Word List: Definitions of archaic words

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Zounds! Whosoever shall gaze hither may find a trove of long-lost words and betimes cry, "Heyday!" or "Gramercy!" No, seriously, though: This word list exemplifies "forsoothery" (sometimes also known as "gadzookery"): archaic terms, especially as used in modern literature. These 134 words were formerly used as everyday adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections and other little words, but which now are only found in books, movies and other works of fiction that use them archaically, facetiously or knowingly. If you read a certain style of questionable fantasy or historical literature (as I have been known to do from time to time), you will no doubt have encountered examples of forsoothery.

Word	Definition
abaft	toward or at the stern of a ship; further aft
afore	before
agone	ago
alack	expression of sorrow or regret
alee	on or toward the lee
alow	below
amain	to a high degree; exceedingly; at full speed
an	if
anent	about; concerning
anon	at once; immediately
aright	right; correctly
aroint	begone
athwart	across; in opposition to; sideways; transversely
aught	anything at all; something
avaunt	away; hence
aye	yes
beforetime	formerly
belike	most likely; probably
betimes	in short time; speedily
betwixt	between
certes	in truth; certainly
clepe	to name; to call
eft	again; afterwards
eftsoons	soon after
egad	mild oath
eke	in addition; also; likewise
endlong	lengthwise
enow	enough
ere	before
erelong	before long; soon
erewhile	until now
eyne	eyes
fain	happy; inclined; pleased
fie	expression of disgust or disapproval
forby	past; near
fore	at an earlier time or period
forsooth	in truth; indeed
forthwith	immediately
froward	turned away; self-willed; unreasonable; perverse; adverse
gadzooks	mild oath
gar	mild oath
gardyloo	warning cry
gramercy	expression of gratitude or surprise
hark	to pay close attention; to listen
heretofore	until now
heyday	expression of elation or wonder
hight	named; called; to command or call
hist	expression used to attract attention
hither	to this place
howbeit	although
ifsoever	if ever
ilke	kind or nature
inly	inwardly; thoroughly
iwis	surely; certainly
lackaday	expression of regret or deprecation
lief	soon; gladly
marry	expression of surprised agreement
maugre	in spite of
mayhap	perhaps
meet	fitting; proper
meseems	it seems to me
methinks	I believe; I think
nary	not a one; not at all
natheless	nevertheless; notwithstanding
needs	of necessity; necessarily
nigh	nearly; almost
nowise	not at all
od	mild oath
or	before
parcel	partly
pardie	mild oath; certainly or truly
parfay	by my faith; verily
peradventure	perhaps; possibly; by adventure; by chance
prithee	expression of wish or request
puissant	powerful; mighty
quotha	expression of surprise or contempt
rede	to counsel or advise
ruth	pity; remorse; sorrow
semovedly	separately
siege	seat or throne
sith	since
somedeal	somewhat
somewhither	to some place; somewhere
sooth	truth; reality; in truth
soothfast	truthful; honest; faithful
soothly	in truth; truly
speed	prosperity; success
strait	strict; rigorous; constricted
sweven	vision seen in sleep; a dream
swink	to toil; to labour
swith	instantly; quickly
swoopstake	in an indiscriminate manner
teen	injury; grief
thereinto	into that or it
thereon	thereupon
therewith	thereupon; forthwith
therewithal	besides
thither	to that place
thole	to endure; to suffer
thro	through
tother	the other
twain	two
twixt	between
usward	toward us
verily	truly; certainly; confidently
wanion	ill luck; misfortune
weed	garment or outfit worn during mourning
wellaway	expression of sorrow or lamentation; alas
whenas	when
whencesoever	from whatsoever place or source
whereagainst	against which
whereinsoever	in whatsoever respect or place
whereinto	into which; into what
whereof	of what
whereon	on what
whereout	out of which
wherethrough	through which; through the agency of
whereuntil	to what
wherewith	with what
whichsoever	every one that
whilom	formerly; once; former
whither	to what place
whithersoever	to any place whatsoever
whitherward	toward what or which place
whosoever	every one who
wist	to know
withal	besides; therewith; nevertheless; with
wood	mad; insane; wild
yare	marked by quickness and agility; nimble; prepared; easily handled
yede	to go
yoicks	expression of surprise or excitement
yon	yonder; that over there; those over there
yonside	on the farther side of
zounds	mild oath

I hope you have found this site to be useful. If you have any corrections, additions, or comments, please contact me. Please note that I am not able to respond to all requests. Please consult a major dictionary before e-mailing your query. All material on this page © 2007 Stephen Chrisomalis. Links to this page may be made without permission.

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