Have you ever sent a message via scandaroon, needed a nimgimmer, or fallen victim to bowelhive? Never heard of these terms? That's because they are a thing of the past. These words are alive and well, however, in Forgotten English, a charming collection of hundreds of archaic words, their definitions, and old-fashioned line drawings.
For readers of Bill Bryson, Henry Beard, and Richard Lederer, Forgotten English is an eye-opening trip down a delightful etymological path. Readers learn that an ale connor sat in a puddle of ale to judge its quality, that a beemaster informed bees of any important household events, and that our ancestors had a saint for hangover sufferers, St. Bibiana, a fact pertinent to the word bibulous. Each selection is accompanied by literary excerpts demonstrating the word's usage, from sources such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Chaucer, and Benjamin Franklin. Entertaining as well as educational, Forgotten English is a fascinating addition to word lovers' books.

Forgotten English: A Merry Guide to Antiquated Words, Packed with History, Fun Facts, Literary Excerpts, and Charming Drawings

Humor & Entertainment

Jeffrey Kacirk

Humor

William Morrow and Company, Inc.

Word Museum

Reference

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Touchstone Books

Do you know the origin of the modern word skates, or what a quacksalver was? Have you ever known anyone who was forswunke? These are but a few of the forty-eight lost or 'misplaced' Old English words that linguist and historian Jeffrey Kacirk has gathered for this deck of Knowledge Cards. In learning what these archaic words mean, we also discover the roots and origins of modern-day words and expressions all the while adding some robust language to our own vocabulary. Each card in this deck presents a word on one side and its definition on the other, making for a collection that is far from blash! These 48 fact-filled Knowledge Cards are a great source of condensed information all in a deck the size of a pack of playing cards! Each card has a piquant word or phrase on one side, with its translation or explanation on the other. Expand your vocabulary and understanding with this enlightening, stress-free compilation.

Forgotten English, Volume I Knowledge Cards

POMEGRANATE

Pomegranate

Forgotten English 2000 Calendar: A 366-Day Calendar of Vanishing Vocabulary

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Pomegranate Communications Inc,US

Forgotten English 2001 Calendar: A 365-Day Calendar for Vanishing Vocabulary and Folklore

Words, Language & Grammar

Pomegranate Europe Ltd

From the murky depths of the English language, Jeffrey Kacirk has amassed yet another storehouse of linguistic treasures. Drawing on centuries of commentary, folklore, and literature, Kacirk unearths forty-eight definitions of once-popular tonics, purgatives, cordials, restoratives, gargles, medicinals, analgesics, and recreational toxins. When you've learned from these cards what people used to drink, wear on their heads, or stick up their noses, you'll understand why European history has unfolded in such a peculiar fashion. With 48 fact-filled cards per package, these Knowledge Cards are a great source of condensed information--all in a deck the size of a pack of playing cards. Tastefully illustrated, the cards present a word on one side and its definition, quoted from a host of archaic references, on the other.

Intoxicants & Potions: Forgotten English II Knowledge Cards

Amusing to our modern ear, the definitions of these 48 forgotten words are cause for laughter--at someone else's expense. Each Knowledge Card introduces an antiquated insult and its dusty definition, complete with descriptions of the origins of the insult and some examples of usage. Describe your nosy neighbor who is a spatherdab (chatterer, gossip, or scandle-monger) or a strange officemate who is a gongoozler (idle person who stands staring for prolonged periods at anything out of the ordinary) with glee! Jeffrey Kacirk, author of the books Forgotten English (William Morrow, 1997) and the Word Museum (Simon and Schuster, 2000), has compiled these hilarious verbal affronts that will keep you readily armed with vocal indignities from as far back as the mid-sixteenth century. Don't miss his other Forgotten English Knowledge Card Decks published by Pomegranate.

Long Lost Insults: Forgotten English III, Knowledge Cards

You're unhappy that your mechanic botched your car repair, but at one time your English cousin would have been very pleased. That same cousin would have been delighted that his son's teacher was going to manure little Billy. And Billy's sister, Sally, would have been grateful that her dentist was looking at her inflamed tush. Obviously, words change over time. In this deck of Knowledge Cards, Jeffrey Kacirk, contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, author of Forgotten English (Morrow, 1997) and The Word Museum (Simon & Schuster, 2000), and belsprit extraordinaire, presents 48 examples of words that have transmogrified over many decades. Drawn from his book Altered English (Pomegranate, 2002), the words in this deck exemplify the sometimes capricious nature of lexicology. The sentence on the front of each card features a familiar word; the back of the card presents the original meaning. With these Knowledge Cards you too can impress acquaintances with the poop on our mother tongue and have a great time in the process.Size: 3 1/4 x 4 inches.

Jeffrey Kacirk's Altered English: Surprising Meanings of Familiar Words Knowledge Cards Deck

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Jeffrey Kacirk. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Jeffrey Kacirk