strong>up to snuff</strong></td><td>up to the required standard</td></tr><tr><td><strong>usher</strong></td><td>an assistant teacher</td></tr><tr><td><strong>vale</strong></td><td>a farewell; a send-off</td></tr><tr><td><strong>varlet</strong></td><td>an unprincipled rogue</td></tr><tr><td><strong>venery</strong></td><td>hunting</td></tr><tr><td><strong>verily</strong></td><td>truly; certainly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>verse</strong></td><td>a line of poetry</td></tr><tr><td><strong>very</strong></td><td>real; genuine</td></tr><tr><td><strong>virtue</strong></td><td>virginity</td></tr><tr><td><strong>visionary</strong></td><td>existing only in the imagination</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wain</strong></td><td>a wagon or cart</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wait on</strong>/<strong>upon</strong></td><td>pay a respectful visit to</td></tr><tr><td><strong>waits</strong></td><td>street singers of Christmas carols</td></tr><tr><td><strong>ware of</strong></td><td>aware of</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wassail</strong></td><td>revelry</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wast</strong></td><td>second person singular past of <em>be</em></td></tr><tr><td><strong>watch</strong></td><td>remain awake as religious observance</td></tr><tr><td><strong>watchful</strong></td><td>wakeful</td></tr><tr><td><strong>watchword</strong></td><td>a military password</td></tr><tr><td><strong>weasand</strong></td><td>the oesophagus or gullet</td></tr><tr><td><strong>ween</strong></td><td>think or suppose; be of the opinion</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wench</strong></td><td>a girl or young woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>whence</strong></td><td>from what place or source</td></tr><tr><td><strong>whereat</strong></td><td>at which</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wherefore</strong></td><td>for what reason</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wherewith</strong></td><td>with or by which</td></tr><tr><td><strong>whilom</strong></td><td>formerly</td></tr><tr><td><strong>white goods</strong></td><td>domestic linen</td></tr><tr><td><strong>whither</strong></td><td>to what place or state</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wife</strong></td><td>a woman, especially an old or uneducated one</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wight</strong></td><td>a person of a specified kind</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wise</strong></td><td>manner, way, or extent</td></tr><tr><td><strong>withal</strong></td><td>in addition</td></tr><tr><td><strong>without</strong></td><td>outside</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wondrous</strong></td><td>wonderfully</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wont</strong></td><td>accustomed</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wonted</strong></td><td>usual</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wool-stapler</strong></td><td>a dealer in wool</td></tr><tr><td><strong>wright</strong></td><td>a maker or builder</td></tr><tr><td><strong>yclept</strong></td><td>by the name of</td></tr><tr><td><strong>ye</strong></td><td>you</td></tr><tr><td><strong>yea</strong></td><td>yes</td></tr><tr><td><strong>yoke</strong></td><td>the amount of land that one pair of oxen could plough in a day</td></tr><tr><td><strong>yonder</strong></td><td>over there</td></tr><tr><td><strong>zounds</strong></td><td>an expression of surprise or indignation</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br></p><table><tbody><tr><td><br></td><td><br></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="non-lexical-socials socials-mobile"><div class="socials"><ul><li><a class="ico-fb" data-behaviour="ga-event-entry-sharing" data-value="Facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004100227/https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=822646027855047&display=page&href=https%3A%2F%2Fen.oxforddictionaries.com%2Fexplore%2Farchaic-words%2F&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fen.oxforddictionaries.com%2Fexplore%2Farchaic-words%2F" onclick="javascript:ga('send', 'event', 'share_this_entry', 'facebook', 'https://web.archive.org/web/20181004100227/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/archaic-words/');" target="_blank" title="Share on Facebook"><i class="transition"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 30 30" viewbox="0 0 30 30" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m15 0c-8.284 0-15 6.716-15 15 0 8.285 6.716 15 15 15 8.284 0 15-6.715 15-15 0-8.284-6.716-15-15-15m3.214 15.01h-2.102c0 3.357 0 7.495 0 7.495h-3.115c0 0 0-4.095 0-7.495h-1.482v-2.647h1.482v-1.714c0-1.227.582-3.144 3.143-3.144l2.307.009v2.571c0 0-1.404 0-1.676 0-.271 0-.66.136-.66.722v1.556h2.375l-.272 2.647" fill="#37589a"/></svg></i></a></li> <li><a class="ico-tw" data-behaviour="ga-event-entry-sharing" data-value="Twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004100227/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Archaic%20words%20-%20English%20Oxford%20Living%20Dictionaries%20%3A%20%40OxfordWords&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.oxforddictionaries.com%2Fexplore%2Farchaic-words%2F" onclick="javascript:ga('send', 'event', 'share_this_entry', 'twitter', 'https://web.archive.org/web/20181004100227/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/archaic-words/');" target="_blank" title="Share on Twitter"><i class="transition"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 30 30" viewbox="0 0 30 30" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m15 0c-8.284 0-15 6.716-15 15 0 8.285 6.716 15 15 15 8.283 0 15-6.715 15-15 0-8.284-6.717-15-15-15m5.965 11.943c.006.132.001.264.001.397 0 4.066-3.095 8.755-8.757 8.755-1.738 0-3.356-.509-4.718-1.382.242.028.486.041.734.041 1.443 0 2.769-.489 3.821-1.314-1.345-.025-2.483-.916-2.874-2.136.188.033.38.053.579.053.281 0 .553-.039.81-.107-1.407-.284-2.468-1.527-2.468-3.02 0-.013 0-.026 0-.039.416.231.891.368 1.395.384-.825-.551-1.369-1.494-1.369-2.562 0-.564.152-1.093.417-1.547 1.517 1.863 3.786 3.087 6.342 3.215-.052-.226-.08-.459-.08-.701 0-1.699 1.377-3.076 3.079-3.076.885 0 1.685.374 2.246.97.699-.137 1.359-.394 1.955-.748-.232.719-.719 1.322-1.354 1.703.624-.073 1.217-.24 1.768-.483-.413.618-.936 1.16-1.536 1.595" fill="#38a8e0"/></svg></i></a></li> <li><a class="ico-gpl" data-behaviour="ga-event-entry-sharing" data-value="Google +" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004100227/https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.oxforddictionaries.com%2Fexplore%2Farchaic-words%2F" onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href,'', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600'); 