Abandoned Words

[poliphilo]

I visited this site in the hope of getting my teeth into something chewy, but to be honest most of these abandoned words are ones only a pedant could love- things with Greek and Latin roots, conceived in the study and of little use out of it. Few of them will ever have had much of a life.  Still, the site itself is fun. I like the way the poor little things clamour for our attention. 

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I had hoped so, but alas, it means 'whiteness' or 'hoariness'. (I found it by putting 'cani' in the search.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Ha! That's sort of what I mean about these words. Why use canitude when whiteness would do? A word is really only useful if no other word conveys quite the same meaning or shade of meaning.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I look forward to using it in wintry posts now, though.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to spotting it in your posts.