ife is becoming more and more complex as we evolve in this new era ruled by technology. However, as we evolve, our vocabulary is surprisingly getting simpler, words are becoming shorter and we even use the same word for different meanings. Old English used to be very different, with many complex words that would have exact definitions for certain events, incidents, or descriptive characteristics.

We are lucky enough to live in a world where we are free to express ourselves, yet, to do that to the best of our abilities we need to empower our vocabulary so that those around us will understand our message or vision. This is why I want to present you with 20 words that I think are a good fit in today’s society and that can also bring a bit of fun to the table.

1. Fudgel

The act of giving the impression of working but actually doing nothing. You may have a bad day and just feel like fudgeling at work or even at school. A person that does fudgel can be easily caught in the act by being asked: “Are you working hard or hardly working?”

2. Grumbletonians

People who are angry or very unhappy with the government. I think that this world perfectly applies to most people during this year. We can all be grumbletonians when the world or our country is falling apart, but we need to be compassionate and understand that governments are also made up of people like you and me (in most cases).

3. Groke

Someone who stares at you whilst you eat in the hopes that you will share your food with them. How many of you have that friend who is always hungry and is waiting to have their “fair” share. It is nice to share, however, back in the day Groke was used to shame homeless people, therefore not the nicest word. In the correct context, it can be used to shame some friends.

4. Snollygoster

A person who has intelligence, but no principles. History has seen many powerful snollygosters in each century, and we still have many of them in power today, using their brilliant minds for not-so-brilliant things. We say that principles come from within each person’s culture, a culture that is bound by certain ethics, therefore you cannot define something as ethical if you don’t have any principles.

5. Callipygian

A person with beautiful, well-shaped buttocks. She can be definitely described as a callipygian. The word is derived from the Venus Callipyge, also known as Aphrodite Kallipygos, the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty. She was the symbol of beauty; therefore, being called callipygian represents a very attractive person.

6. Peg Puff

A young woman with the manners of an old one. You can’t tell the age of that peg puff. This word originates from Scotland and has been lost throughout history due to times changing. It is very rare to see a peg puff these days. However, it is a word that should never die.

7. Twattling

Gossiping idly about unimportant things. What are you twattling about? A word that was used until the 19th century when gossip was introduced by Shakespeare in his literature.

8. Mugwump

A person who likes to be politically independent. More and more people are becoming mugwumps based on new trends. The word also refers to those who are not loyal to a political party, therefore choosing to have their own political beliefs and ideologies.

9. Hum Durgeon

An imaginary illness. Pretending to be ill means that he is suffering from a hum durgeon. The word was created around the 14th century to describe those people that are usually faking an illness just to get away from work or those who think that they are ill from something as simple as a stomachache or headache.

10. Dysonia

Someone who has extreme difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. I know a hand full of people that suffer from dysonia. The word was invented to specifically describe people that suffer from various problems that do not allow them to easily rise from bed. The word was recently evolved in dystonia which is a movement disorder in which your muscles contract involuntarily.

11. Ultracrepidarian

Someone who gives opinions on subjects they know nothing about. There is always an ultracrepidarian in every television show. Since the start of the 19th century, when English started to evolve, the use of the word has been slowly lost, most probably due to its length. However, I think that in today’s society it is a great word to use, as many people speak upon matters they haven’t got a clue about.

12. Hugger Mugger

A person who portrays secretive or covert behavior. Be aware of him as he is not far from a hugger-mugger. The phrase dating back to the Victorian times had been used to suggest that a person has bad intent in the way they behave. The phrase was much later changed by having the word hugger removed and leaving the word mugger with the meaning of a person that will threaten you for money.

13. Trumpery

Objects or things that look good, but are basically worthless. This antique can only be defined as trumpery. In some parts of the world where English is spoken, the word can also represent words with no meaning. From a philosophical perspective, there are many things in life that look like trumpery, even people.

14. Jargogle

To confuse or to jumble upon. I will jargogle my way out of this argument. The word refers to using lots of long words in a pattern that makes no sense in order to confuse a person. As the person does not want to look stupid, they will agree with your jumble, depending on the intelligence of the person of course.

15. Crapulous

Feeling ill as a result of eating too much food. This Christmas will definitely make the feel crapulous. The word is derived from the Latin word (crapula) which translates to intoxication. Consuming too much of something can be considered as intoxication since too much of something is never good.

16. Lanspresado

Someone who conveniently shows up with no money. I can describe a good friend of mine as a lanspresado. We have all meet those type of people that are always trying to take advantage by “accidentally” forgetting their wallet at home even if it is sitting well in their back pocket. The earliest record in the Oxford English Dictionary dates from 1579, when it was originally used as the name of a low-ranking military rank equivalent to lance-corporal.

17. Cockalorum

A small person with a big opinion about himself. Besides being a cockalorum, he seeks plenty of attention. The word was created from the word cock (rooster), a bird that thinks it’s the most important in the yard and that always wants to show off, as well as the old English word crow (not the bird, but the old definition of bragging).

18. Sozzled

Being very drunk. I got sozzled last night. Having its origins from the early 14th century, the word refers also to mixing a lot of different alcoholic beverages ending up in a very drunk state.

19. Uhtceare

Laying in bed awake and worrying about tomorrow. I have been uhtceare all day. The word would translate into new English as “dawn-care” representing a person being very anxious about the upcoming day, therefore not falling asleep at dawn due to too much care. I think we’ve all had at least one of those nights.

20. Abligurition

Spending lavish amounts of money on food. A big problem with this young generation is that many of them suffer from abligurition. The word comes from the Latin verb abligurire, “ab” meaning “away” and “ligurire” meaning “to be fond of delicacies.”

I hope that you have found these words interesting and that you can apply them in some context. Now go and spread this knowledge and showoff your enhanced vocabulary whilst giving life to these words that are close to being forgotten.