Archaic vocabulary

These 10 archaic words would make our modern vocabularies so much better!

Credit: Patrick Tomasso

Language is considered a living tissue, so it stands to reason that the words we use as we move through the decades change with us: Since we have no use for some words, they sadly fade from existence and are ultimately forgotten. However, that doesn’t need to be the case: Who says we can’t launch some kind of conservation effort to keep words relevant? With that in mind, we have selected 10 forgotten words that we think should make a well-deserved comeback. We honestly believe that adding these terms to our collective vocabularies would make our lives easier, or at least, more colorful. Enjoy!

Credit: Torsten Dederichs

"Balderdash" sounds like the perfect noun for a bold and daring adventurer, someone who doesn’t fret in the face of danger. However, the actual definition of this word can’t be further from these notions: Balderdash is an extremely old expression used to describe a senseless, stupid, or exaggerated way of speaking or writing. Not only that, but it can also be used as an exclamation of disbelief, similar to other old-timey terms like "baloney" or "hogwash."

Credit: Resume Genius

For such a silly-sounding word, "donnybrook" has some rather rowdy definitions. While some dictionaries define it as a synonym for fight or brawl, others definitions for these words don’t delve into physical altercations: A donnybrook could be a flashy and public argument, for instance. It would seem that the one quality that any "donnybrook" worth its wacky name should cause some sort of uproar.

Credit: JOSHUA COLEMAN

Another funny-sounding word in this article (be ready for many more), the term ballyhoo is as charming as it sounds. This word is used to describe something that tries to get people excited, usually in a flashy or ostentatious manner. For instance, an advertisement campaign might make a lot of "ballyhoo" to get audiences excited about a certain product, movie, or book.

Credit: Noah Buscher

Now, I know what you are thinking: Although not extremely popular, this word is sometimes used in our modern times. However, we would like to make the case that it is not used nearly enough. As you probably know, "tomfoolery" is a term used to describe playful, silly, or foolish behavior. While it is sometimes used as a pejorative term, especially in formal situations where foolish behavior is looked down upon, the truth is that this term is harmless enough to warrant its promotion in modern vocabularies.

Credit: Maxime Gilbert

Let’s start with a small disclaimer: We do not condone physical violence, so please don’t go around throwing fisticuffs with strangers. This old-timey term dates back to at least the 17th century and remained popular until the 1930s. As the name suggests, the word fisticuffs relates to fighting with your fists: However, in some cases, it has also been used to describe an extremely heated or volatile argument between two people.

Credit: charlesdeluvio

Galoot definitively sounds like a term of endearment. You might have heard someone refer to their beloved (and massive) Big Dane as "a big galoot." However, tread lightly if you think about using this word: After all, it describes someone extremely clumsy or awkward. In any case, "galoot" is such a silly-sounding word that bringing it back seems like a good idea, if only for the many adorable dogs that might be called a galoot.

Credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya

We live in a world that loves abbreviations: The internet age has given us extremely popular terms like LOL and OMG. In that sense, don’t you think the expression "the day after tomorrow" is a bit of a mouthful? However, the archaic word "overmorrow" might be the answer we are looking for. This term is short, concise, and perfectly summarizes the day after tomorrow in only one word. We hope that this article helps launch this term into popularity.

Credit: Everton Vila

Limerence is basically another word for being lovesick: It describes the involuntary obsession and melancholic feelings that come with falling in love with someone. Think of all those soap opera characters longing for the one they can’t have, often staring at a picture on a locket or at the falling rain: Those are, in our opinion, the best examples of limerence.

Credit: Ben White

If old-timey gangster films have taught us anything, it is that "rat" is not only the name of one of our least favorite rodents but also the term used to describe someone who discloses information to the police. In that sense, the pejorative term "ratfink" applies to not only the act of "snitching", but also to someone utterly unpleasant or obnoxious.

Credit: Wonderlane

"Chatoyant" is one of those words that doesn’t really do justice to the gorgeous natural event it describes: This term (which derives from a concept known as "the chatoyancy effect") describes a unique concept on which reflected light appears as well-defined bands on a glossy surface. This gorgeous occurrence, reminiscent of a cat’s eye, doesn’t seem reflected by the clumsiness of the word "chatoyant," but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t bring it to our collective attention.

Fear Factor

What pet was Julius Caesar afraid of? Discover 10 rare phobias

Credit: Nik

We all feel scared sometimes, right? But phobias aren't simple fears; They represent a type of irrational and strong fear of objects, situations, or activities that can cause intense feelings of anxiety. Some are very frequent, such as arachnophobia (fear of spiders) or claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces). However, there are many other phobias that are not only rare but also have some of the strangest names. Have you ever heard of chaetophobia? Do you know the term for mirror phobia? If you want to discover 10 uncommon phobias and the origin of their names, read on!

Credit: Gabriela Popa

Since old times, poets and artists have dedicated part of their work to nature, particularly flowers. In all types, sizes, and colors, Mother Nature has a flower for everyone, and we, as humans, have incorporated them into our culture in countless ways.

