언어는인간사회의필수도구이면서시대의산물이기도하다.그런점에서지구상에서매일수많은말과단어가생겨나기도하고사라지기도한다.우리말도그렇지만세계공용어인영어또한예외일수없다.신조어와슬랭이뜬금없이생겨나는반면옛말과단어는사용빈도가적어지면서사라져간다.
사라져가는옛영어단어중에서익살스럽고맛깔스런게많다.셰익스피어시대때썼던고전적인단어라지금의풍조에다소어긋나기도하지만지금시점에회화에사용해도재미있는단어들도많다.이와관련해미국의<허핑턴포스트>는지금도사용되고있는재미있고익살스런옛단어14개를소개했다.다음은그단어들과예문이다.

1.Soothfast:진실에근거한,솔직한,진실의(Truthful,honest)
예문:Besoothfastwithme,brother.Didyoudrunk-eatmypringleslastnight?(솔직히말해봐,어제밤에내프링글스감자칩을마시고먹었지?)

2.Erotographomania:연애편지마니아,혹은에로틱문학에대한비정상적인흥미(Amaniaforwritingloveletters,oranabnormalinterestineroticliterature)
예문:HowarethingsgoingwithGreg?/Oh,webrokeup.Ithinkhehaserotographomania./OhmygoshI’veheardofthat-It’slikegonorrheabutworse,right?(그레그와는어떻게돼가고있지?응,우리헤어졌는데,그남자는연애편지광신자라고생각해.맙소사,나도그렇게들었는데,그증세는흡사악화되는지저분한병과같은것이지,안그래?)

3.Mammothrept:보채는,짜증스런아이(Aspoiledchild)
예문:Wanttogotothepool?/No!/Wellthenwhatdoyouwanttodo?/iPad!/iPadsaeforgrown-ups,youmammothrept.(수영풀장에가고싶어?싫어.그럼네가하고싶은게뭐지?아이패드!아이패드는다큰아이들을위한것이야,이짜증나는아이같으니라고.)

4.Ganch:높은곳에서날카로운막대기나갈고리위로떨어뜨리는형벌(Toexecutebyimpalingonstakesorhooks)

5.Keelivine:연필(Leadpencil)

6.Whisternefet:귀뺨때리기,귀싸대기(Asharpslap)
예문:Nicewhisternefet,buddy!YoushowthatFranziawho’sboss!(귀싸대기한번보스답게시원하게날렸어!)

7.Diversivolent:논쟁하기를바라는,다른것을갈망하는(Lookingforanargument,ordesiringdifferentthings)

8.Lasslorn:여자,특히남의여자로부터버림받은비애,혹은여자로부터버림받은자(Sadnessduetobeingstoodupbyone’sladyorforsakenbyone’slassormistress)
예문:WhyhasJoebeenkaraoke-ingJewelsongsallnight?/Givehimabreak,man,he’ssuperlasslorn.(조는왜밤새가라오케에서노래를불렀지?이제그만좀쉬게해.그는버림받고너무큰비애에젖어있어.)

9.Palpebrate:윙크,혹은눈을반복적으로깜빡거림(Towinkorblink,repeatedly)

10.Epicaricacy:남의불행을통해기쁨을느끼는것(Takingpleasureinothers’misfortune,orrejoicingatorderivationfromthemisfortunesofothers)

11.Absquatulate:급히떠남.종적을감춤.뺑소니침(Toleavehurriedly,suddenly,orsecretly)
예문:Wherearewegoing,FrauleinMaris?It’sthedeadofnight!/WemustabsquatulatetotheSwissAlps,children,wherewecansinganddanceandhavepuppetshowsforever.(마리아,이야밤에어디를가고있니?응,우리는노래하고춤추고꼭두각시쇼를영원히볼수있는스위스알프스와아이들에게가야해.)

12.Widdershins:역행하다.반대방향으로가다(Backwards)
예문:Youboughtyourweddingdressbeforeheevenproposed?TheoneyouPinnedlastweek?!That’spositivelywiddershins!Brilliant,butwiddershins!(너는그남자가프로포즈하기도전에웨딩드레스를사고지난주에핀작업을했지.그것은어쩜그나름으로유니크하고화려해보이는것이지만명백하게말해역행하는짓이야!)

13.Fussock:크고뚱뚱한여자(Abig,fatlady)
예문:Itain’tovertillthefussocksings.(크고뚱뚱한여자의노래가마지막을장식할것이다.)

14.Elumbated:허리가약하고변변치않은(Weakorlameintheloins)
예문:SodidyouandScotthookuplastnight?/Ehh,hewasalittleelumbated,ifyouknowwhatImean.(어제저녁에스콧과연결이됐어?그런데그남자는허리가좀시원찮지.내가무슨말을하는지알지.)