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.
10
questions
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
6
answers
45k
views
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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....
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 ...
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
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 ...