Lost Words: Words That Have Disappeared from a Language
Words are like living things in a language, and like living things, they can be born, flourish, and even die. Words become lost, or fall out of use, for a variety of reasons. These “lost words” is fascinating because they offer a glimpse into the past, reflecting the way people used to think, live, and interact with the world.
Languages are constantly changing, with new words emerging and old ones falling by the wayside. This is a natural process driven by several factors.
Why Words Get Lost?
Evolution of Language: Languages are constantly evolving. As societies and cultures change, the words they use to describe the world around them also change. New words are created to reflect new concepts and technologies, while old words that are no longer relevant fade away. For example, the word “horseless carriage” was once used to describe a car, but as cars became more commonplace, the need for such a descriptive term diminished.
Cultural Shifts: Changes in social norms and customs can render certain words obsolete. For example, with the decline of formal etiquette, words like “abecedarian” (someone who teaches the alphabet) or “haberdashery” (a shop selling sewing notions) are rarely used anymore.
Semantic Change: Over time, the pronunciation and meaning of words can drift. A word might become so obscure or its meaning so altered that it’s no longer understood by most speakers. For example, the word “meat” originally referred to any kind of food, but now it specifically refers to animal flesh.
Euphemisms: Sometimes, negative connotations or social unacceptability can lead to the decline of a word. People might start using euphemisms (more pleasant or indirect terms) to avoid the original word. For instance, the word “passed away” is often used instead of “died” in some contexts.
Technological Advancements: New technologies can render old words obsolete. With the rise of mechanical transportation, words like “farrier” (a horseshoer) or “ostler” (someone who cares for horses in a stable) have become less common. With the rise of digital communication, terms like “telegram” or “fax” are rarely used anymore.
Geographical Variations: Languages spoken in different regions can evolve at different paces. Words that were once common in one area might disappear from usage altogether while persisting in another.
Examples of Lost Words:
- Abhigail: A waiting maid (nowadays “maidservant” or “handmaid”)
- Husbandry: Originally meant the management of a household, now refers specifically to farming.
- Ruth: Regret or pity (nowadays “sadness” or “compassion”)
- Erstwhile: Formerly (nowadays “previously” or “once”)
- Apricock (apricot): The original spelling has been overshadowed by the simpler “apricot.”
Why Care About Lost Words?
- Understanding History: Lost words offer a window into the past, reflecting the concerns, activities, and social structures of a bygone era. They can help us understand how people used to live and think.
- Appreciating Language Change: Lost words remind us that language is changing constantly. They show us how languages adapt and evolve over time.
- Sound Smart: Some lost words have interesting etymologies or unique sounds. By understanding them, we can broaden our vocabulary and appreciate the richness of language. And of course, we can sound smart.
Where can you find lost words?
- Lost Words Projects: There are some ongoing projects dedicated to documenting and raising awareness about lost words. Many of these projects are influenced by the work of Robert McFarlane. His book The lost words is a huge success in this regard. A quick google search can give you a whole list of these projects.
- Corpus Linguistics: This field of study involves analyzing large collections of text data. Online corpora, like those offered by Google Ngram Viewer, allow you to see how the frequency of a word’s usage has changed over time. This can be a great way to identify words that have become less common.
- Historical Dictionaries: These dictionaries document the history of words and their meanings over time. They often include entries for words that are no longer commonly used, with information about their origin, historical usage, and when they fell out of favor. Some online dictionaries, like the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), offer historical entries with citations showing how the word was used in the past.
- Online Resources: There are websites and online resources dedicated to exploring lost words and obsolete vocabulary. These websites might have lists of lost words, their definitions, and information about their historical usage.
While some lost words fade completely, others might be revived or reintroduced into the language under certain circumstances. The world of lost words offers a window into the ever-changing nature of human communication.
