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Communication

90+ Old English Words That Are Worth Reviving!

old english words
1. Bedight (adjective)
2. Besmirch (verb)
3. Brabble (verb)
4. Cockalorum (noun)
5. Ditty (noun)
6. Xerostomia (noun)
7. Uhtceare (noun)
8. Woofits (noun)
9. Twattling (verb)
10. Snecklifter (adjective)
11. Philogrobolized (adjective)
12. Lanspresado (adjective)
13. Stalwart (adjective)
14. Leper juice (noun)
15. Sublime (adjective)
16. Somber (adjective)
17. Vivacious (adjective)
18. Magnanimous (adjective)
19. Sallow (adjective)
20. Clinomania (noun)
21. Billingsgate (noun)
22. Jargogle (verb)
23. Sloom (verb)
24. Banloca (noun)
25. Grufeling (verb)
26. Folde (noun)
27. Ides (noun)
28. Neorxnawang (noun)
29. Lyft (noun)
30. Sawol (noun)
31. Lufu (noun)
32. Wlanc (adjective)
33. Acennan (verb)
34. Clipian (verb)
35. Gnornian (verb)
36. Dreogan (verb)
37. Onginnan (verb)
38. Willan (verb)
39. Forhtian (verb)
40. Swincan (verb)
41. Amyrran (verb)
42. Baldlice (adjective)
43. Eald (adjective)
44. Fæger (adjective)
45. Beorht (adjective)
46. Aright (adjective)
47. Arleas (adjective)
48. Andsaca (noun)
49. Bearn (noun)
50. Brim (verb)
51. Deofol (noun)
52. Fudgel (verb)
53. Erstwhile (adjective)
54. Hugger-Mugger (adjective)
55. Mumpsimus (noun)
56. Grubble (verb)
57. Hum durgeon (noun)
58. Quomodocunquize (verb)
59. Wyrd (noun)
60. Capul (noun)
61. Rowtyng (verb)
62. Poke (noun)
63. Grucche (verb)
64. Bishrewe (verb)
65. Shende  (verb)
66. Wexen (verb)
67. Pyned (verb)
68. Swevene (noun)
69. Clennesse (adjective)
70. Quelle (verb)
71. Seethe (verb)
72. Hals (noun)
73. Mien (noun)
74. Assuage (verb)
75. Whet (verb)
76. Sentinel (noun)
77. Liege (noun)
78. Hasten (verb)
79. Quyken (verb)
80. Helm (noun)
81. Peril (noun)
82. Bulwark (noun)
83. Dire (adjective)
84. Throng (noun)
85. Hevynesse (noun)
86. Wantrust (noun)
87. Volage (adjective)
88. Dillydoun (noun)
89. Famelicose (verb)
90. Fopdoodle (noun)
91. Trumpery (adjective)
92. Egrophobia (noun)

English has more than 170,000 vocabulary words!

What’s more surprising is that... many old ancient English words have been swept out of modern English, thus eliminating most mind-blowing words from today's modern dictionaries and leaving us with just a handful of words.

We can’t deny the fact that ancient English words are hard to master, but on the flip side, they have the potential to captivate people. Old words add energy to the mix and help in crafting a heavy-hitting context for language.

Go ahead and discover some-amazing old English words that should be revived…

Interested Read: Hard English Words You Might Be Saying Wrong!

Here is the Old English Words list…

1. Bedight (adjective)

Bedight

What does it mean? To decorate something to make it more fascinating.

How to use it? The bride was wearing a magnificent bedlighted red-floral dress with enthralling pearls.

2. Besmirch (verb)

Besmirch

What does it mean? To Hurt someone’s reputation.

How to use it? He tried his level best to besmirch her reputation.

3. Brabble (verb)

Brabble

What does it mean? To stubbornly argue about useless things.

How to use it? Why are you both still brabbling about who left the towel wet?

4. Cockalorum (noun)

Cockalorum

What does it mean? An unworthy man with a high-standard opinion of himself.

How to use it? What a cockalorum he is! Always busy picking up faults in others but never focusing on his own!

5. Ditty (noun)

Ditty

What does it mean? A light-hearted, short, and simple song.

How to use it? The band played a breathtaking ditty about life and love.

