revived words

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Words that were once common but had gone out of use, and have now become popular again.

   Grammar: Always plural in this phrase; for a single item say 'a revived word'.

   Patterns

   • revived words from the past
   • a list of revived words
   • revived words like ...

   Her essay looks at revived words such as 'thou' in modern poetry.

   Many revived words come back through fashion, film, or social media.

   The dictionary added a section on revived words from the nineteenth century.

2. 2nounpluraltechnical

   Words that have been brought back into active use in a language community after a period of silence.

   Grammar: Used especially in discussions of language change and language revival.

   Patterns

   • the revival of words
   • bring back a word
   • words revived by a community

   In Wales, revived words from old texts now appear in everyday signs.

   Language teachers often discuss revived words and how they spread.

   The project recorded revived words used by older speakers.

Common combinations

a revived word

‘Chortle’ is a revived word that many people now use again.

revived vocabulary

The novel is full of revived vocabulary from the 1700s.

bring a word back

Social media can bring a word back almost overnight.

come back into use

Several old words have come back into use among young speakers.

Synonyms and how they differ

archaism

An archaism is an old word that still sounds old-fashioned; a revived word has become current again.

neologism

A neologism is a newly invented word, while a revived word is an old one brought back.

Opposites

Word family

revive verb

To bring something back into use or life.

revival noun

The process of bringing something back.

revived adjective

Brought back into use or existence.

Commonly confused: revived words or revised words?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “revived words”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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