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Quiz about Ghosts of Language Past
Quiz about Ghosts of Language Past

Ghosts of Language Past Trivia Quiz


Words that were once in common use, but are now effectively dead. I give you the word, you give me the meaning.

A multiple-choice quiz by wordnerd. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
wordnerd
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
77,425
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
946
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What was a 'girl' to Chaucer? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What did 'liversick' mean? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What English city was known as Lud's Town?

Answer: (One Word)
Question 4 of 10
4. This one is still used occasionally. What does 'fell' mean (as an adjective)? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. A person who is gravel-blind is what? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Was to be called a 'slawterpooch' a compliment?


Question 7 of 10
7. Who was the 'sithcundman' of a village? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What sort of beverage was a 'posset'? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. 'Equinecessary' meant what? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. What was a 'trilemma'? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 15 2024 : patrickk: 10/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 172: 4/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What was a 'girl' to Chaucer?

Answer: A young person of either sex

And a 'harlot' was a boy. My, how words do change.
2. What did 'liversick' mean?

Answer: Sick at heart

Up until a couple of hundred years ago, people believed that the liver was the seat of the emotions such as love. Being liversick mainly implied being in love.
3. What English city was known as Lud's Town?

Answer: London

Legend had it that London was rebuilt by a mythical king called Lud.
4. This one is still used occasionally. What does 'fell' mean (as an adjective)?

Answer: Deadly, fearsome

It's an old word, but still used when people are writing in an 'old' style; Tolkien used it numerous times. It can also mean cruel or evil in some contexts.
5. A person who is gravel-blind is what?

Answer: More or less totally blind

Shakespeare uses it in 'The Merchant of Venice'. Launcelot says that his father is 'gravel-blind'.
6. Was to be called a 'slawterpooch' a compliment?

Answer: No

A slawterpooch was a slovenly or ungainly person.
7. Who was the 'sithcundman' of a village?

Answer: The oldest inhabitant

A sithcundman was highly respected, and was often in charge of the town, or even the entire district.
8. What sort of beverage was a 'posset'?

Answer: Beer or wine mixed with milk

Possets were thought to be good nourishment for the old or ill.
9. 'Equinecessary' meant what?

Answer: Equally necessary

A useful word. How come that one went out the door?
10. What was a 'trilemma'?

Answer: A threefold choice

It's from the same roots as 'dilemma': a 'dilemma' more or less means a problem with two choices as the solutions. A 'trilemma' has just one more.
Source: Author wordnerd

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor nerthus before going online.
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