A campaign of sorts is now going on to save 24 rarely used words from fading into oblivion. Language aficionados are steaming over plans to exclude forever from the new edition of the Collins English Dictionary words like exuviate (shed) and oppugnant (combative). The dictionary reasons that these words are so rarely used that if these words do not reappear in the dictionary’s English database by January, they will be deleted.
Politicians actually started incorporating these words in their speeches, using the word niddering (cowardly) and calignosity (dim). A British poet intends to use the word skirr (bird's wings humming sound) in a new poem. Joining in enthusiastic word-saving efforts is the Times of London launching a voting poll to their readers.
Some high-fallutin' words mean actually as they sound, such as embrangle (to confuse) and fubsy (short and stout). There are a couple that attracted some fans for being gen-Xish: roborant (tending to fortify) and nitid (bright).
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