is Good Neighbourliness Day in Turkmenistan. Hey! you say, is there even such a word as Neighbourliness?
According to the Cambridge International Dictionary, “the lack of ‘good neighbourliness’ has led to a breakdown in the traditional life of the community.”
Is this a word doomed to become obsolete?
Old Words still in Usage
Words relating to social manners have always had nicknames with each new generation. Here are a few words used as far back as the 14th century and still in use by our elders today.
Rabble…tumultuous crowd of people (1513)
Rascal…people of the lowest class (1330) Today: a term of endearment by elders
Crush…infatuated with (1884) “Have a crush on” (1913)
Shirty…disheveled, as in anger, bad-tempered (1814)
Hot-headed…ungovernable (1616)
Beau…suitor (1665)
But would you dream of using the word ‘neighbourliness’ in a sentence?
Where to Find your Best Words
The definitive online source to go to if you had to check is the Onelook Online dictionary http://www.onelook.com/ .
- Obsolete Words
The Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=jacknape&use1913=on&use1828=on is a great source for obsolete words.
- Historic Word Usage
And if you want to check word usage for your historic novel to give it that authentic ring, look in the Online Etymology Dictionary http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=dandy&searchmode=none.
- Don't Know Which Word?
If you don’t know the word you’re looking for, look up the concept in the Onelook Reverse Dictionary http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml
- Dictionary Indexes
Michael Quinion has the best index I’ve seen of online dictionaries at http://www.worldwidewords.org/wordlinks.htm including such gems as the Australian National Dictionary, The Jargon File (for net heads) and The Luciferous Logolepsy for obscure words and various slang dictionaries.
By now you would have discovered that neighbourliness is in fact a word in usage. But for how long?
Perhaps we need a sociologist to answer that one! Social Scientist Alvin Toffler says we’re on the cusp of a new civilization. But in a new civilization where communities are full of people (online) you may never meet, has the very concept of neighbourliness gone out the door? Think about how you can change that today!
PPST! Here are a few Christian writing communities you could join in the meantime—
Christian Writers Networks Online
International
http://christianwriters.com/forums/usercp.php
http://www.faithwriters.com/
http://www.xalt.co.uk/index.php?i=108&prev=1 (UK based)
For a more complete list, see my next blog...
For more writing tips go to my website at http://www.scribeofspirit.com/
Permission is granted to distribute this material provided the following statement appears on any distributed copy: © W. McNeice www.scribeofspirit.com
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2 comments:
"once the words are down, wait until you are sufficiently out of your creative brain and can come to your work with new eyes. The experts suggest six weeks later!"
I always prefer my poetry six weeks after I've written it - that must explain why !
Keith,
That is a rare gift actually. You are truly blessed(:
Wendy
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