1.ween (ween) verb tr., intr.

  To think, suppose, believe.

[From Old English wenan (to expect), from the Indo-European root wen-
(to desire or to strive for) that's also the source of wish, win,
venerate, venison, Venus, and banya. It's the same word that shows
up in "overweening".]
2.sweven (SWEV-uhn) noun

  Dream; vision.

[From Old English swefn (sleep, dream, vision).]

3.scrannel (SKRAN-l) adjective

  1. Thin.

  2. Unmelodious.

[Of unknown origin.]
4.point-device (point di-VYS) adverb

  Completely; perfectly.

adjective

  Perfect; precise; meticulous.

[From the phrase "at point devis" meaning "at a fixed point" or
"to perfection".]
5.Fashions come and go. One year it's bell-bottoms that are cool, another
time it might be torn jeans. What is hip for one age is passé for another.
The same goes for words. Yesterday's street slang becomes respectable today,
suitable for office memos and academic theses. Words once in everyday use
may be labeled archaic a few hundred years later.

As I see it, there's no reason to despatch any word to the attic of time.
Each word on our verbal palette -- whether new or old -- helps us bring out
a nuance in conversation and in writing.

The words featured here this week are considered archaic but are still in
good shape. They're old but have not yet retired from the language. They
still faithfully report for duty, as shown by some of the examples from
newspapers.


garboil (GAHR-boil) noun

  Confusion; turmoil.

[Via French and Italian from Latin bullire (to boil).]