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Scholars say that what we now call English started when Germanic tribes settled in present-day Britain at around 500 CE.公元500年左右，日耳曼部落迁居现为英国的那片大陆上，学者称，我们今日称之为英语的语言便始于此。
The Oxford English dictionary counts 171,476 words in current use.
牛津词典记录有171476个现在英语中所使用的单词。A staggering 47,156 words are now obsolete, though excellent projects like Haggard Hawks are bringing them back.这期间被弃用的单词竟多达47156个，不过，Haggard Hawks这样的项目正在努力把这些单词带回到当今时代中。As you'll see from the below, some of the mother tongue's finest phrasings need to be brought back, as they'll help us mark our days and describe our lives better than what's currently on offer. 下文即将讲述的这些单词都是英语母语中最美的措辞，我们得让它们重回人们的视线，因为这些词能比我们正在用的单词更好地描述我们的生活。Overmorrow: on the day after tomorrow.Example: 'I'll have that report to you overmorrow.'
例句：“I'll have that report to you overmorrow.”Why: Overmorrow was in Middle English but fell out of the language.回潮原因：Overmorrow是中世纪时期的英文单词，后被弃用。So instead of having this word, we have the wordy 'day after tomorrow.' German still has this very useful word: übermorgen.因此，现在这个词的替代品是一句冗长的“day after tomorrow”。德国人却至今还在使用这个单词，德语写法是übermorgen。Bedward: heading toward bed.Example: 'I'm bedward, putting this group text on mute.'
Why: Because it treats your bed as a cardinal direction. As it should be.回潮原因：因为它把你的床作为了一个基本方向，这是符合逻辑的。Elflock: hair that has been tangled Example: 'I think I bruised my scalp trying to get those elflocks out.'
例句：“我为了解开打结的头发把自己头皮给扯青了。”Why: Because hair tangles are frustrating, but elflocks are adorable. And speaking of them helps to re-enchant our world.回潮原因：把打结的头发成为“elflocks”听起来更可爱一些，让我们的世界更有魅力一些。Snollygoster: A smart person not guided by principles.Example: 'That snollygoster might end up in the White House.'
例句：“那个不讲原则又夸夸其谈的政客可能最后会升到白宫去。”Why: Because we need a name for the people who don't recognize that with great power comes great responsibility. 回潮原因：我们需要一个词来形容那些不知道“权利越大责任越重”这个道理的人们。Zwodder: A hazy state of mind.Example: 'He was in a zwodder all day after last night's party.'
Why: Because the word 'hangover' is a catchall for all sorts of physiological debts we end up paying by pushing ourselves too hard. It would help to have more precise words.回潮原因：因为“hangover”（宿醉）这个词涵盖了过度压迫自己而带来各种类型的生理不适，所以，如果有多些精确描述的词汇就更好了。acts like they're above conflict.Example: 'My sister always played the mugwump in family disputes.'
Why: Because we need a word to describe the self-righteous condescension of the pacificist. 回潮原因：我们需要一个词来形容和平主义者那种自以为是的傲慢姿态。Rawgabbit: Someone who speaks authoritatively about something Example: 'That rawgabbit posts his opinion on Facebook about every single thing that happens in the news.'
例句：“那个人整天在微博新闻下发表一些自以为是的评论，但他其实对这些事情一无所知。”Reason: Because frauds should be named.Example: 'I knew I was in for it when they stopped twattling soon as I walked in the room.'
例句：“我一走进房间，他们就停止议论，我知道他们肯定在说我什么。”Why: Because 'twattling' is one of those words that sounds like the thing it describes: twattle, twattle, twattle.Fortnight: A period of two weeks.Example: 'We have a meeting with sales every fortnight.'
Why: Because biweekly is woefully confusing — is it twice a week or every two weeks? Fortnight — and its sibling fortnightly — help cure that ambiguity. 回潮原因：biweekly这个词太有歧义了——到底是每周两次还是两周一次啊？Fortnight和它的副词形式fortnightly刚好可以解决这个问题。Example: 'I'll see you anon.'
Why: Because it would be nice to have a classier version of see you soon. Plus it always sounds dope when Shakespeare's characters use it. 回潮原因：这个用法比see you soon高级多了。而且莎士比亚的台词里就这么用的，多酷啊。Snowbroth: Recently melted snow.Example: 'The snowbroth was beautiful outside my apartment, but disgusting on my commute.'
例句：“我公寓外新化的雪特别美，但是在我上班途中的那些雪水就太恶心了。”Why: Because it's beautifully evocative. Antetaste: The opposite of aftertaste.Example: 'The opening band was an antetaste of the rock to follow.'
Why: Because there should be symmetry in tastes. Example: 'My coldrife Californian coworkers start complaining how cold New York is starting in September.'例句：“我那些动不动就觉得冷的加利福尼亚同事开始抱怨纽约从这个九月起就冷得不行。”
Why: Because there needs to be a word for this disorder.Gardyloo: What you shout to people in the street before you empty your bedpan Example: 'That was a rough night. Gardyloo!'
Why: Because we may no longer be using bedpans, we do enough gross things in public that it would be useful to have a more urgent 'excuse me.' 回潮原因：我们可能很久不用便盆了，但是我们在公共场合做的肮脏事也不少，所以使用这个增强版的“excuse me”会更有用一点。Gebeorscipe: A beer party.Example: 'The world's greatest gebeorscipe happens in Germany every September.'
例句：“世界最棒的啤酒派对每年九月都会在德国举行。”Why: Because a beer party is the best kind of party, and it deserves its own special word. 回潮原因：啤酒派对是最棒的派对，它值得拥有独属于自己的名称。
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