The English language is a wonderful thing. But let’s face it. Our language can be a little bit strange at times. It contains hundreds of thousands of words. But some of those words are so unusual that most people never hear them. They only appear in old dictionaries or obscure books.
A lot of our words survive for centuries because we use them every day. Others just sort of fade away. Even if the thing they describe still exists.
I came across a few of these strange old words.
Here are a few of them.
1. Snaste
The burnt or blackened part of a candle wick after it has been lit. That tiny crispy bit at the top of the wick.
2. Pricket
The pointed spike inside a candlestick holder that keeps the candle standing upright.
3. Malneirophrenia
The uneasy or disturbing feeling that lingers after waking from a nightmare.
4. Smellfungus
An old term for someone who constantly complains or always finds fault with things.
5. Rampike
A dead or leafless tree standing alone in the woods.
6. Bamblustercate
An old word meaning to confuse, embarrass, or overwhelm someone.
7. Deaconing
An old term connected to cheating or swindling someone, especially in trade.
8. Nudiustertian
A nearly forgotten word meaning “the day before yesterday.”
Part of what makes these words very interesting to me is how specific they are. At some point in history, people decided there needed to be an exact word for burnt candle residue. Or for those terrible nightmare after-effects.
Out of all of them, though, I still think “snaste” might be my favorite. (Rhymes with last and past.) Someone had to come up with this term.
I love burning candles, but I don’t care for the snaste. Especially when you blow them out, and the snaste keeps smoking.
I hate to be a Smellfungus about the whole thing. But it appears that I am.
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“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” — Rudyard Kipling
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“One forgets words as one forgets names. One’s vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die.” — Evelyn Waugh
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“Words have a longer life than deeds.” — Pindar
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