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data-ratioy="1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004100227im_/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-content/uploads/fool-315x190.jpg" alt="Fool 315x190"/></div><article><span class="article-title">12 synonyms for fool</span></article></a></section></div><div class="quiz-panel-odo"><div class="quiz-panel"><div class="quizTitle">'Using the Passive'</div><form class="simple_form new_quiz_response" id="new_quiz_response" action="/web/20181004100227/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/quiz_responses" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-remote="true" method="post"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"/><input type="hidden" name="quiz_id" id="quiz_id" value="123"/><div class="questions"><div class="question first current"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6970" value="6970"/><span class="option_text">Steven punctured the football</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6969" value="6969"/><span class="option_text">The football was punctured</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6959" value="6959"/><span class="option_text">The dishes were washed</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6960" value="6960"/><span class="option_text">Dan washed the dishes</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6977" value="6977"/><span class="option_text">The family were shocked</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6978" value="6978"/><span class="option_text">The storm shocked the family</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6953" value="6953"/><span class="option_text">He was promoted</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6954" value="6954"/><span class="option_text">The manager promoted him</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6967" value="6967"/><span class="option_text">The boy was saved</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6968" value="6968"/><span class="option_text">She saved the boy</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6957" value="6957"/><span class="option_text">The bone was chewed</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6958" value="6958"/><span class="option_text">The dog chewed the bone</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6971" value="6971"/><span class="option_text">The TV show was watched</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6972" value="6972"/><span class="option_text">The family watched the TV show</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6963" value="6963"/><span class="option_text">The house was burgled</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6964" value="6964"/><span class="option_text">The gang burgled the house</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6951" value="6951"/><span class="option_text">The glass was broken</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6952" value="6952"/><span class="option_text">I broke the glass</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of these is written in the passive?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6962" value="6962"/><span class="option_text">Mum ironed the clothes</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_6961" value="6961"/><span class="option_text">The clothes were ironed</span></li></ul></div><div class="question last"><h3 id="score-message">You scored <span class="final-score"></span>/10 practise again?</h3><button id="retry-quiz">Retry</button></div></div></form><button name="button" type="button" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="next question" id="next-question" html="{:disabled=>"disabled"}">Next</button><div class="score-counter"><span class="current-score">0</span>/10</div></div><br/></div><div class="trending-panel-odo sideTrendWrap"><div class="trend" lang="en"><section class="boxSizing"><span class="trend-title-wrapper"><span class="trend-title">Trending Words</span></span><div class="popular"><p><span>Most popular in the world</span></p></div><ol class="words_section"><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 1" href="/web/20181004100227/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/monitum">monitum</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 2" href="/web/20181004100227/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/low-carbon">low-carbon</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 3" href="/web/20181004100227/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/shoring">shoring</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 4" href="/web/20181004100227/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pinkerton,_allan">Pinkerton, Allan</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 5" href="/web/20181004100227/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/be_like_piccadilly_circus">be like Piccadilly Circus</a></li></ol></section></div></div><div class="banbox-mini"></div><div class="bluebox sidebar-newsletter"><div class="container newsletters en_dictionaries_news"><div class="signup"><h4>Sign up for our newsletter</h4><p>Stay up to date with our latest news and receive new words updates, blog posts, and more.</p><div class="section sso_newsletter_holder homepage_sso_newsletter_holder" id="news_newsletter_manage_button"><div class="sso_newsletter"><a class="subscribe_button homepage_subscribe_button" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Region 4 - newsletter - sign up" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004100227/https://sso.oxforddictionaries.com/users/edit#manage_newsletter_preferences"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i> Sign up</a></div><p class="privacy-policy"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004100227/https://global.oup.com/privacy" 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value="FJ">Fiji</option> <option value="FI">Finland</option> <option value="FR">France</option> <option value="GF">French Guiana</option> <option value="PF">French Polynesia</option> <option value="TF">French Southern Territories</option> <option value="GA">Gabon</option> <option value="GM">Gambia</option> <option value="GE">Georgia</option> <option value="DE">Germany</option> <option value="GH">Ghana</option> <option value="GI">Gibraltar</option> <option value="GR">Greece</option> <option value="GL">Greenland</option> <option value="GD">Grenada</option> <option value="GP">Guadeloupe</option> <option value="GU">Guam</option> <option value="GT">Guatemala</option> <option value="GG">Guernsey</option> <option value="GN">Guinea</option> <option value="GW">Guinea-Bissau</option> <option value="GY">Guyana</option> <option value="HT">Haiti</option> <option value="HM">Heard Island and McDonald Islands</option> <option value="VA">Holy See (Vatican City State)</option> <option 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