OBSOLETE, adj. No longer used by the timid. Said chiefly…
“OBSOLETE, adj. No longer used by the timid. Said chiefly of words. A word which some lexicographer has marked obsolete is ever thereafter an object of dread and loathing to the fool writer . . .”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Obsolete words are abandoned by the timid, feared by foolish writers, implying language evolves and clinging to old terms can be limiting.
In simple terms: Obsolete words are feared by timid writers.
Key Takeaway
Embrace linguistic evolution.
Themes
language
change
fear
Mood
thoughtful
scholarly
Type
lexicographic
literary
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- linguistic studies
Key Concepts
lexicography
cultural evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives language change?
- How can writers balance tradition and innovation?
A Different Perspective
May resist useful tradition.