Words Bordering on Archaic

[Teasing the Korean]

This morning, I was singing to myself "The Man on the Flying Trapeze," and when I got to the line "My love he has purloined away," it made me wonder if anyone uses the word "purloin" anymore, and if it is bordering on archaic.  

Sammy Cahn used the word "flivver" as late as 1958, in "It's Nice to Go Trav'ling," but I think it was already an outdated word by then.  

[jazzbo]

 

Philip K. Dick used he word "flivver" in one or two works to indicate a flying, automated conscious vehicle. 

I find names can be archaic. I had two great aunts, one of the maternal side and one on the paternal side of the family, named "Erma." Who today is named Erma?

Edited February 25, 2023 by jazzbo

[Teasing the Korean]

13 minutes ago, jazzbo said:

I find names can be archaic. I had two great aunts, one of the maternal side and one on the paternal side of the family, named "Erma." Who today is named Erma?

Names go in and out of fashion.  Turn-of-the-century names like Emma have made a comeback in recent decades.  Erma or Irma, not so much, maybe.

Interesting about "flivver."

[JSngry]

The lady who lives across the street from us is named Emma, and she's late-20s or so.

"Purloined" in the news:

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/case-possibly-purloined-van-gogh-can-courts-decide-if-painting-can-be-seized-2023-01-27/

https://see.news/tel-aviv-manuscripts-ankara-israeli-rescue-team

https://www.casino.org/news/las-vegas-lawyer-to-pay-ronaldo-335k-over-palms-rape-claim/

[Teasing the Korean]

4 minutes ago, JSngry said:

The lady who lives across the street from us is named Emma, and she's late-20s or so.

Yes, as I mentioned, Emma made a big comeback.  Erma or Irma, not so much.

[jazzbo]

I've known Emmas all my life--don't think that went away. 

[BillF]

"Purloined" as a euphemism for "stolen" is still quite acceptable for me, though I doubt if the younger generation are familiar with it.

[GA Russell]

I suspect that most Americans think of The Purloined Letter when they read that word.

[JSngry]

I always think of Emma Goldman when I hear the name Emma. 

Are we still using Edith, or did All In The Family kill that one? 

[Matthew]

Maybe I run with the wrong crowd, but I haven't heard or read the word statuesque in quite a long time.

[jazzbo]

The last time I heard anyone utter "statuesque" a coworker was describing his new girlfriend who worked in another division of our agency. As soon as he said "statuesque" I knew what he was talking about. She was. This was 2008.

[JSngry]

I see it in the printed word reasonably often enough. It's a good adjective! 

[greggery peccary]

Dungarees, slacks, trousers...I teach and the kids today have no idea what they are.

My father who is almost 90 still calls the refrigerator the "ice box." I would guess that most people nowadays would find that a strange way to refer to their Igloo cooler.

[Dan Gould]

One could almost say that these are words that we hardly see "neither hide nor hair of" anymore.