500 Archaic Words That Everyone Really Needs To Use Again
These archaic words will remind you of an era past. But they’re such a refreshing change in pace from modern day vocabulary. Read through this list of archaic words and pick a few to insert into your own lexicon.
1. Abaft—toward or at the stern of a ship; further aft
2. Abroad—out of doors
3. Accouchement—birthing
4. Advertisement—a notice to readers in a book
5. Afeard/afearedt—frightened
6. Affright—frighten (someone)
7. Afore—before
8. Agone—ago
9. Ague—malaria or a similar illness
10. Alack—expression of sorrow or regret
11. Alee—on or toward the lee
12. Aliment—food; nourishment
13. Alow—below
14. Amain—to a high degree; exceedingly; at full speed
15. Ambuscade—an ambush
16. Anent—about; concerning
17. Animalcule—a microscopic animal
18. Anon—at once; immediately
20. Appetency—a longing or desire
21. Apricity—a cold winter day with a warm sun
22. Aright—right; correctly
23. Aroint—begone
24. Assay—attempt
25. Asunder—apart
26. Athwart—across; in opposition to; sideways; transversely
27. Audition—the power of hearing
28. Aught—anything at all
29. Avaunt—away; hence
30. Aye—yes
31. Bane—poison
32. Baseborn—of low birth or social standing
33. Bedlam—an asylum
34. Beef-witted—stupid
35. Beforetime—formerly
36. Behold—see or observe
37. Behoof—benefit or advantage
38. Beldam—an old woman
39. Belike—most likely; probably
40. Bethink—oneself of remember; recollect
41. Betimes—in short time; speedily
42. Betwixt—between
44. Bijoux—jewelry; trinkets
45. Billow—a large sea wave
46. Blackguard—a scoundrel
47. Blow—produce flowers or be in flower
48. Bodkin—a dagger
49. Bootless—(of a task) ineffectual; useless
50. Brabble—loud dumb argument
51. Breech—a person’s buttocks
52. Bridewell—a prison or reform school for petty offenders
53. Brimstone—sulphur
54. Bruit—a report or rumour
55. Buck—a fashionable and daring young man
56. Bumper—a generous glass of an alcoholic drink
57. Burgess—a full citizen of a town or borough
58. Buss—a kiss
59. Caboose—a kitchen on a ship’s deck
60. Cadet—a younger son or daughter
61. Caducity—the infirmity of old age; senility
62. California widow—a woman who marries a man who goes off to work in other parts of the state for long periods
63. Callipygian—giant ass
64. Camelopard—a giraffe
65. Cannonade—bombard
66. Carl—a man of low birth
67. Ceil—line or plaster the roof of (a building)
68. Certes—in truth; certainly
69. Champaign—open level countryside
70. Chapman—a peddler
71. Chicane—deceive; hoodwink
72. Cicisbeov—a married woman’s male companion or lover
73. Circumjacent—surrounding
74. Cispontine—on the north side of the Thames in London
75. Clepe—to name; to call
76. Clerk—a literate or scholarly person
77. Clew—a ball of thread
78. Clout—a piece of cloth or clothing
79. Cockalorum—a little man who has a big attitude
80. Collogue—talk confidentially
81. Communicant—a person who imparts information
82. Compass—encircle or surround
83. Compeer—a companion or close associate
84. Contemn—treat or regard with contempt
85. Contumely—insolent or insulting language or treatment
86. Cordwainer—a shoemaker
87. Cottier—a rural laborer living in a cottage
88. Coxcomb—a vain and conceited man; a dandy
89. Coz—cousin
90. Crapulous—to feel ill from overindulgence
91. Crinkum—elaborate decoration or detail
92. Crookback—a person with a hunchback
93. Crumpet—a person’s head
94. Cruse—an earthenware pot or jar
95. Cully—a friendly form of address for a man
96. Curmuring—making stomach sounds
97. Cutpurse—a pickpocket
