Language constantly evolves, and as new words are coined, others quietly slip into obscurity. In this post, we take a whimsical stroll through the alphabet, uncovering one rare or obsolete English word for each letter — some humorous, some poetic, all fascinating. A – Apanthropy Meaning: A dislike of being around people; the desire to live alone or in seclusion. Example: After years of social events, Clara developed a gentle apanthropy and moved to a quiet cottage in the hills. B – Blatteroon Meaning: A person who talks incessantly or boasts foolishly. Example: The dinner guest was such a blatteroon that no one else could get a word in. C – Curglaff Meaning: The shock felt when plunging into cold water. Example: She jumped into the lake and yelped at the sudden curglaff that ran up her spine. D – Dwale Meaning: A sleeping potion or a delusion; sometimes associated with deadly nightshade. Example: The apothecary prepared a dwale to ease the knight’s pain. ...
David White is an Australian English teacher who has been living in Peru since 2001. In partnership with his wife Claudia, they are the owners of ¨English For You Language Institute´, an institute that specializes in the teaching of all levels of English from Basic (A1) to Advanced (C2) including international exam preparation. They are also the owners of ELT Educational Services and David is also the Headmaster of the American School, a respected bilingual ib school in Northern Peru.