Dated Definitions

The OED - Oxford English Dictionary - one of my bibles, with word histories and definitions going back almost 900 years is nearly 22,000 pages long. However, from 1991 to 1999 the Oxford Press published a "Compact OED" - the entire contents in one 14 pound tome. With the type compressed to nine pages per page, combined with my myopia that makes Mr Magoo's vision telescopic by comparison, it was a natural. Then, to clinch the deal Amazon offered free shipping on my next order and Kaching! with its own magnifying glass, even.

Now comes the NYTimes Magazine with word that a major update is in the works. By 'in the works' they mean they began in 2000 with "M" and have almost gotten to "Re-". Definition of the word 'marriage' will be expanded, for instance. But sadly, definitions have fallen out of use and thus, out of favor.

Some of the definitions whose demise is contemplated:

The definition of 'Care' as "some kind of stuff"

'Murinoid': "resembling the mouse or its allies"

'Cretin': "One of a class of dwarfed and specially deformed idiots found in the Alps and elsewhere"

'Pope Joan': "After the fabulous female Pope Joan" (fabulous as in fabled, but I like fabulous better)

'Boodle': "a stupid noodle" which may have stemmed from

'Prothodaw'; which is/was "a prime simpleton, a noodle of the first rank" and, a personal favorite -

'Middle-aged': "between youth and old age, variously reckoned to suit the reckoner"

Now get out there and try to use one of these with their original definition. And let's not all use prothodaw and cretin, ok?