Archaic Words
1 / 15Can you decipher these old-fashioned English words?
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What does the archaic word 'fortnight' mean?
About Archaic Words
Give your memory a workout with Archaic Words: 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions, free to play right in your browser. Can you decipher these old-fashioned English words? Expect to spend about 7 minutes; every question comes with an explanation, so you learn something even when you miss.
A few sample questions
1. What does the archaic word 'fortnight' mean?
Answer: Two weeks
'Fortnight' means a period of two weeks (fourteen nights). It comes from the Old English 'feowertyne niht.' While archaic in American English, it is still commonly used in British English.
2. In old English, what does 'thee' mean?
Answer: You (as an object)
'Thee' is the archaic second person singular pronoun used as an object, equivalent to modern 'you.' For example, 'I love thee' means 'I love you.' 'Thou' was the subject form.
3. What does the archaic word 'hither' mean?
Answer: To this place
'Hither' means 'to this place' or 'here.' As in 'Come hither' meaning 'Come here.' It's related to 'thither' (to that place) and 'whither' (to which place).
4. What does 'fare thee well' mean?
Answer: Goodbye, may you do well
'Fare thee well' is an archaic way of saying goodbye, literally meaning 'may you journey well' or 'may things go well with you.' It is the origin of our modern word 'farewell.'
5. What does the old word 'morrow' mean?
Answer: The following day
'Morrow' means the following day or morning. 'Good morrow' was a common greeting meaning 'good morning.' Shakespeare used it frequently: 'Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.'
Things you'll learn along the way
- 'Perchance' means 'perhaps' or 'by chance.' It is famously used in Shakespeare's Hamlet: 'To sleep, perchance to dream.' The word combines 'per' (through) and 'chance.'
- 'Forsooth' means 'in truth' or 'indeed.' It was used as an intensifier in Middle English. The word combines 'for' and 'sooth' (truth), so it literally means 'for truth.'
- 'Betwixt' is an archaic form of 'between.' The phrase 'betwixt and between' (meaning neither one thing nor the other) is sometimes still used today as a deliberate archaism.
Frequently asked questions
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Archaic Words has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
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How long does Archaic Words take?
Most players finish Archaic Words in about 7 minutes. You can pause between questions, replay it as often as you like, and there is no penalty for taking your time — answers are explained after you submit them.
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