98. Dame—an elderly or mature woman
99. Damsel—a young unmarried woman
100. Dandiprat—a young or insignificant person
101. Darbies—handcuffs
102. Degrade—reduce to a lower rank, especially as a punishment
103. Degree—social or official rank
104. Delate—report (an offence)
105. Demesne—a region or domain
106. Demit—resign from (an office or position)
107. Demoralize—corrupt the morals of
108. Dight—clothed or equipped
109. Discover—divulge (a secret)
110. Disport—frolic
111. Dispraise—censure or criticize
112. Divers—of varying types; several
113. Doit—a very small amount of money
114. Dot—a dowry from which only the interest or annual income was available to the husband
115. Doxy—a lover or mistress
116. Drab—a slovenly woman
117. Drought—thirst
118. Eft—again; afterwards
119. Eftsoons—soon after
120. Egad—exclamation of surprise, anger, or affirmation
121. Eke—in addition; also; likewise
122. Embouchure—the mouth of a river
123. Endlong—lengthwise
124. Enow—enough
125. Equipage—gear; equipment
126. Ere—before (in time)
127. Erelong—before long; soon
128. Erewhile—until now
129. Espousal—a marriage or engagement
130. Esurient—hungry
131. Excogigate—plot, plan, devise
132. Expectations—one’s prospects of inheritance
133. Expiry—death
134. Eyne—eyes
135. Fain—pleased or willing under the circumstances
136. Fainéant—an idle or ineffective person
137. Fair—beautiful
138. Fandangle—a useless or purely ornamental thing
139. Fane—a shrine or temple
140. Fare—travel
141. Fell—an animal skin; a pelt
142. Feminal—feminine; womanly
143. Fervent—hot or glowing
144. Fie—exclamation used to express disgust or outrage
145. Filibeg—a kilt
146. Fishwife—a woman who sells fish
147. Fizgig—a silly or flirtatious young woman
148. Flux—diarrhea or dysentery
149. Forby—past; near
150. Fore—at an earlier time or period
151. Forfend—avert or prevent (something evil or unpleasant)
152. Forsooth—in truth; indeed
153. Forthwith—immediately
154. Forward—(of a person) difficult to deal with; contrary
155. Fourscore—eighty
156. Freak—a whim
157. Frore—frozen or frosty
158. Fruit—offspring
159. Fudge—nonsense
160. Furbish—polish (a weapon)
161. Fuzzle—drunk
162. Gadzooks—an expression of surprise or annoyance
163. Gage—a valued object deposited as a guarantee
164. Gallant—a dashing gentleman
165. Gammer—an old woman
166. Gar—mild oath
167. Gardyloo—warning cry
168. Garland—a literary anthology
169. Garth—a yard or garden
170. Gaud—a trinket
171. Glabriety—baldness
172. Glaciate—freeze over
173. Glebe—a meadow
174. Glim—a candle
175. God’s acre—a churchyard
176. Goodly—attractive, excellent, or virtuous
177. Goody—(with a name) an elderly woman of humble position
178. Gorgonize—to charm
179. Gramercy—expression of gratitude or surprise
180. Grateful—received with gratitude
181. Greenwood—a forest
182. Grimalkin—a cat
183. Groak—to watch someone as they eat
184. Gudgeon—a credulous person
185. Guerdon—a reward
186. Gyve—a fetter or shackle
187. Habiliment—clothing
188. Halt—lame
189. Handmaid—a female servant
190. Hearken—listen
191. Hence—from here
192. Herbary—a herb garden
193. Hereat—as a result of this
194. Heretofore—until now
195. Hereunto—to this document
196. Hereupon—after or as a result of this
197. Heyday—expression of elation or wonder
198. Hie—go quickly
199. Hight—named; called; to command or call
200. Hist—expression used to attract attention
201. Hither—to or toward this place
202. Hoar—frost
203. Horse-coper—a person who deals in horses
204. Horseless carriage—a car
205. Host—an army
206. Houppelande—cloak
207. Howbeit—nevertheless
