Editor's Corner

Today we have a third of the words from “30 Archaic Adjectives and Adverbs” by Mark Nichol (DailyWritingTips.com). Try a few of these on for size in Balboa Park the next time the Society for Creative Anachronism is practicing—you’ll gain friends for life or be chased out of the park by a madman in chain mail—either way, an exciting Saturday. [KC]

From Mark Nichol:

The words below are obsolete, archaic, or old-fashioned, and though those in the latter category can still be found in modern writing, use all with caution. Sparing use keeps these words alive and adds a whimsical or quaint note, but too frequent recourse to such antiquities will have you sounding like a Renaissance Faire refugee. (Most are adjectives or adverbs or both; some can function as other parts of speech as well, as indicated.)

1. Anon (adv.): soon, or later (“They will arrive anon”; “I will reveal more anon”)

2. Aright (adv.): correctly (“Did I hear aright?”)

3. Athwart (adj., prep.): across (“The locked chest lay athwart the planks”)

4. Belike (adv.): probably (“Belike we are more similar than you think”)

5. Enow (adj., adv.): enough (“If I had loved enow, I would be a happier man”)

6. Fain (adj., adv.): willing, compelled, inclined, pleased (“Fain am I to hear you sing”)

7. Forsooth (adv.): indeed (“Forsooth, I do believe you envy him”)

8. Forthwith (adv.): immediately (“Carry this message forthwith”)

9. Froward (adj.): contrary, adverse (“His horse was forward [sic], and threw him when he set his spurs”) [KC – Example should also be “froward.”]

10. Heretofore (adv.): up to this time (“Heretofore, I had not believed it possible”)

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor

Symitar, A Jack Henry Company

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