6. Xerostomia (noun)

Xerostomia

What does it mean? Dry mouth (lack of saliva)

How to use it? Xerostomia is killing his taste buds!

7. Uhtceare (noun)

Uhtceare

What does it mean? To stay awake until dawn because of anxiousness

How to use it? Whenever John suffers from uhtceare, he keeps on lying on his bed wondering about his past.

8. Woofits (noun)

Woofits

What does it mean? Depression

How to use it? That poor girl suffering from woofits is going to crash her car one day!

9. Twattling (verb)

Twattling

What does it mean? To talk in an idly way.

How to use it? Can you please stop twattling and jump right to the point?

10. Snecklifter (adjective)

Snecklifter

What does it mean? The person who always expects others to buy him a drink and never buys one for himself/herself.

How to use it? I’ve not seen a snecklifter like Lina. She keeps visiting the pub but never buys a drink!

11. Philogrobolized (adjective)

Philogrobolized

What does it mean? Having a hangover without realizing it.

How to use it? He fell off the bike yesterday when he was Philogroblized.

12. Lanspresado (adjective)

Lanspresado

What does it mean? Someone who conveniently shows up without a wallet.

How to use it? When will you stop being a Lanspresado? You make me pay every time we visit this store.

13. Stalwart (adjective)

Stalwart

What does it mean? Committed; faithful; hardworking

How to use it? Rina has been a stalwart follower of her religious campaigns.

14. Leper juice (noun)

Leper juice

What does it mean? A person with whom nobody wants to talk because of his sinful history.

How to use it? He has done nothing, but still, everybody treats him like he is a leper juice.

15. Sublime (adjective)

Sublime

What does it mean? Majestic or unparalleled

How to use it? The most sublime act is to help others.

16. Somber (adjective)

Somber

What does it mean? Gloomy or dark

How to use it? Why is he always in a somber mood?

17. Vivacious (adjective)

Vivacious

What does it mean? An energetic character who is full of life.

How to use it? Lina, the vivacious little girl, is always ready to go out for a ride!

18. Magnanimous (adjective)

Magnanimous

What does it mean? Showing majestic spirit.

How to use it? Despite what she did to him last year, Oliver was still magnanimous enough to forgive her.

19. Sallow (adjective)

Sallow

What does it mean? Unhealthy or pale complexion

How to use it? His boney and sallow face is reflecting how much pain has this disease caused him.

20. Clinomania (noun)

Clinomania

What does it mean? A strong desire to stay in bed.

How to use it? You are always on time! It seems like you never suffer from clinomania.

21. Billingsgate (noun)

Billingsgate

What does it mean? Abusive words

How to use it? Throwing billingsgate out of his mouth has become his daily ritual!

22. Jargogle (verb)

Jargogle

What does it mean? To confuse things

How to use it? Statistics have always succeeded in jargogling me.

23. Sloom (verb)

Sloom

What does it mean? A state of sleepiness.

How to use it? Olivia lay slooming wondering when the guests will leave.

24. Banloca (noun)

Banloca

What does it mean? The state of being tired

25. Grufeling (verb)

Grufeling

What does it mean? To lie in a relaxing position

How to use it? After years of her daughter’s death, finally, her mother had the privilege to see him grufeling like this!

26. Folde (noun)

Folde

What does it mean? Earth/ground

27. Ides (noun)

Ides

What does it mean? Woman

How to use it? The alluring Ides was walking down the stage like a majestic queen!

28. Neorxnawang (noun)

Neorxnawang

What does it mean? Heaven

How to use it? This place looks like Neorxnawang!

29. Lyft (noun)

Lyft

What does it mean? Air; Cloud; Wind

30. Sawol (noun)

Sawol

What does it mean? Soul

How to use it? His sawol was calling out for help, but he was too busy to respond back.

31. Lufu (noun)

Lufu

What does it mean? Feeling of strong affection; Love

32. Wlanc (adjective)

Wlanc

What does it mean? Proud

33. Acennan (verb)

Acennan

What does it mean? Produce

34. Clipian (verb)

Clipian

What does it mean? To cry out for help

35. Gnornian (verb)

Gnornian

What does it mean? To feel sad or to mourn.

