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What's an obsolete or incredibly obscure word you think people should know? (leminal.space)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

304 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Overmorrow refers to the day after tomorrow and I feel like it comes in quite handy for example.

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[–] [email protected] -4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

No one mentioned "niggardly" yet? What's going on?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

For those that can't believe it's not a racial slur.

Niggard (14th C) is derived from the Middle English word meaning 'stingy,' nigon, which is probably derived from two other words also meaning 'stingy,' Old Norse hnǫggr and Old English hnēaw.[2] The word niggle, which in modern usage means to give excessive attention to minor details, probably shares an etymology with niggardly.[3]

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don't understand, why is that your word?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's an obsolete and relatively obscure word that I think a lot of people don't know - because if most people did know it, no one would ever have gotten into trouble for using it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_niggardly

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I know the word, just I've only ever heard it used by smug assholes with "guess what I almost said" expressions on their faces.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

It needs to be retired honestly. Like you said, more often than not it's used by smug racists. There are other, better words that mean the same thing like avaricious, miserly, parsimonious, or to keep it simple - cheap.