Here are some more words that are falling out of fashion, to add to the collection I started in this post.
Oblong - I certainly remember in primary school maths learning about a shape that you could call either an oblong, or a rectangle. That shape seems to have settled down as a rectangle. It's a shame. Oblong is such a fabulous word. Chunky.
Oval - While we're on the subject of shapes in primary school maths, I was thrown when one of my children (can't remember which one) needed help with homework, and I discovered that the good old-fashioned oval has become an ellipsis. But I think oval is still a word in current usage, so that's ok. It's going to be a long time before we have to talk about the US President in The Ellipsis Office.
Parcel - These are all packages now.
Coax - When was the last time you used the word coax? (No... not as in "Would you all rather have Sprites or Cokes?") With this one, I rather feel that the disappearance of the word is a reflection of the culture we live in. No-one has time for coaxing. If your elderly relative has lost her appetite, who cooks up tasty morsels to tempt her to eat, sitting by her side and telling stories together to distract her? If your reluctant child won't write his Christmas thank-you letters, you make a sticker chart and dangle a reward, or you sit him on the naughty step. Ah, poor coax. You have no place in our busy lives. According to this source, you've been around since the 1580's. That's a good innings. Now, as I type you into an online dictionary, it's assumed I want to look up coaxial. Ah, poor coax!
"Coax" is still alive and well in our home. We have used it extensively while trying to civilize our 19-week-old puppy. From all evidence, it looks like it will continue to get robust use in the months to come...sigh.
ReplyDeleteI do agree about the oblong. It is specific - whereas a rectangle might be a square, oblong indicates that it's a rectangle that is not square. I think the oval is an ellipse, though, ellipsis is three dots ... like that.
ReplyDeleteAh... yes, you're right. I'd thought it was odd that the same word could mean a squashed circle AND one of my favourite punctuation signs.
DeleteI'm very sorry to see "coax" go too. It's a great word. Your description of the elderly relative brought me instantly back to when, at 8 yrs of age, I had jaundice and my mother coaxed me to eat porridge (which was one of the few things I was allowed to eat, no cream mind you!). How? By promising to give me her bed-jacket, which had a down collar!!! Bed-jacket is probably obselete now, replaced by central heating!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story. Yes, I'm sure 'bed-jacket' has dropped out of the lexicon.
DeleteSo glad that ellipsis thing was cleared up, I thought I was going mad.
ReplyDeleteAnother word I miss (but it's probably a geography thing) is shambolic. No one over here (USA) uses it. I might have to start a whispering campaign to have it adopted over here. (The American spellcheck doesn't even recognize it.)
I am sending parcels and only parcels. Somehow, the word 'package' has a slight male sexual connotation to it. Ain't sending any of that anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteI didn't read coax, I read coax. Totally different thing. And I was thinking, well you're lucky fibre has overtaken where you are but it's still jolly rural out here! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cable)
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