208. Husbandman—a farmer
209. Ifsoever—if ever
210. Ilke—kind or nature
211. Immedicable—untreatable
212. Imminent—overhanging
213. In sooth—actually
214. Indite—write; compose
215. Inly—inwardly; thoroughly
216. Inscribe—enter the name of (someone) on a list
217. Intelligence—news
218. Intelligencer—a person who gathers intelligence
219. Invest—surround (a place) in order to besiege or blockade it
220. Iron horse—a steam locomotive
221. Iwis—surely; certainly
222. Izzard—the letter Z
223. Jade—a bad-tempered or disreputable woman
224. Jakes—an outdoor toilet
225. Job—turn a public office or a position of trust to private advantage
226. Kickshaw—a fancy but insubstantial cooked dish
227. Kirtle—a woman’s gown or a man’s tunic
228. Knave—a dishonest or unscrupulous man
229. Lackaday—expression of regret or deprecation
230. Larcener—thief
231. Latchet—a narrow thong or lace for fastening a shoe or sandal
232. Laud—praise
233. Laver—a basin or similar container used for washing oneself
234. Leech—a doctor or healer
235. Leman—a lover or sweetheart
236. Let—hinder
237. Lethophobia—do you fear oblivion at all? You may well be lethophobic!
238. Levant—abscond leaving unpaid debts
239. Levy—a body of enlisted troops
240. Lief—soon; gladly
241. Loathly—repulsive
242. Lordling—a minor lord
243. Love apple—a tomato
244. Lucifer—a match
245. Lurdan—an idle or incompetent person
246. Lying—in seclusion before and after childbirth
247. Magdalen—a reformed prostitute
248. Mage—a magician or learned person
249. Magnify—glorify; extol
250. Maid—a girl or young woman
251. Malapert—presumptuous and impudent
252. Malison—a curse
253. Man-at-arms—a soldier
254. Marry—an expression of surprise, indignation, or emphatic assertion
255. Maugre—in spite of
256. Mayhap—perhaps; possibly
257. Mazed—bewildered
258. Measure—a dance
259. Meat—food of any kind
260. Mechanical—a manual worker
261. Meet—suitable or proper
262. Melodist—a singer
263. Meseems—it seems to me
264. Methinks—I believe; I think
265. Moil—drudgery
266. Monsterful—extraordinary or wonderful
268. Morrow—the the following day
269. Mummer—an actor in the theater
270. Nary—not a one; not at all
271. Natheless—nevertheless; notwithstanding
272. Natural—a person born with impaired intelligence
273. Naught—nothing
274. Nay—no
275. Needs—of necessity; necessarily
276. Nigh—nearly; almost
277. Nithing—a contemptible or despicable person
278. Noise—(something) about talk about or make known publicly
279. Nowise—not at all
280. Nubbing—cheat a gallows
281. Numbles—a deer’s entrails as food
282. Od—mild oath
283. Orison—a prayer
284. Orts—scraps; remains
285. Otherwhere—elsewhere
286. Otiose—lazy; slothful
287. Overbrim—spill; overflow
288. Overleap—jump over or across
289. Overset—capsize; flip over
290. Pale—an area within determined bounds or subject to a particular jurisdiction
291. Palfrey—a docile riding horse
292. Parcel—partly
293. Pardie—mild oath; certainly or truly
294. Parfay—by my faith; verily
295. Pate—a person’s head
296. Paynim—a pagan
298. Peeler—a police officer
299. Pelf—money, especially when gained dishonestly
300. Peradventure—perhaps; possibly; by adventure; by chance
301. Perchance—by some chance
302. Peregrinate—travel or wander from place to place
303. Periapt—a charm or amulet
304. Pestilence—a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague
305. Peterman—a thief or safecracker
306. Physic—medicinal drugs or medical treatment
307. Picaroon—a scoundrel
308. Piepowder—a traveler or trader
309. Pismire—an ant