36. Dreogan (verb)

Dreogan

What does it mean? Experience something unpleasant or bad; to suffer

37. Onginnan (verb)

Onginnan

What does it mean? To start something; to begin

38. Willan (verb)

Willan

What does it mean? To have a desire to get something; to want

39. Forhtian (verb)

Forhtian

What does it mean? To be afraid of something horrible or a terrible human being; to fear

40. Swincan (verb)

Swincan

What does it mean? To struggle incredibly hard to achieve something

41. Amyrran (verb)

Amyrran

What does it mean? To hurt or harm

How to use it?

42. Baldlice (adjective)

Baldlice

What does it mean? Unambiguous; straight; simple

How to use it? Her ideas are impressive and Baldlice.

43. Eald (adjective)

Eald

What does it mean? Something that no longer exists; old

44. Fæger (adjective)

Fæger

What does it mean? Awe-inspiring; Beautiful; Attractive

How to use it? Her enthralling crown was embellished with Fæger pearls.

45. Beorht (adjective)

Beorht

What does it mean? Illuminating; Bright; Clear

How to use it? Tonight, the beorht moon is illuminating like never before.

46. Aright (adjective)

Aright

What does it mean? Precise; Perfect; Correct

How to use it? She wasn’t certain whether she heard him aright or not.

47. Arleas (adjective)

Arleas

What does it mean? Disgraceful; Wicked; dishonorable

How to use it? Her arleas manager is going to throw him out of his office.

48. Andsaca (noun)

Andsaca

What does it mean? A person or group willing to harm someone or a nation; Enemy.

How to use it? You must always be ready to fight the andasca!

49. Bearn (noun)

Bearn

What does it mean? An ancient word used for a child.

How to use it? Such a nice bearn!

50. Brim (verb)

Brim

What does it mean? Overflow; Be full with

How to use it? Joe’s eyes brimmed with tears.

51. Deofol (noun)

deofol

What does it mean? Spirit of evil; Devil

How to use it? Stop arguing! You sound like a Deofol!

52. Fudgel (verb)

Fudgel

Verb

What does it mean? To act as if one is busy doing something but in reality he/she is doing nothing.

How to use it? The director was just fudgeling with his laptop and didn’t complete the task.

53. Erstwhile (adjective)

erstwhile

What does it mean? Old; ancient

How to use it? There are chances that the erstwhile workers would become managers one day.

54. Hugger-Mugger (adjective)

Hugger-Mugger

What does it mean? Chaotic; Disorderly; Confused

How to use it? Why is there such a hugger-mugger about this idea?

55. Mumpsimus (noun)

Mumpsimus

What does it mean? An incorrect perception or viewpoint of something

How to use it? Devils aren’t real! It's just a mumpsimus.

56. Grubble (verb)

Grubble

What does it mean? To search for something blindly in the dark; to grope

How to use it? Don’t grubble! You’ll find the torch on the kitchen table.

57. Hum durgeon (noun)

Hum durgeon

What does it mean? Imaginary illness

How to use it? He always keeps on complaining about his hum durgeon.

58. Quomodocunquize (verb)

Quomodocunquize

Verb

What does it mean? To make money in any possible way!

How to use it? Never become quomodocunquize! It's like shaking hands with the devil!

59. Wyrd (noun)

wyrd

What does it mean? Fate; destiny

How to use it? You can’t beat your “wyrd”! It's destined to win!

60. Capul (noun)

Capul

What does it mean? Horse

How to use it? Can you sell me your brown capul?

61. Rowtyng (verb)

Rowtyng

What does it mean? To make grunting sounds while sleeping; snoring

How to use it? God! He is a Rowtyng monster!

62. Poke (noun)

Poke

What does it mean? A bag to carry things.

How to use it? You can put your poke on that red table.

63. Grucche (verb)

Grucche

What does it mean? To murmur a complain

How to use it? Alexander offered a Grucche in the middle of the speech which no one noticed.

64. Bishrewe (verb)

Bishrewe

What does it mean? To curse someone or something

How to use it? The witch shouted, “I bishrewe your face”.

65. Shende  (verb)

Shende

What does it mean? To spoil reputation; to destroy

How to use it? He is always ready to Shende his friend’s reputation.

