The English language has one of the largest databases of words in the world. This gives English users various words to choose from since some words have similar meanings. Not all words originate from English. In fact, as more and more countries adopt the language, academicians infuse more words into the Dictionary. English continually adopts many words from Portuguese, French, Latin, Hindi, Swahili, etc. Did you know that the word ‘Chapati’ is borrowed from Hindi? Synonyms refer to words with similar meanings. Therefore, there is a wide range of rarely used English words. Moreover, the usage of some English words depends highly on the region. Certain words have been adopted from local languages, and their usage hasn’t yet spread globally. However, some words originate from England but are rarely spoken outside England. I will discuss three rarely used English words that haven’t been adopted from other languages.
Squirmish is a synonym for uncomfortable.
Squirmish is a rarely used English word. It means uncomfortable and is pronounced as /skwarmish/. Let me use the word in a sentence for better understanding. As he addressed the over-populated stadium, he felt Squirmish in his faded jeans and unkempt hair. One could feel that he was indeed squirmish as he fidgeted with the microphone occasionally. Einstein was so shy and quiet that he often declined interviews. This is because Einstein often felt increasingly Squirmish with his newfound fame. Squirmish belongs to the word class of adjectives. It can have a comparative and superlative form. The comparative form is more squirmish, while the superlative form is most squirmish. It is a rarely used English word in Britain, where the language traces its origins as it is often used by the older, less-educated population.
Quagmire is often used in literary works
Quagmire fits within the description of rarely used English words. This word was initially pronounced as /Quekmire/ but has changed over the years. It simply means a tangled, messy, hard-to-overcome situation. Let me use it in a sentence for better understanding. John, over the years, had been lucky to overcome any form of scandal despite his advanced years. However, when his long-lost girlfriend dropped by with his teenage daughter at his front door, he was in a quagmire of whether he should tell his campaigners or ask them to leave. When Bill Clinton’s affair came into the limelight, he found himself in a quagmire, after parliament threatened to impeach him. Quagmire is either a noun or a verb and is mainly used in the political class.
Exasperated is commonly used in the political sphere but not as much in day-to-day conversations.
Lastly, we have the word exasperated, pronounced as / Igzasparatid/. This is an old Latin word. The synonym for this word is tired or completely exhausted, irritated, and angry by a situation. I found his lack of decisiveness and confidence in me very exasperating. Political leaders and law enforcers worldwide are exasperated by COVID-19, more so by the social distancing directives (given by lawmakers) that citizens abscond with reckless abandon. Academicians are the common users of this word. The informal communities in the UK still use this word from time to time. This word belongs to the word class of verbs.
Rarely used English words, are so, due to a number of factors.
In retrospect, English has many different words that we can use interchangeably. This is why we rarely use the words Quagmire, Exasperated, and Squirmish. The choice of different words and a speaker’s preference for some words over others is based on the education level, profession, cultural background, and personal preference. I now urge you to be brave, savor the language, and please do not be a hoi polloi of the English language.
Are you currently learning English as a second or third language and need help in passing your GMAT Verbal, TOEFL, or any other English test? Do you have a young one who needs assistance in developing his English language skills? Kindly reach out. I have taught English for over a decade and helped many young and old learners become experts in learning all the intricacies and complexities of this beautiful language.
