WONDROUS WORDS

What Is A Quockerwodger? Learn 10 Unused Words To Impress Your Friends!

Credit: Andrew Seaman

The English language is vast and varied, the so-called universal language. And, like any other, it has undergone changes just as society has. In that process, many words and expressions are no longer accurate to represent our world and they fade away in use, leaving space for the new expression we coin.

It’s a pity so many amazing words have fallen out of use and gone into oblivion. But fear not, as we are here today with a list of ten words that we thought were worth bringing back! At least for you to read and have some fun!

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Let’s kick off the list with a word that describes something we all do, but don’t know it is called that. Imagine you’re on Instagram and you see that post from someone you don’t know but disagree with. Your first instinct is to comment in anger, although deep down, you know that’s pointless. You are, in short, brabbling.

"Brabble," which comes from the Dutch, means "to argue stubbornly about trifles". In its original language, it means "to quarrel or jabber," and its use was first noted in the 1400s.

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Food is a source of happiness for most, who doesn't enjoy a plate of saucy pasta? Now, the enjoyment can quickly come to an end if you see someone groaking over you as you take the fork to your mouth!

The origins of this word are uncertain, but the meaning is superb: It means to silently stare at someone as they eat expecting to receive an invitation to join! Quite specific, isn’t it? And creepy if we might say so.

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When we think of the 1500s, we think of people getting up and right onto their chores, don’t we? This may be a surprise, but even back then, these people just wanted five more minutes in bed, and they had a word for it: slugabed.

Now, this term is compound and both aspects come from Middle English. On the one hand, "slug" means "lazy person". On the other, "bedd" is the old version of "bed."

Even phonetically, this word makes you want to stay horizontal, what do you think?

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This word sounds beautiful, but it may not be the case! Coming from the 1600s, "gorgonize" means to hypnotize or petrify, having a mesmerizing effect on someone, but not in a completely positive way.

The word comes from Ancient Greek and derives from the adjective gorgós which means "dreadful." If that word sounds familiar, that is because Gorgons was the name for the sisters with serpents on their heads, the ones who could petrify anyone who looked at them directly. We hope you’re not gorgonized by this word!

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This one has the vibes of an insult, or at least an adjective for when one is fed up with something, doesn’t it? Now, the context of "crapulent" is rather different: Can you imagine the feeling after you’ve had several courses in one meal or one too many drinks at a gathering? That’s when you feel crapulent.

The word can be traced back to the 1600s and it derives from a Greek word that means "hangover." If you take a close look at the word, you will notice that it captures its essence quite flawlessly!

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This is a funny word with a literal and a metaphorical meaning behind it, and one that could easily adapt to today’s world!

Back in the 1500s, a "quockerwodger" was a wooden puppet with strings controlled by someone else. Can you see where the metaphorical meaning is going?

That’s right, the word also referred to someone, most times a politician, whose actions and thoughts were controlled or under the influence of other people.

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If one had to guess, "mickle" sounds like something small, but it is actually the opposite! The word "mickle" is synonymous with "big; large; a lot, etc." It refers to both size and quantity and it can be used in contexts like: "You are so nice, you must have a mickle of friends!" At the same time, it can be a standalone adjective like "a mickle storm."

It is both cute and versatile, so why don’t we bring it back?

Credit: Javier Allegue Barros

Does this word sound familiar? That’s because the modern version of "betwixt" is "between," and this word is probably the oldest on this list, it can be traced back to 950!

Just like its modern version, "betwixt" has several meanings with a shared essence: "neither the one nor the other," to hold a middle position, to show options or indecisiveness.

This word is a true example of modernization of the language: Same meaning, different spelling and pronunciation.

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This word holds an interesting story for those intrigued by linguistic history. Rooted in witchcraft, it specifically described the old belief that witches would ride on brooms to cast hexes or inflict nightmares on unsuspecting victims.

Naturally, the meaning of the word derived and finally came to describe a personal torment and the reasons behind it. For example, "This project is really hagriding me!" This one is in for a reboot, the world today can get hagriding, don’t you think?

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To close our article, we bring a word whose pronunciation does not do justice to its meaning. Picture this: It is a cold snowy winter day outside, but you can already see the sun, in all its glory, is coming out to warm your cheeks a bit. That is when you thank for the apricity of the day.

Dating from the 1600s, "apricity" refers to the warmth of the sun in the winter, and the definition alone can really paint a picture.

PIVOTAL PAPERS

Let's Check These 10 Important Documents That Changed History

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As a species, we have been on this Earth for a very long time. And we can affirm one thing: change is the only constant. For better or worse, many crucial moments in our national and global history have been immortalized in documents that are witnesses of our persistent pursuit of progress.

