Archaic and Obsolete Words

## Archaic and Literary Expressions: Word List and Examples Learn C2-level archaic and literary vocabulary found in classic literature, poetry, and Shakespearean English. ### Word List **thou** (archaic for «you,» singular subject), **thee** (archaic for «you,» singular object), **thy** (archaic for «your»), **wherefore** (archaic for «why»), **betwixt** (archaic for «between»), **ere** (archaic for «before»), **whilst** (archaic/British for «while»), **henceforth** (from now on), **alas** (an exclamation of grief/regret), **forsooth** (archaic for «in truth,» often ironic today), **methinks** (archaic for «it seems to me»), **hither** (archaic for «here,» toward this place), **thither** (archaic for «there,» toward that place), **yonder** (archaic for «over there»), **verily** (archaic for «truly»), **nary** (archaic/dialect for «not a single»), **oft** (archaic for «often»), **morrow** (archaic for «morning» or «the next day»), **eventide** (archaic for «evening»), **twain** (archaic for «two»), **naught** (archaic for «nothing»), **wrought** (archaic past tense of «work,» meaning «made/shaped»), **bade** (archaic past tense of «bid,» meaning «commanded/asked»), **doth** (archaic form of «does»), **hath** (archaic form of «has»), **mayhap** (archaic for «perhaps»), **perchance** (archaic for «perhaps/by chance»), **prithee** (archaic for «please,» from «pray thee»), **anon** (archaic for «soon»), **fain** (archaic for «gladly, willingly»), **sundry** (various, several), **wroth** (archaic for «angry»), **beguile** (charm/deceive), **forsake** (abandon), **beseech** (beg earnestly), **entreaty** (an earnest request), **tarry** (delay/linger), **yon** (archaic for «that, over there»), **aught** (archaic for «anything»), **quoth** (archaic past tense of «say,» meaning «said»). Examples: Wherefore art thou, Romeo? (Why are you, Romeo?) Methinks the lady doth protest too much. She would fain accept, if given the chance. The knight beseeched the king for mercy. Remember: many of these words survive today only in fixed phrases or literary allusions — «wherefore art thou» (Shakespeare) is often misunderstood as «where are you,» when it actually means «why are you [named Romeo].»