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Underused but delightful, descriptive words

(229 Posts)
SORES Sat 30-Mar-24 10:27:22

in my humble opinion, of course,
these are words I have heard or read this week,
reminded me of my Grandma, old fashioned
words now but meaningful, it would be a shame
for them to be relegated to ‘archaic’

mirth
vexed/vexing
moreover
somnambulant
lovelorn
forsaken
regard (for someone)
nightgown
windborn

there were so many which captured my imagination,
now of course, wanting to lost them, my brain has
seized and I cannot remember any more

of course some words now are unnecessary, we do not have the article nowadays,
(although my Dad still says Wireless ! )

petticoat
casement
candlewick
globes! (lightbulbs)
eiderdown
counterpane
stretch covers
antimacassers
percolator
spills

any more ?

Esmay Tue 02-Apr-24 15:10:11

Jamesandjon33 .
I know , but I included it , because I love it !
I never hear it in England .
Grandma used very few Welsh words .
I don't think that she knew many .
Her parents disapproved of the Welsh language .

I also really love Yiddish words and use them a lot . They are so colourful and expressive .
My Jewish friends aren't allowed to use them at home as it's considered to be slang .

MissAdventure Tue 02-Apr-24 17:20:46

I like schlep. smile

hollysteers Tue 02-Apr-24 22:18:37

Esmay I say frock instead of dress, also scent instead of perfume.

Spuddy Wed 03-Apr-24 11:57:08

Flummoxed! I love that word!

Jabberwocky!

SheWho Wed 03-Apr-24 12:07:36

Doesn't anyone read?

sandelf Wed 03-Apr-24 12:15:13

twice
thrice
shoulder sticks (coat hangers)
cockloft (attic)

But please no chimblies or scarey things...

Lizzie44 Wed 03-Apr-24 12:57:28

It ill behoves me to.... challenge use of outdated English

NotSpaghetti Wed 03-Apr-24 13:10:43

MiniMoon

I love the old word afterblismed, it means pregnant. It sounds so much better.
I someone insults you, you've been ibobbed.
Great words, we should bring them back into use.

I thought this was only to do with sheep!
😯
Like "tupping"

NotSpaghetti Wed 03-Apr-24 13:18:39

annodomini - we don't have a drawing room here - but we did have a "morning room" till we took out the wall between it and the kitchen!

Warbler Wed 03-Apr-24 13:53:35

Frock. I absolutely love to put a frock on, especially when the summer comes.

Warbler Wed 03-Apr-24 13:55:14

......and sometimes I might even ask for the lavatory (because I hate that word so much).

LovesBach Wed 03-Apr-24 14:08:48

I do like 'exponentially' - but rather than under used it seems to have enjoyed a revival; 'The sale of petticoats, gamps and bolsters has increased exponentially since Gransnet drew the nation's attention to these useful items'.

Aldom Wed 03-Apr-24 14:20:34

Not having read all the contributions, so possibly a repetition, but....
Mackintosh, galoshes.

Grandmagrewit Wed 03-Apr-24 15:11:57

Slacks
A costume (as in a ladies' matching jacket and skirt)
Gumboots
Windcheater (forerunner of a zipper hoodie, I suppose)
Sandshoes
Stove (as in cooker)
Comptometer

Sorry, I've rather digressed from the OP about descriptive words but my 50s childhood is all coming back to me!

hollysteers Wed 03-Apr-24 15:18:21

Pumps (for PE)
When the Mitford sisters were pregnant, they would say they were “In pig”😳

4allweknow Wed 03-Apr-24 15:48:23

No one seems to go to the lavvy these days.

gagsy Wed 03-Apr-24 16:26:34

Yes, spills and pipe cleaners and Bruno Rough Cut for my Grandfather.
Starting handle, meat safe, dentifrice.

JamesandJon33 Wed 03-Apr-24 16:41:28

Increasing ( pregnant)
Lolling
Tamping ( the rain)
Daps ( still used for plimsolls in Wales)

Daddima Wed 03-Apr-24 16:49:24

hollysteers

Esmay I say frock instead of dress, also scent instead of perfume.

Scent is frightfully upper class, like lavatory and napkin!

I actually use a lot of the words mentioned, except for things like eiderdowns, which don’t exist any more.
The ‘ fossilised fish hooks’ reminds me of my brother’s expletive, ‘ Oh, for Fox’s Glacier Mints’, guaranteed to cause a minor panic in any company.

hollysteers Wed 03-Apr-24 16:53:08

Looking glass.
My mother used to refer to my monthly periods as my ‘so so’s’

NannyWren Wed 03-Apr-24 17:05:38

Allsorts

Did anyone else have a cubby hole?

My neighbours of old called theirs a glory hole!

garnet25 Wed 03-Apr-24 17:26:28

We had a cubby hole, and a scullery.

Scribbles Wed 03-Apr-24 17:29:12

4allweknow

No one seems to go to the lavvy these days.

I do! That's the term I use when among friends and relations.

I also refer to the very modern induction hob as "the stove".

Nansypansy Wed 03-Apr-24 18:06:30

My Nan used to say somethings gone “phut” when it wasn’t working anymore

homefarm Wed 03-Apr-24 19:16:15

My Grandmother's favourite word was Trollope I often think of it these days when I see some of the stuff around me.