20 olde English words we need to start using again

oktoberfest woman beer
Gebeorscipe, anyone? REUTERS/Michael Dalder

The Oxford English dictionary counts 171,476 words in current use, but there are so many more — by one count, 47,156 — that have been lost to history.

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Not all of them deserve to get resurrected, but some for sure.

Here are some words that could help us describe our lives better than what's currently available.

Drake Baer contributed to an earlier version of this article.

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Overmorrow: on the day after tomorrow.

day after tomorrow liberty statue
20th Century Fox

Example: "I'll have that report to you overmorrow." 

Why: Overmorrow was in Middle English but fell out of the language. So instead of having this word, we have the wordy "day after tomorrow." German still has this very useful word: übermorgen.

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Bedward: heading toward bed.

minimalist clean bedroom
Shutterstock

Example: "I'm bedward, putting this group text on mute." 

Why: Because it treats your bed as a cardinal direction. As it should be.

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Elflock: hair that has been tangled as if by elves.

Hair
Samantha Lee/Business Insider

Example: "I think I bruised my scalp trying to get those elflocks out." 

Why: Because hair tangles are frustrating, but elflocks are adorable. And speaking of them helps to re-enchant our world.

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Snollygoster: A smart person not guided by principles.

Donald Trump
Donald Trump AP

Example: "That snollygoster might end up in the White House." 

Why: Because we need a name for the people who don't recognize that with great power comes great responsibility. 

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Zwodder: A hazy state of mind.

the hangover stu tooth
The Hangover trailer

Example: "He was in a zwodder all day after last night's party." 

Why: Because the word "hangover" is a catchall for all sorts of physiological debts we end up paying by pushing ourselves too hard. It would help to have more precise words.

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Mugwump: Someone who acts like they're above conflict.

football referee umpire tackle reuters RTX4Z6W
Umpire Jim Quirk (L) pulls Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett away from a fight during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game against Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago December 23, 2007. Reuters/Frank Polich

Example: "My sister always played the mugwump in family disputes." 

Why: Because we need a word to describe the self-righteous condescension of the pacificist. 

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Rawgabbit: Someone who speaks authoritatively about something they know nothing about.

facebook
Ttatty/Shuttershock

Example: "That rawgabbit posts his opinion on Facebook about every single thing that happens in the news." 

Why: Because frauds should be named.

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Twattling: Gossiping.

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Miguel Pires da Rosa / Flickr

Example: "I knew I was in for it when they stopped twattling soon as I walked in the room." 

Why: Because "twattling" is one of those words that sounds like the thing it describes: twattle, twattle, twattle.

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Fortnight: A period of two weeks.

sunrise mac calendar app
Sunrise

Example: "We have a meeting with sales every fortnight." 

Why: Because biweekly is woefully confusing — is it twice a week or every two weeks? Fortnight — and its sibling fornightly — help cure that ambiguity. 

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Anon: Shortly.

GettyImages 183102976
Mark Wilson / Getty

Example: "I'll see you anon." 

Why: Because it would be nice to have a classier version of see you soon. Plus it always sounds dope when Shakespeare's characters use it. 

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Snowbroth: Recently melted snow.

melting snow
Flickr/Alisha Vargas

Example: "The snowbroth was beautiful outside my apartment, but disgusting on my commute." 

Why: Because it's beautifully evocative. 

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Antetaste: The opposite of aftertaste.

Justin Bieber tongue out
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Example: "The opening band was an antetaste of the rock to follow." 

Why: Because there should be symmetry in tastes. 

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Coldrife: Easily cold.

cold office
A man warms his hands by the virtual fire. Christopher/Flickr

Example: "My coldrife Californian coworkers start complaining how cold New York is starting in September." 

Why: Because there needs to be a word for this disorder.

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Gardyloo: What you shout to people in the street before you empty your bedpan out the window.

A_physician_examines_a_patient's_bedpan;_he_is_very_pleased;_Wellcome_V0011807
Wikimedia Commons

Example: "That was a rough night. Gardyloo!" 

Why: Because while we may no longer use bedpans, we do enough gross things in public that it would be useful to have a more urgent "excuse me." 

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Gebeorscipe: A beer party.

oktoberfest woman beer
REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Example: "The world's greatest gebeorscipe happens in Germany every September."

Why: Because a beer party is the best kind of party, and it deserves its own special word. 

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Expergefactor: Something that wakes you up in the middle of the night.

Insomnia
Flickr | ArneCoomans

Example: "The drag racing on the highway was a terrible expergefactor last night."

Why: Because the world is full of annoyances, and specificity can save us time in explaining why we're so cranky.

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Fudgel: Making it seem like you are working, but really you're doing nothing.

seinfeld shrinkage george costanza jason alexander
"I was in the pool!" YouTube / Seinfeld

Example: "By mastering how to look stressed out, George Costanza became an expert at the art of the fudgel."

Why: Because most people only spend a few hours actually working each day anyway, so it'd be handy to have one word that describes the working world's greatest lie.

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Lanspresado: Someone who constantly (and conveniently) forgets to bring money with them.

empty wallet sad face guy
Instagram/dengthatscoool

Example: "Jeff is a real lanspresado, always making me pay for his cosmos at the bar."

Why: Because everyone knows someone like this, but the terms "cheapskate" and "gold digger" miss the mark.

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Trumpery: Items that look valuable, but are actually worthless.

fake bag fashion
WM Jas/Flickr

Example: "How dare you call the purse I bought on the street trumpery!"

Why: Because the best we have to describe forgeries is "knock-offs" or "fakes," but those don't get at the quality of an item, just who made it.

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Groke: A person who watches you while you eat, hoping you'll offer them a bite.

kobe bryant death stare
YouTube

Example: "My dog is the worst groke in the house, even though we feed him constantly."

Why: Because people should get called out for not using their words and relying on creepy body language instead.

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