The Deadword Dictionary: A Book of Outdated Words

Sasha Newborn

The Deadword Dictionary: A Book of Outdated Words
Format
Paperback
Publisher
Mudborn Press
Country
United States
Published
25 January 2014
Pages
56
ISBN
9780930012250

The Deadword Dictionary: A Book of Outdated Words

Sasha Newborn

The Deadword Dictionary was first written more than twenty years ago. I’m making some changes, based on further refinement of the concept, and also including an Iffy section. Here are the rules for the selection of Deadwords: Orphans, words used in only a single common expression, with no flexibility, such as yore as in days of yore. Faux amis, words borrowed from another language but misunderstood or misapplied (a la mode) Obsolete words or phrases Iffy words-you decide whether they still have weight in today’s language. You might call this the rearview mirror perspective, with a huh under one’s breath. Yeah? They really said that? The English language is like a kitchen sponge: it picks up all the tiny pieces of we-don’t-know-what but we need a word, so we’ll just use this stray one from we-don’t-care-where. But when did you last see a doublet or spitoon or use whilom -why keep them around? A little housecleaning is in order here. Got your favorite overworked obsolete nugget? Send it in to [email protected].

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