On Words....
By misskatonic
@misskatonic (3723)
United States
February 11, 2007 2:16pm CST
Yesterday was a busy day for me - I was scouring Ebay for long black gloves and couldn't find a single pair the right length and color. Such a pity.
Now I am back! And ready to leap back into the choppy waters of Mylot!
I spent too much time yesterday playing around at one of my favorite sites - The Compendium of Lost Words. Lost words are those words which have fallen out of the English language more than three hundred years ago.
It's fascinating to see how the language has evolved - and how some words aren't entirely lost. One interesting little fact that I found noteworthy was this:
The word homerkin. A homerkin is a large measure of beer, the word fallen out of modern use. But when we pop culture savvy Americans hear 'Homer' who do we think of but that lovable idiot Homer Simpson? He who guzzles many large measures of beer!
Words really are a fascinating thing.
8 people like this
20 responses
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
11 Feb 07
I am so excited! I just love learning new words. I cna't wait to use homerkin next time my friends are overindulging and see how many people notice. *giggles*
It's fascinating how well that works with the Homer Simpson reference. Now every time I find a "lost word" I'm going to be looking for a modern reference for it, just to help me remember it.
1 person likes this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Yay! I love to share words, so it works well! And there are so, so many to offer. :D
I am certain that Matt Groening chose the name on purpose - he is a very intelligent and creative man, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's aware of a few lost words. :D
2 people like this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
11 Feb 07
From what I know of him, I could definitely see Groening does just that.
Of course if I were industrious I suppose I could go look up your website myself, but I'm busy alternately playing with my baby and posting here, so I'll just take the tidbits for now. =P
@Bbilal (1998)
•
11 Feb 07
First of all welcome back :-) The information regarding english language and their old words is just awesome - I want to know one thing and that is, is this the website you visit regularly? I appreciate all your discussions and all contain maturity. Thankyou!
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Thank you! :D I'm glad folks are enjoying the little tidbits! The website is the Compendium of Lost Words at the Phrontistery! http://phrontistery.info/index.html
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
11 Feb 07
How interesting MissK. I love the olde words that were onced used to convey messages. Is this a site that you visit regularly? You should post more fallen words for us to enjoy. : )
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
11 Feb 07
I do visit it regularly! It's part of a much larger website that revolves all around the English language - I'm forever looking up specific terms for ancient religions and things like that. It's invaluable to me.
I shall definitely share more lost words!
2 people like this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
11 Feb 07
I'm sorry but I got totally caught up in the story of the long black gloves to the exclusivity of the lost words. It reminded me of a time when I was in San Francisco with a friend and she was looking for a pair of long black gloves to welcome her boyfriend back (she planned to dazzle him at the airport upon his return). We had gone to Haight Ashbury, and there were a ton of second hand clothes stores, all selling long black gloves. Thanks for making me remember that day (a fun memory). See the power of words...new or old!
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
11 Feb 07
No need to apologize! :D I hit all the used clothing stores last weekend, and couldn't find a single pair! I'm amazed at how difficult it is to find a pair. That aren't the cheap prom stock ones sold at those little mall kiosks.
I'm glad I could trigger a happy memory for you!
1 person likes this
@Sweetpeas (738)
• Australia
13 Feb 07
Thats funny isnt it, wonder if maybe the makers knew this before choosing his name lol. Either way thanks for sharing!
@TheOriginalRed1 (512)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Oh I have one, senticous. I have known some some people that were senticous. They were very pickly if you disagreed with them and could become downright thorny at times...lol
Thanks misskat, I love lost words!
1 person likes this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Oooh, that's a good one! I'll have to remember it, thank you!
1 person likes this
@juliocstryfe (2019)
• Brazil
13 Feb 07
Heh, I just finished welcomeing you back...
BTW, isnt the "lost word" what freemansons believe willeither destroy the world or save it?
@Melizzy (1381)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Having had a few discussions with Mike Scully, of Simpsons fame, I can guarantee you that Homer probably has his roots steeped in "homerkin." The Simpsons were created by some slick and savvy individuals who came to Fox at a maverick time. Everybody thought Mulder's full name, Fox William Mulder, was a play on Fox studios. Partly yes, but the found of Fox was named William Fox!Glad to see you back and if you were in LA, I could tell you 3 thrift stores to go to that would have your gloves!
@moonmage (148)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Although we no longer use any of these words actively, the words can still paint the same picture because some part of that imagery has been passed down throughout the generations. I love reading old dictionaries looking for words that aren't used as much any more. I say 'as much' because if you go to certain parts of the country you can still hear words and phrases that are throwbacks from as far back as the middle ages. No, I'm not exaggerating.
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
12 Feb 07
words are so interesting! I love to hear how certain words came into being...where they originated from. I have some examples, but can't think right now since my daughter is screaming to the top of her lungs. LOL
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Wanna 'nother one?
"Stupenagle" (sp?)
My grandmother used to call my uncle that.
We all thought it was one of her made up words--until I saw it in some book I was reading. An old southern term meaning "idiot." ROFLMAO!!
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
12 Feb 07
How about "gorgayse"?
I think it sounds like something monstrous, but actually means "elegant or fashionable". Apparently it started in the fifteen century with a new style of women's headdress called a gorgias which replaced the wimple. It is believed gorgayse survived into modern times with changes to become gorgeous.
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
11 Feb 07
That is an interesting one. Heck of an interesting thought. I still love the history of the dreaded F word. Or at least as it was taught to me.
@Denmarkguy (1845)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Words, indeed, are fascinating-- thanks for the reminder; I used to visit that site but haven't since I got a new computer and didn't migrate my bookmarks. As a writer, I enjoy many writing and word sites-- and am always happy to see my word-a-day email in the morning, usually with some really obscure term.
I worry, sometimes, that language is heading town the tubes as more and more kids are raised on a steady diet of txt msg and perhaps never really learn where the abbreviations they're using actually came from. Of course, Webster's says that "language depends on usage" so perhaps I just need to respect that...
@AnnaB87 (761)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Words are indeed interesting, I don't even know who is Homer Simpson.
LOL anyway maybe you will find a pair of gloves today.
Or maybe you can revive some words that have been lost.
