Do you know there lots of very uncommon English words, which you have never come across all this time?
When you encounter these most unused words in English language, or weird long English words, you would be lost for words!
All these strange very uncommon English words and even phrases definitely sound Greek to you.
The other day I came upon the book “The Cabinet Of Linguistic Curiosities: A Yearbook Of Forgotten Words” by Paul Anthony Jones.
As I flipped through the pages, I flipped out.
Curgloft, confounded and bumbaz’d, with each page I turned.
Note: The above sentence is adapted from a line from a poem titled “Mother’s Grim’s Tales” by William Menton. source
I was flabbergasted, stupefied or shengulate.
In other words, I was greatly shocked to my very core.
It looks like an old book, tucked away forgotten at the back of a curio shop, musty second-hand bookshop, or a dusty attic.
Between the pages, is a treasure trove of whole year’s worth of linguistic curiosities, waiting to be unearthed and explored.
This is not your usual learn-a-word-day book.
It is also not a book about sesquipedalian (long words having many syllables).
For instance words like:
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobic: someone with a fear of long words
Floccinaucinihilipilification: the act of deciding that something is worthless
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: something to say when you have nothing to say.
This compendium “The Cabinet Of Linguistic Curiosities” is filled with very uncommon English words; strange and forgotten English words and phrases.
Paul Anthony Jones dedicated each day a word/phrase together with an interesting or remarkable event, often corresponding to the date of the entry.
For instance:
1 January: The word is quaaltagh. It means the first person you meet on New Year’s Day.
On January 7: The word is sheep’s eye. It means to look amorously at someone.
14 February: The word is limerence. It means the state of being romantically infatuated or obsessed with another person, typically experienced involuntarily and characterized by a strong desire for reciprocation of one’s feelings.
1 April: The word is dorbellist. It means a fool, a dull-witted dolt.
25 September: The word is theic. It mean an excessive drinker of tea.
Very Uncommon English Words
If you are fascinated and intrigued with odd English words and phrases, get this cabinet of etymology and historical miscellany.
You can find the whole year’s worth of linguistic curiosities hidden in this 384-page book.
Don’t worry, the book that makes me feel stupid aka “The Cabinet Of Linguistic Curiosities” is not a *curfuggle of words. (*a confused mess; disorder, disarray)
You can read it page by page, or you can even find out the meaning and story of each word via its Wordfinder.
Anyone and even for those who are ambivaleous (equally clumsy in both hands), should get your hands on this free book online now.
The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities: A Yearbook of Forgotten Words By Paul Anthony Jones
Click on this: Link
Before I share with you with more similar books of very uncommon English words, find out the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on its strange and wonderful grammar by American linguist John McWhorter.
Our Magnificent B*st*rd Tongue: The Untold History Of English By John McWhorter
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
For word mavens, you might want to dig into this book filled with informative and entertaining account of the key figures and events behind the lexicographic tools of the English language – dictionaries, thesauruses and grammars.
The Lexicographer’s Dilemma: The Evolution of ’Proper’ English, from Shakespeare to South Park By Jack Lynch
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
Before you check out the big list of books unusual English words, here is one entertaining book about differences between British English and American English.
Learn about the hilarious differences between the two dialects, and what they say about their cultures from Erin Moore.
That’s Not English: Britishisms, Americanisms And What Our English Says About Us By Erin Moore
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
Free Fun Books About English Words And Language
Below here I have curated a collection of free books about obscure, weird-sounding and difficult English words and eloquent phrases and linguistic oddities.
If you who have a fascination for English words, drop in to get your linguistic fix from “Word Drops“.
This compendium of 1,000 facts about words, language and etymology also by Paul Anthony Jones.
I assure you would stumble upon a most unused words in English or weirdly spelled English words, and also learn the umpteen bizarre etymological quirks or tall tales.
Word Drops: A Sprinkling Of Linguistic Curiosities By Paul Anthony Jones
Click on this: Link
Look out for obscure forgotten words and funny English words hidden in some remote corner of the English language in this Mark Forysth‘s book.
For instance this old English word word “uhtceare” means lying awake before dawn and worrying, or “snollygoster” which is a a shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician.
There are many more rare English words in there.
