| abstract
| - New Life for Old English Words This book is out of print (1999), but these slightly adapted highlights are given here with leave from the publisher, Joseph Biddulph and author, David Cowley. This book covered (amongst other things) the results of research - "throughseeking" - into words which were formerly found in English, but were lost as a result of the Norman Conquest; Looking through Old English words, we find that there are some that make more sense than the words we use today for the same concepts. This is because English now uses much material from Latin or French, instead of words with roots in Old English. To understand why this should be so, we must look back in history. Before the Conquest, Anglo-Saxon England had a standard written English (Old English) which was an official medium. This very expressive written tongue thrived at a time when most Western European learning and writing was in Latin. After the conquest, Latin quickly came to be used instead of English for official purposes. French became important officially after about 1150. English thus lost her position in writing and "high" society, and when she started to reassert herself around 1400, we find many French or Latin-derived words being used instead of native ones. The pressure we may feel even today to use French and Latin words instead of good OE-derived ones is a leftover from these times; f.e. Commence instead of start or begin, received instead of had or got; there is nothing culturally higher or more sophisticated in using the "posh" words. Many of our native English words were lost, but it is still possible to work out how they could have developed in Modern English, by analogy with words that have lived on. The "Engishing English Project" has worked on hundreds of such words. Many of these can be found below. Some make good sense without explanation, such as afterfollower, fullwork, likeworthy, forelook (=preview) and oathbreach (= Perjury), whilst others just sound good; f.e. Frimdy (curious, inquisitive), steerless (profligate). With these "new" words from OE, the book breaks new ground, and they are given with the hope that some may find their way back into everyday Modern English. Meanings of words change, and this has been reflected in the lists; if some of the words suggest meanings more natural and obvious than those given here, then all well and good, if they get to be used! Other than making English even more expressive, re-adoption of good English words would also lead to other benefits:- in an ever more standardised world, it could help foster better appreciation of some things which are culturally unique to England, in positive ways. A better knowledge of our own tongue's history and worth could lead to greater understanding of the plight of other languages, some of which are under pressure/ threat. Hopefully this will help raise interest in the idea of broadening English and above all help those who would like to begin using some of the words. They belong to English and deserve to live, but can only do so if we use them! Note on abbreviations. Some abbreviations based on spoken English, rather than the Latin-based terms which are strangely used so often in writing: a.s.f. (and so forth) for etc. (etcetera). f.e. (for example) for e.g. (exemplia gratia). t.i. (that is) for i.e. (id est). 1. Native/ Loanword Choices in Today's English. If we care about English, we can already choose to use more native - ourlandish - words every day!! Here are a few (with the most English form first): - Choose right settings needed for work in hand. Select correct settings required for current working. - Let brake off before backing. Disengage brake prior to reversing. - Inside leaks are likely to stay unseen. Internal leaks probably remain invisible. - Outwardly much like kinds made before 1970s. Externally very similar to types manufactured pre-1970s. - It is hard to see talks starting straight away. It is difficult to envisage negotiotions commencing immediately. - One in four buyers came back yearly. One quarter of purchasers returned annually. - If address is wrong, fill in slip over and send to....or call us on.... If address is incorrect complete slip on reverse and return to....alternatively phone us on.... - Overseeing handout of...... Supervising distribution of...... In this wordlist an updated word is given first, followed by its meaning, and thirdly the O.E. source-word.
* Note; Wordlist gives suggested meanings for new words - not always the exact meaning of the O.E. word from which they come. Having been worked out for potential usefulness, it would not be practical for modernised words always to have the precise meaning of their O.E. forebears (many of today's English words changed in meaning over the years). O.E. Pronunciation: æ=a (short), þ and ð=th, sc=sh, cg=j, f=v (sometimes), g=y (very rough guide!) A abgo - encircle, go around/ about - ymbgan ablie - lie around - ymblicgan abwind - envelop (by winding round) - ymbwinden acraft - devise - acræftan afear - terrify, make afraid - afæran afterfollow - succeed - æfterfolgian afterfollowedness - sequel - æfterfylgednes afterfollower - successor - æfterfylgere aftergoer - descendant - æftergenga aftergoingness - posterity - æftergengnes afterwardness - posterity - æfterwardnes aftnewing - restoration - eftniwung alease - redeem, save - aliesan aleaseness - redemption - alesnis aliken - compare - anlician anleth - face - andwlita anew - to renew - edniwian anewed - renewed - edneowe angbreast - asthma - angbreost angsomely - painfully - angsumlice angsomeness - distress, pain - angsumnes applewine - cider - æppelwin atgo - approach atsake - deny - ætsacen awayen - repudiate - awægan ayewhither - in all directions - æghwider B backboard - port-side, larboard - bæcbord bebid - order, command - bebod bedrink - absorb - bedrincan befare - travel round - befaran befasten - apply, entrust, use - befæstan befold - enfold - befolden begang - circuit - begong bego - go around - began behideness - conealment - behydnes beholdness - observation - behealdnes behovely - necessary belaugh - deride - behlyhhan belean - restrain, dissuade - belean bepeach - deceive, delude - bepæcan beride - ride round - beridan berow - row round - berowan beshow - exhibit - besceawian beshower - exhibitor - besceawere beshowing - exhibition - besceawung besink - submerge - besincan besit - occupy - besittan besorrow - regret - besargian besorrowing - compassion - besargung bettering - improvement - beterung bethink - to consider - beþencan betrap - entrap - betræppan bewarp - to pervert - beweorpan bewend - to convert, turn - bewend bewixset - interposed bework - to construct - bewyrccan bewrite - copy out - bewritan birther - fetus blitheness - mirth, joy - bliðnes bookcraft - book production, design a.s.f. - boccræft bookhouse - library - bookhus borough - city borrowbreach - failure to repay loan - borgbryce breastwhelm - powerful emotion, grief - breostwylm bridegift - dowry - brydgifu busen - example C candletree - candelabrum - candeltreow D dearworth - precious - deorwurþ dearworthness - preciousness, treasure - deorwyrþness deemer/ deemster - a judge (Manx law has deemsters) - dema E earthkin - human race - eorðcyn eatgiver - host at a meal - ætgiefa elddom - age - ealddom elderborough - metropolis eldfather - grandfather - ealdfæder eldmother - grandmother - ealdmodor eldright - ancient right, tradition - ealdriht eldsay - tradition (spoken) - ealdgesegen endbirthly - in order, in succession, orderly manner - endebyrdlic endbirthness - order, series, succession, arrangement, degree - endebyrdnes endlessness - infinity, eternity - endeleasnes endspeak - epilogue - endespæc enoughsome - sufficient, abundant - genyhtsum enoughsomeness - sufficiency, abundance - genyhtsumnis ettin - giant - eotan evenlatcher - immitator - efenlæcan evenlatching - immitation - efenlæcung evenliness - equality - efenlicnes evenlotter - equal sharer, partaker - efenhlytta evennight - equinox - efniht evenold - contemporary - efneald evensorrowing - compassion - efensargung evensorry - compassionate - efensarig evilwill(ed) - malevolent - yfelwille evenworth - equivalent - efenweorð F fakedeed - facendæd fakeful - deceitful - facenful fakeless - without deceit - facenleas fakely - facenlic farness - distance - feornes feedness - nourishment - fednes fewness - paucity - feanes fieldly - rural - feldlic folkfree - uninhabited - folcfrig folkland - common land - folcland folkly - public, popular, populous - folclic folkright - human/common right, generally accepted - folcriht folkish - of the people, secular - folcisc forbow - decline (turn down) - forbugan forbuilding - encouragement - forbylding forcouth - notorious, despicable - forcuð fordim - to obscure - fordimman fordeem - prejudice, prematurely deem - fordeman fordeemer - accuser - fordemend fordo - destroy, spoil, ruin - fordon forebody - thorax, chest - foranbodig forebusy - to preoccupy - forebisegian forechoose - prefere - foreceosan forecome - to block, prevent move/ action, prevent - forecuman foregang - precede - foregangan foregearing - preparation - foregearwung foregoer - predecessor - foregenga forehouse - porch - forehus forelook - preview - foreloc foresay - proclaim - foresecgan foreset - propose - forsettan foresetness - proposition - foresetnes foreshieldness - protection - forescieldnes foreshowing - a preview - foresceawung forestand - block, prevent - forestandan forestep - precede - foresteppan forethoughtful - prudent - foreðancful forewriteness - prescription - forewritennes forfare - obstruct, block - forfaran forgively - excusable - forgifenly forgoedness - abstention - forgægednes forharry - ravage - forhergian forharrying - devastation, raid - forheriung forhave - abstain, relinquish - forhabban forhaveness - abstinence - forhæfnes forlead - to seduce - forlæden forlet - relinquish, abandon - forlætan forletness - remission, abandonment - forletnis forlie - perjure - forleogan forride - intercept with vehicle/ horse a.s.f. - forridan forrot - corrode - forrotian forsakeness - rejection, abandonment - forsæcennes forshape - transform - forscieppan forspeak - favour, advocate - forspæc forspeaker - sponsor, advocate - forspeca forspeech - advocacy - forspæc forspend - squander - forspendan forspoken - advocated - foresprecan forstand - block, prevent, obstruct - forstandan forswey - ignore, pass in silence - forswigian forthbear - produce - forþberan forthbuild - encouragement