While I was rereading The Royal Path of Life by T.L. Haines A.M./L.W. Yaggy M.S., it occurred to me that there were many words that we don’t see much in books today. Many of them I understood by just rereading the sentence and focusing on the context, but other words I had to look up. This aroused my curiosity, and I thought it would be a good idea to share some of these words and the meaning in a series of posts.

The Royal Path of Life was written in 1876; I own a revised edition (1884). What I love about this book besides the engraved leather binding, gilded title, and gorgeous woodcuts illustrations is the common sense and wisdom found throughout its pages which bleed of the way of living of the times. Here are six words I found interesting. Many words today are derivatives, and many of these old words are obsolete.

From Merriam-Webster and OED

Macademize – To construct or finish (a road) by compacting into a solid mass a layer of small broken stone on a convex well-drained roadbed and using a binder. First known use 1823. Used after John Louden McAdam (1756-1836), civil engineer, pioneer of this method.

Bespattered (bespatter) – Spatter. Synonyms – dash, spatter, splatter, plash, splash. First known use in 1602. I could not find the etymology of this word.

Bedimmed (bedim) – To make less bright. To make indistinct. First known use 1565. From dim, Germanic, Old English.

Trifles (trifle) – Something of little value, substance, or importance. First known use 14th century. Middle English period. From Anglo French.

Irksome – Tedious. First known use 15th century. Formed within English by derivation.

Timorous – Of a timid disposition. Fearful. First known use 15th century. Middle English. From Medieval Latin (timorous), from Latin (timor).

Some of these words, one can make up the meaning, especially when they are close to Latin or Spanish (if you speak the language), for example, timorous. I hope you enjoyed these interesting words.