310. Pistoleer—a soldier armed with a pistol
311. Plain over—lament; cry over
312. Plight—solemnly pledge or promise (faith or loyalty)
313. Pollard—an animal that has lost its horns or cast its antlers
314. Poltroon—an utter coward
315. Popinjay—a parrot
316. Pore on—think about
317. Portage—the action of carrying or transporting
318. Portion—a dowry
319. Posy—a short motto or line of verse inscribed inside a ring
320. Potation—a beverage
321. Pouncet-box—a small box with a perforated lid used for holding a substance impregnated with perfume
322. Prithee—expression of wish or request
323. Profess—teach (a subject) as a professor
324. Puissant—powerful; mighty
325. Purblind—short-sighted
326. Purfle—an ornamental or embroidered edge of a garment
327. Pythoness—a woman believed to be possessed by a spirit and to be able to foresee the future
328. Quaggy—marshy or boggy
329. Quality—high social standing
330. Quean—an impudent girl or woman
331. Quick, the—the living
332. Quidnunc—an inquisitive, gossipy person
333. Quiz—look intently at (someone)
334. Quockerwodger—marionette
335. Quoth—said (in I/he/she quoth)
336. Quotha—expression of surprise or contempt
337. Rack (of a cloud)—be driven by the wind
338. Raiment—clothing
339. Rapscallion—a mischievous person
340. Rathe-ripe—(of fruit) ripening early in the year; (of a person) precocious
341. Reave—carry out a plundering raid
342. Receipt—a recipe
343. Recipe—a medical prescription
344. Recompense—punish or reward appropriately
345. Recreant—cowardly
346. Rede—advice or counsel
347. Reduce—besiege and capture (a town or fortress)
348. Relieve—make (something) stand out
349. Remit—diminish
350. Repair—an abode or haunt
351. Repulsive—lacking friendliness or sympathy
352. Riband—a ribbon
353. Rover—a pirate
354. Ruth—a feeling of pity, distress, or grief
355. Sable—black mourning clothes
356. Sacring—the consecration of a bishop, a sovereign, or the Eucharistic elements
357. Saddle-bow—the pommel of a saddle
358. Salamander—a red-hot iron or poker
359. Sanative—healing
360. Sanguinary—involving or causing much bloodshed
361. Sap—make (a building, etc.) insecure by removing its foundations
362. Saturnism—lead poisoning
363. Scantling—a specimen, sample, or small amount
364. Scapegrace—a mischievous person; a rascal
366. Sciolist—a person who pretends to be knowledgeable
367. Scold—a woman who nags or grumbles constantly
368. Scot—a tax-like payment
369. Scrag—a neck
370. Scruple—a very small amount of something, especially a quality
371. Scullion—a menial servant
372. Scurvy—worthless or contemptible
373. Sea coal—mineral coal
374. Sea smoke—fog
375. Seizing—a length of cord or rope on board a ship
376. Semovedly—separately
377. Sennight—a week
378. Sepulture—burial
379. Shambles—a slaughterhouse
380. Shrift—forgiveness
381. Shrive—(of a priest) absolve (a person making a confession)
382. Siege—seat or throne
383. Silly—helpless; defenceless
384. Sippet—a small piece of bread or toast for dipping into soup or sauce
385. Sith—since
386. Skirt—an edge, border, or extreme part
387. Slipshod—(of shoes) worn down at the heel
388. Sluberdegullion—slacker; couch potato
389. Slugabed—a lazy person who stays in bed late
390. Small beer—weak beer
391. Smite—defeat or conquer
392. Smoothly—in truth; truly
393. Snoutfair—a good-looking person
394. Snowbrowth—freshly melted snow
395. Soak—drink heavily
396. Somedeal—somewhat
397. Somewhither—to some place; somewhere
398. Sooth—truth; reality; in truth
399. Soothfast—truthful; honest; faithful
400. Sore—extremely; severely
