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Ghosts of Language Past Trivia Quiz

Words that were once in common use, but are now effectively dead. I give you the word, you give me the meaning.

A multiple-choice quiz by wordnerd. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
wordnerd

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
77,425

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
948

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was a 'girl' to Chaucer? Hint

A female youth

An old person of either sex

A male youth

A young person of either sex

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Question 2 of 10

2. What did 'liversick' mean? Hint

Sick at heart

Hung over

Sickness of the liver

Ill in general

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Question 3 of 10

3. What English city was known as Lud's Town?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 4 of 10

4. This one is still used occasionally. What does 'fell' mean (as an adjective)? Hint

Wavering, unsure

Deadly, fearsome

High and proud

Humble

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Question 5 of 10

5. A person who is gravel-blind is what? Hint

Is cruel or vicious

Partially blind

More or less totally blind

Has bad eyesight

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Question 6 of 10

6. Was to be called a 'slawterpooch' a compliment?

Yes

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who was the 'sithcundman' of a village? Hint

The oldest inhabitant

The blacksmith

The lawkeeper

The unemployed drunkard

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Question 8 of 10

8. What sort of beverage was a 'posset'? Hint

Mild liquor of any kind

Strong liquor of any kind

Beer or wine mixed with milk

Buttermilk

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Question 9 of 10

9. 'Equinecessary' meant what? Hint

Equally necessary

Requring a horse

Needing equal treatment

A thing whose necessity was doubtful

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Question 10 of 10

10. What was a 'trilemma'? Hint

A threefold choice

A difficult person

A serious problem

A prayer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was a 'girl' to Chaucer?

Answer: A young person of either sex

And a 'harlot' was a boy. My, how words do change.

2. What did 'liversick' mean?

Answer: Sick at heart

Up until a couple of hundred years ago, people believed that the liver was the seat of the emotions such as love. Being liversick mainly implied being in love.

3. What English city was known as Lud's Town?

Answer: London

Legend had it that London was rebuilt by a mythical king called Lud.

4. This one is still used occasionally. What does 'fell' mean (as an adjective)?

Answer: Deadly, fearsome

It's an old word, but still used when people are writing in an 'old' style; Tolkien used it numerous times. It can also mean cruel or evil in some contexts.

5. A person who is gravel-blind is what?

Answer: More or less totally blind

Shakespeare uses it in 'The Merchant of Venice'. Launcelot says that his father is 'gravel-blind'.

6. Was to be called a 'slawterpooch' a compliment?

Answer: No

A slawterpooch was a slovenly or ungainly person.

7. Who was the 'sithcundman' of a village?

Answer: The oldest inhabitant

A sithcundman was highly respected, and was often in charge of the town, or even the entire district.

8. What sort of beverage was a 'posset'?

Answer: Beer or wine mixed with milk

Possets were thought to be good nourishment for the old or ill.

9. 'Equinecessary' meant what?

Answer: Equally necessary

A useful word. How come that one went out the door?

10. What was a 'trilemma'?

Answer: A threefold choice

It's from the same roots as 'dilemma': a 'dilemma' more or less means a problem with two choices as the solutions. A 'trilemma' has just one more.

Source: Author wordnerd

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor nerthus before going online.
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