forthbring - accomplish, achieve - forðbrengan forthen - promote forthing - advancement forthfatheren - paternal forthfroming - departure - forðfromung forthly - advanced - forþlic forthspell - declaration forthway - departure - forþweg forthshaft - future - forðgesceaft forthstepping - advance - forðstæpping forthyearnful - impetuous - forðgeorn fortrueing - presumption - fortruwung forwardness - progress - forðweardnes forwork - forfeit, ruin, undo/ destroy effort, labour/ work - forwyrcan forworth - be ruined - forweorðan forworthness - devaluation - forweorðenes foryield - recompense, requite - forgieldan frameful - constructive, positive - fremful framefully - constructively, positively - fremfulic frimdy - curious, inquisitive - frymdig frith - peace - friþ fromfare - departure - framfær frithstow - reseve (f.e.wildlife) - friþstowe fullframe - to complete - fullfremman fullframed - completed - fulfremed fullframedly - completely - fullfremedlice fullframedness - completion - fulfremednes fullgo - complete (such as duration of time) - fullgan fullsomeness - abundance - fulsumnes fullwork - complete (such as a task, construction, action) - fulwyrcan G gatheredness - abscess - gegaderednes gatheringly - collectively - gadrigendlic gearingness - preparation - gearwungnes guestlithe - hospitable - giestliðe guestlitheness - hospitality - giestliðnes H harmshare - punishment - hearmscearu Harvestmonth - September - Hærfesmonað haveless - destitute - hafenleas headand - captain headly - principal, capital - heafodlic hean - abject, despised - hean heanly - base, despicable, low - heanlic healness - salvation - hælnes hearsome - attentive - hiersum hearsomeness - attentiveness - hiersumnes heavytime - oppressive - hefigtyme hinderness - hindrance - hindernes highberg - mountain - héahbeorg hipboneache - sciatica - hypebanece hoardvat - coffer - hordfæt holdness - observance - healdnes holdsome - economical - healdsum holdsomeness - preservation, restraint, custody - healdsumnes hotheartedness - ardour - hatheortnes huebright - brightly coloured - hiwbeorht hueless - colourless - hiwleas hungerbitten - starvation I idleyearnful - indolent - idelgeorn inbequeath - to inculcate - inbecqeðan indrink - imbibe - indrincan infare - incursion - infare infleshness - incarnation - inflescnes ingoer - visitor - ingenga ingoing - entrance - ingang inheaten - to inflame - inhætan inlead - introduce - inlædan inlighten - enlighten - inlihtan inlightness - enlightenment - inlihtnes inly - internally - inlic inning - content - innung inset - institute - insettan insetness - institution, regulation - insetnes inshowing - inspection - insceawung inthink - intention - ingeþanc inwitness - conscience, consciousness - ingewitness inwriting - inscription - inwritting K kinly - pertaining to family/ kin - cynlic L landfee - ground-rent - londfeoh landfolk - native- londfolc lessness - minority - leasnes likeworthy - acceptable, nice, likeable - licwerþe likeworthily - licwyrþlice likeworthiness - licwyrþnes longsome - tedious - langsum longsomely - tediously - langsumlic longsomeness - tediousness - langsumnes M manifoldly - (from manifold=multiply/ multiple)- manigfealdlic manifoldness - multiplicity, abundance, complexity - manigfealdnes midfastness - moderation - midfæstnes midmost - most central - midmest middlest - most central (superlative of middle) - midlest Midsummermonth - June - Midsumermonað mightly - possible - mihtelic mildheart(ed)ness - (meaning obvious) - mildheortnes mindlyness - rememberance - myndiglicnes mindworth - worth remembering/ minding - gemyndwyrðe misbirth - miscarriage - misbyrd misborn - degenerate - misboren misdo - do incorrectly/wrongly, transgress - misdon mislikeness - dissimilarity, difference - mislicneyss moonly - lunar - monlic moonsick - lunatic - monseoc moory - abounding in moors - morig mouthroof - palate - muðhrof mousehawk - buzzard - mushafoc muchness - size - micelnes N needly - necessary - nydlic needness - necessity - nydnes O oathbreach - perjury - aðbryce offdo - remove - ofdon offgive - relinquish, release to, abandon - ofgiefan offlet - relinquish - oflætan offthink - digress - ofþyncan oldness - old age - ealdnyss onbeload - inflict on - onbelædan onbeshowing - examination - onbesceawung onbide - expect, await - onbidan onehood - unity onfind - discover, notice - onfindan onfoundness - experience - onfundennys onget - notice, perceive - ongietan ongetful - perceptive - andgietful ongetfully - perceptively - andgitfullice ongetless - lacking perception - andgietless ongetness - perception - ongietennes onlease - release - onlysan onlighten - illuminate - onlihtan onshot - attack (f.e. by shooting, also spoken) - onscyte onsong - incantation - onsang onthereto - in addition, additionally - on þærto ourlandish - of this country - urelandisc outgoing - exit, exodus - utgong outkind - extraneous - utacund overfare - travel over - overfaran overfindness - experiment - oferfundenness overflowness - superfluity - oferflownes overlive - survive - oferlibban overlove - (meaning obvious) - oferlufu overmoodyness - (meaning obvious) - ofermodignes overwork - superstructure - ofergeweorc ownwilled - agnes willan
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