This witty and delightfully eccentric book introduces each word to an hour of the day and things associated with that hour.
If etymologicon is your cup of tea, you would lap this book up and savor it to the last very uncommon English words.
The Horologicon: A Day’s Jaunt through The Lost Words Of The English Language By Mark Forsyth
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
This is another amusing work of Mark Forsyth you should check it out.
If you love to come up with a beautifully-crafted phrases, read up this idiosyncratic, erudite and brilliantly funny work of Mark Forsyth.
You get to learn the eloquence secrets from the classic poetry to pop lyrics, from Charles Dickens to Dolly Parton, Jesus to James Bond, and William Shakespeare.
The Elements Of Eloquence: Secrets Of The Perfect Turn Of Phrase By Mark Forsyth
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
If you want to know why a mortgage is literally a death pledge, why guns have girls’ names or why salt is related to soldier, then read this fascinating and funny book.
It is an interesting collection of facts about words, their origins and how they link to other words.
And not forgetting the historical facts about how words were originally used and then how they have changed to be used as we do today.
Take your time to digest this free chockful information from one of the links below.
The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through The Hidden Connections Of The English Language By Mark Forsyth
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
Do you want to spice up your vocabulary to add a touch of eloquence to make you sound sophiscated or smart?
Copywriter Robert Bly has elucubrated a collection of “fancy” words which include: autodidactic, syzygy, aegis, afflatus, palimpsest, and more.
As stated at the back blurb of the book:
So you want to debate philosophical precepts with the intelligentsia? Wax poetic with the literati? Lock academic horns with the clerisy?
You can do all that – and be the life of the every highbrow cocktail party – with this most compendious of voluminous volumes. Master this discerning list of 1,200 deliciously obscure terms and you’ll be tossing around bon mots with the best of the portentous artistes and aesthetes – not to mention impressing the perfervid hoi polloi – in no time!
This book receives quite a handful of bad reviews.
After all this book is available free online, check it out for yourself.
The Words You Should Know To Sound Smart: 1200 Essential Words Every Sophisticated Person Should Be Able To Use By Robert W. Bly
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
Remember this is a big book of words, and not really a book of big words.
Don’t be misled by the design of the book cover, where it enlarged and emboldened the words “BIG” and “WORDS“.
You can find practical, functional words you can use in day-to-day conversation or writing.
As I have mentioned, it is not littered with those so-called big words; those obscure and even obsolete words as you can find in “The Cabinet Of Linguistic Curiosities“.
This book is divided into seven parts:
PART I: Words You Absolutely Should Know
PART II: Words Most People Don’t Know
PART III: Words You Should Know but Probably Don’t
PART IV: Foreign Idioms You Should Know
PART V: People and Place Words You Should Know
PART VI: Words You Should Know to Sound Overeducated
PART VII: Words You Probably Shouldn’t Know
It is just like the above book by Robert W. Bly, the list of words are arranged in alphabetically order.
If you have an average command of English vocabulary, I am sure you should know quite a handful of them even from PART II: Words Most People Don’t Know.
Anyway, if you a word monger, click on any of the links below and check them out.
The Big Book Of Words You Should Know: Over 3,000 Words. Every Person Should Be Able To Use (And A Few That You Probably Shouldn’t) By David Olsen, Michelle Bevilacqua, Justin Cord Hayes
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5
As the book says: seven hundred words for the well groomed vocabulary that will enhance your sagaciousness, augment your ken, and expedite your ascent up the ladder of success.
It’s time to learn up new big English words and their meaning and use these very uncommon English words to sound smart.
In this book, you can find the appropriate word that fits meaningfully in both your writing and speaking.
Big Words For Big Shooters By John E. Rose, Jr.
Click on this: Link
If you are overwhelmed with building up your English vocabulary, then probably you may want to look this book by Murray Bromberg and Melvin Gordon.
All you need to do is to learn up five new words each day.
By the end of the 4th day you will have covered 20 new words and have a nice comprehensive review following each 4 day week.
1100 Words You Need To Know By Murray Bromberg, Melvin Gordon
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
This is another illuminating book by Paul Anthony Jones.
