Questions tagged [literary-english]

Questions related to English vocabulary, forms, phrases, and syntax that is now more commonly seen in written literature than in everyday speech.

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What does " 'Nation " stand for in this context?

I was reading the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. In Chapter 2, there are sentences like: “I hope there ain’t, but can’t make so ’Nation sure of that,” said the guard, in gruff ...
f4greg's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
3k views

What do you call someone who (over)uses archaic terms and expressions while writing?

I came across a literary article from one of my cousin's numerous English books. The author, in what I presume to be an effort to showcase their vocabulary and command over English, seems to have ...
BiscuitBoy's user avatar
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2 votes
6 answers
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Words that describe food and eating [closed]

I'm writing a piece that relates to food and eating and am looking for adjectives that describe both. I just picked up the word prandial and that piqued my interest. Are there any similar words out ...
user60516's user avatar
16 votes
7 answers
43k views

Why is quixotic pronounced as it is?

Since "quixotic" was coined with Don Quixote as its basis, why is it pronounced "kwicks-OTT-ick" when it should by rights/origin be pronounced "Key-HO-tick"? It even sounds more onomatopoeiatic the ...
B. Clay Shannon-B. Crow Raven's user avatar
9 votes
16 answers
4k views

Searching for a rare word for "something taken as truth due to having been repeated so much"

I'm searching for a certain single, rare, literary word meaning "something taken as truth due to having been repeated so much". This "something" could be either true or false. It is not necessarily ...
d'alar'cop's user avatar
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4 votes
5 answers
4k views

Is "Son" actually used to address a male child, or is this a literary usage? (As opposed to by name)

I regularly see films, books, stories and other English usages in which a person uses the term "son" where one might normally use a name. Usually, it's a father and they're portrayed in a reasonably ...
Stilez's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Word that describes a dramatic device that disrupts equilibrium

I am seeking a word, should it indeed exist, that describes a dramatic or literary device found when a new character is introduced into a story which disrupts the natural equilibrium, driving the ...
nderjung's user avatar
  • 323
2 votes
1 answer
5k views

Capitalization of certain terms in English Literature

In English literature, improper capitalization of some phrases is common. A friend of mine calls them 'Milnesian Capitals'. These tend to be used in late 19th early 20th century British writings. A....
Chris Cudmore's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
25k views

Love in a hating way

Is there a single word (or a two-word phrase at least) that means "love in a hating way (hatefully, execrably)"? There is the term "Love–hate relationship" but it is more of a ...
ermanen's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
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Why is it “Who be ye?” and not “Who are ye?” in archaic forms of English?

When I was looking for “ye” in a dictionary, I stumbled upon the phrase “Who be ye?”. But why is it “Who be ye?” and not “Who are ye?”? The modern equivalent of “ye” would be “you”, wouldn’t it? “Who ...
Incognito's user avatar