12 Vanished English Words Every Modern Speaker Should Know
更新时间：2025-07-29 12:07:37|编辑：玩家天地
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The Ghosts of English: 12 Dead Words Every Modern Speaker Should Know
English constantly evolves, leaving behind linguistic fossils. Here are 12 deceased English terms that vanished from daily use – and why they faded:
1. Thou / Thee (14th-17th Century)
Once standard for addressing one person (“thou art”), these pronouns fell as “you” became universal. Shakespeare’s era marked their last gasp.
2. Betwixt (Old English-1800s)
A poetic alternative to “between,” replaced by simpler phrasing. Still haunts fantasy novels and wedding vows.
3. Quoth (Medieval-1850s)
Meant “said,” immortalized in Edgar Allan Poe’s “Quoth the raven” – now strictly reserved for dramatic effect.
4. Wireless (1900s-1990s)
Originally described radio tech, killed by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A zombie term revived for retro aesthetics.
Why Words Die
Spotting Linguistic Ghosts Today
Dead words linger in:
Final Tip: Use dead words cautiously – they’ll either charm readers or sound pretentious. Search engines favor clear modern language, but knowing these relics helps decode historical texts and marketing gimmicks.