The writing is easy to understand, it reveals the histories, humor, geography, tales and adventures that spread within the pages of our dictionaries.
Not forgetting the fascinating facts and insights into the origins of words and concepts.
Around The World In 80 Words: A Journey Through The English Language By Paul Anthony Jones
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
Haggard Hawks And Paltry Poltroons: The Origins Of English In Ten Words By Paul Anthony Jones
Click on any of theses: Link 1, Link 2
The Big Book Of Words You Should Know To Sound Smart: A Guide for Aspiring Intellectuals By Robert W. Bly
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2
They Have A Word For It: A Lighthearted Lexicon Of Untranslatable Words And Phrases By Howard Rheingold
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2
Another Word A Day: An All-New Romp Through Some Of The Most Unusual And Intriguing Words In English By Anu Garg
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5
Hutchinson Dictionary Of Difficult Words By John Ayto
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4
The Oxford Dictionary Of Difficult Words By Archie Hobson
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
500 Foreign Words And Phrases You Should Know To Sound Smart. Terms To Demonstrate Your Savoir Faire, Chutzpah, And Bravado By Peter Archer And Linda Archer
Click on any of this: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
Forgotten English By Jeffrey Kacirk
Click on this: Link
The Word Museum: The Most Remarkable English Ever Forgotten By Jeffrey Kacirk
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2
Altered English: Surprising Meanings Of Familiar Words By Jeffrey Kacirk
Click on this: Link
2000 Most Challenging And Obscure Words By Norman W. Schur
Click on this: Link
A Dictionary Of Challenging Words By Norman W. Schur
Click on this: Link
Altered English: Surprising Meanings of Familiar Words Better Than Great: A Plenitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives By Arthur Plotnik
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2
The Completely Superior Person’s Book Of Words By Peter Bowler
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2
500 Words You Should Know By Caroline Taggart
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2
The Endangered English Dictionary: Bodacious Words Your Dictionary Forgot By David Grambs
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2
Get Thee To A Punnery: Whet Your Wit And Ready Your Riposte With This Outrageous Punster’s Bible By Richard Lederer
Click on this: Link
The illustrated Dictionary Of Unfamiliar Words By Diagram Group
Click on this: Link
The Little Book Of Lost Words: Collywobbles, Snollygosters, And 86 Other Surprisingly Useful Terms Worth Resurrecting By Joe Gillard
Click on this: Link
Word lovers should check out this reference book filled with unfamilar English words and phrases.
It is appropriate for the average person who often encounters these stumbling words or phrases.
Words like, batten, kiosk, proctor, coup de grace, alliteration, parsec, corona, renal, joystick, decant, or citadel.
This dictionary of unfamiliar words is divided into over fifty categories; from art, history, and sports to text messaging and even hip hop slang.
The Dictionary Of Unfamiliar Words: Over 1,000 Common And Confusing Words Explained
Click on this: Link
The Wordsworth Book Of Intriguing Words: The Insomniac’s Dictionary Of The Outrageous, Odd And Unusual By Paul Hellwag
Click on any of these: Link 1, Link 2
Weird And Wonderful Words: The Bedside Companion For Insomniacs By Paul Hellweg
Click on this: Link
Free Books For Word-Grubbers
All these free books are for those word-grubbers who want to ameliorate your atavistic lexicon, so they can engage in a little intellectual badinage.
If you think you are a mamamouchi (a term for people who consider themselves more important than they truly are), then all these free books should be your cup of tea.
You would definitely be inebriated with all this strange concoction of English words.
Well, if you are word-conjurer, let me welcome you to the mysterious world of forgotten and rare English words and phrases.
Related: Websites to look for arcane English words, new words, slang, and colloquialisms
Check out this valuable website called The Phrontistery.
This site you can also find that half-remembered rare or obscure word you’ve been looking for, or to read and explore essays on language, linguistics, and culture.
Word Spy
A website guide for new English words.
Dictionary Of Slang
An online dictionary of English slang and colloquialisms
Lexico
Weird and wonderful words with definitions.
There you are books abound with very uncommon English words or phrases, and other linguistic oddities.
Disclaimer: I do not publish or host any of the books here. They are copyrighted to their respective owners. All content cited is derived from their respective sources.