Lost Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bad tempered

If someone is described as acrasial, that person is known to be ill-tempered and usually with accompanying bad manners. This 1851 adjective was only in use for one year before disappearing from everyday use.

Answer: Constant chatter

Blateration is a noun that was in use between 1656-1864. It means the sound of constant chatter or babble, as in the sound of a large group of people all talking at once, or one sole person who constantly rambles on about nothing at all that makes any sense. I have a cousin like that, and once went and made a cup of tea while she was talking to me on the phone.

She didn't realise I'd gone and was still talking non-stop when I got back.

Answer: Called like a cowherd

Bubulcitate was in use as a verb between 1623 and 1678. It means to call out loudly like a cowherd. One could even laugh in such a fashion. Cowherds, cowboys, stockmen and assorted workers such as these are not exactly known for being demure whisperers when working with their various hordes of cattle.

It's fascinating listening to them at cattle sales or out on properties. If you don't care for the occasional burst of profanity, then it's advisable not to attend same. My brother-in-law had a bull roll on him once.

There was plenty of bubulcitation going on when he eventually recovered consciousness and could talk again.

Answer: Loose bowels

Cacatory, an adjective meaning loose bowels, was in use between the years of 1684 and 1753. Its origins can possibly be traced back to the old Greek word kakkan, which meant to void excrement. Not a pleasant thought at all, and a far worse experience if one has over indulged to that extent. Fortunately spicy foods all made me ill and the void is therefore avoided.

Answer: Swift footed

Celeripedean was an adjective in use between 1623 and 1656. It means to be fleet of foot or nimble heeled, with the earliest description found applied to a swift footman. Oh such fond memories of my now holier than thou daughter tearing madly up the road every high school day trying to beat the looming bus to the bus stop. "Wait! Wait for me, you cacatory driver, you!"

Answer: Dismember

Chicken thigh anyone? Deartuate, a verb in use between 1623 and 1653, meant to dismember a body. Hopefully after death had occurred for that poor unfortunate soul.

Answer: Removal of warts

Ectylotic was an adjective in use between 1736 and 1864. Its lesser meaning was swollen out like a callus, but its major meaning was the removal of warts. Just for the record though, touching or handling a toad does not cause warts just because those gruesome little creatures appear to be covered in same.

They're not - and human warts are caused by a virus in either case. Who'd want to handle a toad in the first place?

Answer: Feigned an illness

Thank goodness for the Oxford dictionary. That is where most of these definitions can be located. Egrote was a verb that was used between 1721-1775 before its disappearance from everyday use. It means to feign being ill in some way.

Answer: Lacking in eyebrows

Epalpebrate, an adjective meaning lacking in eyebrows, was in use in everyday language during 1884 only, and not from Elizabeth times. However the meaning can definitely applied to the example given in the question because, during the Elizabethan period of history, a high white forehead was considered a sign of beauty. Consequently, not only did those foolish women shave their eyebrows off, they also plucked back the hair on the front of their heads as well. I have a theory that that particular definition of beauty was created by a misogynist.

Answer: Simpleton

I love the sound of this noun that was in use during 1663, but the cruelty of its definition makes me pleased it isn't in use today. To call someone a foppotee is to imply that that person is a simpleton, and that would indeed be hurtful.