66. Wexen (verb)

Wexen

What does it mean? To increase or to grow

How to use it? The company’s new invention is going to waxen its profits!

67. Pyned (verb)

pyned

What does it mean? To lose health

How to use it? He was almost pyned to death.

68. Swevene (noun)

Swevene

What does it mean? A vision that’s far away from reality; a dream

How to use it? He went into the grave for the night prayer to enjoy the deep swevene state.

69. Clennesse (adjective)

Clennesse

What does it mean? Pure and clean

How to use it? His beliefs are pure and clennesse.

70. Quelle (verb)

Quelle

What does it mean? To suppress

How to use it? Society quelled her voice by killing her.

71. Seethe (verb)

Seethe

What does it mean? To boil

How to use it? She seethed on his friend’s success.

72. Hals (noun)

Hals

What does it mean? The front side of the throat; neck

How to use it? Why does his Hals look swollen?

73. Mien (noun)

Mien

What does it mean? Any person’s manner or looks

How to use it? Nobody could tell from her mien that she was offended.

74. Assuage (verb)

Assuage

What does it mean? Satisfy; to provide relief

How to use it? Sounds like, his struggle to assuage his guilt won’t end.

75. Whet (verb)

Whet

What does it mean? To sharpen the something

How to use it? This book will whet your appetite for more of J.K Rowling’s work.

76. Sentinel (noun)

Sentinel

What does it mean? A soldier whose duty is to stand and watch

How to use it? Around 60 sentinels were appointed to guard the president's house.

77. Liege (noun)

Liege

What does it mean? Superior; master

How to use it? He was the king’s one of the most loyal lieges, God knows how he died.

78. Hasten (verb)

Hasten

What does it mean? To move rapidly or fast

How to use it? Unfortunately, the new law will hasten the loss of many factories.

79. Quyken (verb)

Quyken

What does it mean? To add energy to something; to give life to

How to use it? Her presence always quykens the environment.

80. Helm (noun)

Helm

What does it mean? A leader

How to use it? She has been at the helm for three years.

81. Peril (noun)

Peril

What does it mean? Extreme danger; Risk

How to use it? The president announced that their country is ina a grave peril this year!

82. Bulwark (noun)

Bulwark

What does it mean? A strong wall for protection against enemies.

How to use it? It took nine days for the army to break this giant bulwark!

83. Dire (adjective)

Dire

What does it mean? Without any hope.

How to use it? Her life ended in a dire poverty.

84. Throng (noun)

Throng

What does it mean? A huge gathering of people

How to use it? I couldn’t find a single wise man in the throng. 

85. Hevynesse (noun)

hevynesse

What does it mean? Heaviness

How to use it? The hevynesse in his heart fed away on seeing his mother.

86. Wantrust (noun)

Wantrust

What does it mean? Distrust

87. Volage (adjective)

Volage

What does it mean? Foolish

How to use it? Don’t you call my father a volage ever again!

88. Dillydoun (noun)

Dillydoun

What does it mean? Short and sweet songs to send babies to sleep; short lullabies

How to use it? Her mother kept on singing the old dillydoun to her child for around 2 hours. But still, she couldn’t sleep.

89. Famelicose (verb)

Famelicose

What does it mean? Constantly Hungry

How to use it? Don’t think of ordering a pizza! You’ve already had your dinner. Stop being a famelicose!

90. Fopdoodle (noun)

Fopdoodle

What does it mean? A stupid or a fool person

How to use it? Olivia thinks cartoons live far away on another planet, what a fodoodle she is!

91. Trumpery (adjective)

Trumpery

What does it mean? Beautiful from the outside, but ugly from the inside.

How to use it? The coins he snatched from the woman were trumpery, looking as if they were real but in reality, they were fake.

92. Egrophobia (noun)

Egrophobia

What does it mean? Panic Attacks.

How to use it? Since he is suffering from Egrophobia, he rarely steps out of his house.

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With over 3 years of experience in teaching, Chloe is very deeply connected with the topics that talk about the educational and general aspects of a student's life. Her writing has been very helpful for students to gain a better understanding of their academics and personal well-being. I’m also open to any suggestions that you might have! Please reach out to me at chloedaniel402 [at] gmail.com