Historical Fictionistas discussion

I really miss the word 'happenstance'. It's such a great word, but is rarely used these days. Are there any words that are lost or beginning to disappear that you miss?

Merry. I feel like we only use it for "Merry Christmas." But I love the notion of carefree happiness that it implies. "Gay" used to mean pretty much the same thing, but it's also kind of lost for that purpose because it is now more commonly used to describe sexual preference. Bring back Merry!

"Frisson" is a good one. Growing up, I learnt French, and with the amount of books that I read of English in my childhood, I was surprised that I found this word in French first during my teens and then read it in some olden English classic.

Meaning: Having a shiver or a thrill, a sudden bout of excitement or fear.

Whilst the meaning would definitely be known to any English speaker without having to delve into French, it is still a word which is very rarely used these days. At least, in my eyes. People could say that they had a thrilling experience or an experience that made them shiver, but you cannot really connect them without frisson. I've certainly never heard or seen the usage of frisson anywhere in recent times.

Kathryn wrote: "Merry. I feel like we only use it for "Merry Christmas." But I love the notion of carefree happiness that it implies. "Gay" used to mean pretty much the same thing, but it's also kind of lost for t..."

A while ago, I also thought 'merry' was a lost word and so have used it in the name of a town in one of my books - 'Merrygate'. Every little helps, I thought.

Aadi wrote: ""Frisson" is a good one. Growing up, I learnt French, and with the amount of books that I read of English in my childhood, I was surprised that I found this word in French first during my teens and..."

Thank you, Aadi, I shall use this in the coming week - somewhere, somehow :o)

Sprezzatura - the art of making something difficult look easy

Roisterous - Loud and disorderly

Twistical-- meant f'd up. We lost that at the beginning of the 20th century, when it became OK to trot out actual curse words in public.

This is a great thread! I will be on the look out for words to add.

One word I wish would disappear is mayhap. If that appears in a historical novel or mystery I’m reading I feel like throwing the book at the wall.

Phair wrote: "One word I wish would disappear is mayhap. If that appears in a historical novel or mystery I’m reading I feel like throwing the book at the wall."

Perchance you feel the same about "whilst"?

Elizabeth, can't say that I've used either word, or that I would. I feel there are better alternatives and i just don't like the way they sound. Wayne English

Wayne wrote: "Elizabeth, can't say that I've used either word, or that I would. I feel there are better alternatives and i just don't like the way they sound."

I was joking, Wayne!

Some words are becoming retronyms, being phased out as new terms come into being. Some examples are:

1, Computer: replaced by PC, laptop, server, etc...
2. Telephone: replaced by cell, landline, speaker, etc...

Telephone is one that I have a hard time adjusting to its absence, as I grew up when there was just a .... telephone.

Aadi wrote: ""Frisson" is a good one. Growing up, I learnt French, and with the amount of books that I read of English in my childhood, I was surprised that I found this word in French first during my teens and..."

Hi Aadi, I have seen it in a number of books. I really enjoy it and also hearing it. Rest easy, it may be uncommon, but it's definitely not gone.

Some words are becoming retronyms, being phased out as new terms come into being. Some examples are:

1, Computer: replaced by PC, laptop, server, etc...
2. Telephone: replaced by cell, landline, speaker, etc...

Telephone is one that I have a hard time adjusting to its absence, as I grew up when there was just a .... telephone."

What's interesting is that "computer" has already gone through this process once. It used to refer to the PERSON doing the calculations manually and computing the data needed. Then it shifted to mean the electronic device.

The Word crummy I say that a lot, and I'm looked at weirdly, and I'm always like, "No, not crumbs. Crummy means lousy, and I had a lousy day.
Or "No, I'm not calling that person crumbs. I'm saying they are being bad/mean to me."

Then I realized I'm only 19, and I forget most of the time that people my age use more slang than anything.

Lanna,
I haven't heard the word 'crumby' used in a long tome, and I'm a lot older than 19. However, had I heard you use it I would know exactly what you are saying. Yes, bad day. About a person means not a nice person. Where did you hear it?

Wayne,
I know I’m not Lanna, but a lot of adults use it for a replacement for crappy or sh#$#y. Just so they’re censored in front of a kid. I’d guess that’s where she heard it, but I’m not her so I don’t know.

Wayne wrote: "Lanna,
I haven't heard the word 'crumby' used in a long tome, and I'm a lot older than 19. However, had I heard you use it I would know exactly what you are saying. Yes, bad day. About a person mea..."

Great question! So, when I was a little girl, I went to a private school where the teacher used old English with us. One day, I was walking out of the chapel to use the restroom, and I overheard two ladies essentially talking negatively about someone. One of the ladies said, "She's a crummy person." I knew that "crummy" meant lousy or not the best, but these older ladies were basically saying that this lady was a horrible person. I have also read a lot of older literature, and due to my exposure to English shows, I have encountered such language frequently.

But it's pretty much a nicer way of saying, "That person is a piece of crap."