Whether you're a history fan or just curious about the past, delving into history is not only entertaining but also essential for understanding our present. Join us as we revisit these 10 documents that, in one way or another, have changed the world!

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Back in the **13th century,**King John of England sealed a document that would change the course of history. This ancient but pivotal document, known as the Magna Carta, paved the way for many other papers and treaties that would shape the field of law for centuries to come.

Among its pioneering features, this document limited the power of the monarchy and proclaimed the principle that everyone was subject to the law, including the king.

Today, there are four original copies of the Magna Carta, two of them kept in the cathedrals of Lincoln and Salisbury, and two others in theBritish Library in London.

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In 1620, after a 2-month journey across the Atlantic, the Mayflower finally arrived in what would become America.

Even while still aboard, the passengers understood the need to establish a form of government once they arrived in the New World. The pilgrims, who then established the Plymouth Colony, signed what we now know as the Mayflower Compact, a document considered by history as an early example of government by the will of the majority in this continent.

While it applied only to male passengers, the Mayflower Compact is regarded as fundamental, as it set the stage for later documents that would embody democratic principles in America.

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As many of you already know, on July 4, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall), delegates from the original Thirteen Colonies adopted a revolutionary document: the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

This key document laid out the reasons why America would no longer accept British colonial rule. Its influence would later inspire similar declarations of independence in many other countries.

The men who set this precedent continue to inspire us in countless ways. Did you know that Thomas Jefferson, the mind behind the Declaration, was just 33 years old when he penned it? Truly amazing!

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On September 3, 1783, representatives from the United States and King George III of Great Britain sealed a deal like no other. The historic Treaty of Paris marked the end of the American Revolutionary War, following the victories of George Washington's army over the British forces.

With this Treaty, the American colonies established their freedom and were now officially recognized as sovereign states.

Among many other crucial points, the Treaty of Paris also recognized Americans' right to navigate the Mississippi River, a vital route for commerce that played an essential role in the growth of this country.

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After the establishment of the U.S. Constitution, some worries spread through our land. Many feared the original Constitution didn't cover or protect several individual rights and freedoms. The Bill of Rights came to assuage this concern, and its inclusion was vital to the ratification of the Constitution by the states.

Proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791, The Bill of Rights was inspired by George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776 and established the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which concern fundamental rights for citizens (such as the right to a fair trial, the right to free speech, among many others).

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1803, the year the **U.S. received an offer impossible to refuse.**Fifteen million dollars may seem like a lot of money. But not in this story, because for that price, the U.S. would gain a staggering 828,000 square miles of land.

The United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France, then ruled by the legendary Napoleon Bonaparte, for that amount of money, which gives us approximately 18 dollars per square mile.

Robert Livingston and James Monroe, emissaries of President Thomas Jefferson, and Barbé Marbois, the French representative, signed the important treaty on April 30, 1803, opening many possibilities for America's growth and expansion.

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Abraham Lincoln is a central figure in American history for multiple reasons, with one of his most notable contributions being the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Signed on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation changed the legal status of millions. This document was crucial in the process of liberation of enslaved people in the Confederate states, even though its effects were not immediate.

As such, the Proclamation serves as a powerful symbol, standing as a testament to the foundational principles of freedom and equality upon which our nation was built.

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When WWI finally ended, the world was clamoring for peace, and one of the most famous peace treaties in history was the Treaty of Versailles.

The Treaty of Versailles, named after the palace where it was signed on June 28, 1919, marked a major deal between the Allied, other associated powers, and Germany. This historic document of 440 articles, which came into force on January 10, 1920, made some serious demands, including big war reparations.

Even though the Treaty of Versailles aimed for peace and compensation, some historians criticize it for being too severe, and some even say it helped set the stage for World War II.

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The 19th Amendment marked a triumph after many years of women's determined fight for the right to vote.

Also known as the Anthony Amendment in honor of Susan B. Anthony, the 19th Amendment was finally ratified in 1920. But it was actually proposed an astonishing 42 years earlier, way back in 1878.

Prohibiting gender discrimination in voting, this amendment became a major milestone in our country's history, and it was just one of the many rights women won in the following decades.

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As you probably already know, Eleanor Roosevelt was an important advocate behind the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Leading a committee of global representatives, she headed the drafting of this groundbreaking document, which was later approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

One of the most important rights documents in world history, this declaration- comprising 30 articles - establishes certain civil, economic, social, and cultural rights considered fundamental, regardless of "nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status."