WORD: Desuetude

[des-wi-tood, -tyood ]

[noun]

The state of being no longer used or practiced.

A very few people, not appearing to be up to much, sat far apart at desks in a dimly lighted panorama of desuetude.

PETER SCHJELDAHL, "THE VILLAGE VOICE'S MAGIC MIRROR," THE NEW YORKER, SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

The practice of “leaving a calling card” may have fallen into desuetude among human beings, but as a description of pet behavior the phrase continues to have legs.

CULLEN MURPHY, "ANTICIPATION," THE ATLANTIC, NOVEMBER 1998

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Commonly used Italian curse words and insults

Image
April 22, 2020  Jessica Maggi Italy and swearing just belong together. When it comes to curse words (parolacce) and insults, no one does it quite like the Italians. One of the most fascinating things about swearing in Italian is that the vocabulary is so vast, rich and colorful. Here is a guide to the insults and bad words you will need when arguing like an Italian. Even if you don’t use them, knowing these swear words will allow you to fully understand what is being said around you, since you will surely come across them often when in Italy. Note: This post may contain terms that are inappropriate for some readers. Cazzo – F*ck In Italian, the word cazzo literally means “dick”, and is commonly used not only to express anger, but also as an exclamation of surprise, disappointment or even appreciation. It is extremely common, and mastering its usage is crucial to better relate to those around you. It can be added to a sentence, or be used as an exclamation. You can use cazzo, pronou...
Read more

Beaut words: Dickpot

Dickpot is a word from the 1700s referring to the earthenware pots people filled with hot embers or coals to warm their cold tootsies. According to Ann Elizabeth Baker, writing in the 1800s, dickpots were favored by little old ladies who put them under their petticoats to keep them warm while darning, knitting, and tatting lace. Yes, dickpots were a favorite of little old ladies. Hah.
Read more