401. Speed—prosperity; success
402. Spence—a pantry or larder
403. Statuary—a sculptor
404. Steed— a horse
405. Stoup—a container for drinking beer, etc.; a flagon
406. Strait—strict; rigorous; constricted
407. Stripe—a blow with a lash
408. Strumpet—a female prostitute or a promiscuous woman
409. Success—a good or bad outcome
410. Suffer—endure; tolerate
411. Swain—a country youth
412. Swash—flamboyantly swagger about or wield a sword
413. Sweeting—darling
414. Sweetmeat—an item of confectionery or sweet food
415. Sweven—vision seen in sleep; a dream
416. Swink—to toil; to labour
417. Swith—instantly; quickly
418. Swoopstake—in an indiscriminate manner
419. Taiga—a forest
420. Tantivy—a rapid gallop or ride
421. Tapster—a person who serves at a bar
422. Tenter—a person in charge of something, especially factory machinery
423. Thenceforth—from that time, place, or point onward
424. Thereinto—into that or it
425. Thereon—thereupon
426. Thereunto—to that
427. Therewith—thereupon; forthwith
428. Therewithal—besides
429. Thither—to or toward that place
430. Thole—to endure; to suffer
431. Thrice—three times
432. Thro—through
433. Tilt—with engage in a contest with
434. Timbrel—a tambourine or similar instrument
435. Tithe—a tenth
436. Tocsin—an alarm bell or signal
437. Tope—drink to excess
438. Tother—the other
439. Trig—neat and smart
440. Troth—faith or loyalty when pledged in a solemn undertaking
441. Turnkey—a jailer
442. Twain—two
443. Twattle—to gossip
444. Tweeny—a maid who assisted both the cook and the housemaid
445. Twelvemonth—a year
446. Twitter-light—twilight
447. Twixt—between
448. Up to snuff—up to the required standard
449. Usward—toward us
450. Vale—a farewell; a sendoff
451. Varlet—an unprincipled rogue
452. Venery—hunting
453. Verily—truly; certainly; confidently
454. Virtue—virginity
455. Visionary—existing only in the imagination
456. Wain— a wagon or cart
457. Wait on/upon—pay a respectful visit to
458. Waits—street singers of Christmas carols
459. Wanion—ill luck; misfortune
460. Ware—of aware of
461. Wassail—revelry
462. Wast—second person singular past of be
463. Watchful—wakeful
464. Weasand—the esophagus or gullet
465. Weed—garment or outfit worn during mourning
466. Ween—think or suppose; be of the opinion
467. Wellaway—expression of sorrow or lamentation; alas
468. Wench—a girl or young woman
469. Whenas—when
470. Whence—from what place or source
471. Whereagainst—against which
472. Wherefore—for what reason
473. Whereinsoever—in whatsoever respect or place
474. Whereinto—into which; into what
475. Whereof—of what
476. Whereout—out of which
477. Wherethrough—through which; through the agency of
478. Whereuntil—to what
479. Wherewith—with or by which
480. Whichsoever—every one that
481. Whilom—formerly; once; former
482. White—goods domestic linen
483. Whither—to what place or state
484. Whithersoever—to any place whatsoever
485. Whitherward—toward what or which place
486. Whosoever—every one who
487. Wife—a woman, especially an old or uneducated one
488. Wight—a person of a specified kind
489. With squirrel—pregnant
490. Withal—besides; therewith; nevertheless; with
491. Wonder-wench—sweetheart
492. Wont—accustomed
493. Wood mad—insane; wild
494. Wright—a maker or builder
495. Yare—marked by quickness and agility; nimble; prepared; easily handled
496. Ye—you
497. Yoicks—expression of surprise or excitement
498. Yoke—the amount of land that one pair of oxen could plough in a day
499. Yon—yonder; that over there; those over there
500. Zounds—an expression of surprise or indignation