But not everything is rosy. Some people struggle when spring arrives. We're not talking about those allergic to pollen –although they suffer too– but those with anthophobia.

Άνθος (anthos) is the Greek word for flower. So, as the name implies, it's a deep fear of flowers, their appearance, contact with them, or, in some cases, even their scent.

Credit: Waldemar

Do you have a lucky number? We do! Numbers represent a lot in our lives, both socially and personally. In fact, many cultures have adopted certain numbers as positive or negative symbols. For example, according to Chinese culture, 8 is a lucky number, while 4 heralds bad news. In Japanese culture, 7 is responsible for announcing good fortune.

Arithmophobia is the irrational fear of numbers. Some people with arithmophobia may reject all numbers in general, while others may associate the fear with a specific number, especially those considered negative or unlucky. Just like the word "arithmetics," arithmophobia has its origin in the Greek ἀριθμός (arithmós), meaning "numbers" or "counting."

Credit: Yura Fresh

While connectivity allows us to work, find out what's going on in the world, keep in touch with our loved ones, and receive funny memes, technology can also have its downside.

Our reliance and dependence on laptops and cell phones have increased in recent years, and one of the consequences was the emergence of a condition called nomophobia.

According to the National Library of Medicine, nomophobia is the severe anxiety caused by the fear of being without your phone, losing it, or lacking cell service. Unlike most phobias, its name doesn't have Greek origins; it's actually a portmanteau: NO MObile PHOne phoBIA.

Credit: Kim Davies

Cats and dogs have been part of our lives for ages, but while many of us may find them adorable, some people would prefer another type of pet. Why? Well, for many and varied reasons, and one of them could be ailurophobia.

Ailurophobia is the intense and irrational fear of cats. Its name comes from the Greek αἴλουρος (ailouros), meaning "cat," and φόβος (phóbos), "fear," and its symptoms and triggers can vary from person to person.

Surprising as it may be, this phobia is not new. It seems that this fear has been around since ancient times. In fact, some stories claim that figures such as Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great experienced this phobia.

Credit: Caroline Veronez

What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? For many of us, looking in the mirror is part of our daily routine, whether it's brushing our teeth or trying on the outfit we'll wear to work. For some, however, a mirror isn't necessary. In fact, they would prefer to avoid it at all costs.

We're talking about eisoptrophobia, the irrational fear of mirrors. As you've probably guessed by now, this word is also derived from Greek but is a bit more specific. εἰς (eis) means "into," and ὀπτῐκός (optikos) refers to vision, image, or sight. As you can see, the word's etymology points to a fear of the reflected image rather than the mirror itself.

Credit: Ionela Mat

Wherever you go, wherever you look, there will be words. On your phone screen, on the TV, on book spines, food packages, clothing labels, street signs, and even graffiti. They're everywhere!

All that will seem overwhelming when you learn about logophobia, the fear or terror of words. As you know, Φόβος is the Greek word for "fear," while λόγος (logos) translates as "word" or "speech." This fear can be triggered by a specific word, a type of word, or all of them.

Credit: Sergi Kabrera

Believe it or not, sesquipedalophobia is the fear of long words. Ironic, isn't it?

In Latin, sesqui means "one and a half," while pedis is "foot." In Rome, there was a term for really long words: sesquipedalis, those that seemed "a foot and a half long." Over time, this Latin joke became part of the medical term.

But there's more! As if "sesquipedalophobia" wasn't long enough, the term "hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia" has emerged in recent years to describe the same fear. While the latter is not officially recognized, it seems that someone thought it would be good to exaggerate the term by adding the Latin monstrum ("monster") and hippopotamus.

Credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Peanut butter is one of Americans' major favorites. Whether it's breakfast or any other meal, this ingredient is a staple in most of our diets. However, there are those who can't tolerate it.

If you experience sweaty palms, dizziness, discomfort, or anxiety at the mere thought of peanut butter entering your mouth, perhaps it's arachibutyrophobia.

Arachi is a Greek term related to leguminous plants such as peanuts, and βούτυρον (bouturon) means "butter." Some people associate this specific phobia with the idea of peanut butter sticking to the roof of their mouth, which triggers a fear of choking.

Credit: Tim Mossholder

When it comes to looking good, hair is the key. We all know things aren't easy when it's a bad hair day, right?

While for most of us, it's as simple as going to the salon or taking some time out of our day to fix our hair, it's not so simple for others.

No one enjoys walking into the bathroom just to find a pile of loose hair scattered around. Definitely not pleasant scenery! But when dislike reaches an extreme, it can be chaetophobia, an irrational and persistent fear of hair. This name comes from the Greek χαίτη (khaitē), meaning "loose, flowing hair."

Credit: Adi Goldstein

"Pennywise" is a familiar name to most of us, isn't it? Thanks to this iconic clown from Stephen King's novel and the movies based on it, we have all come to hear about coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.

While coulrophobia is quite common, there is another related phobia that is much less frequent. This is globophobia, the extreme fear of balloons, their texture, smell, the material they are made of, or the possibility of them popping. For that reason, globophobia is one of the phonophobias, associated with loud sounds.