byword - one that is notorious
curse word - an obscene word
swear word - a profane oath
Mirriam Webster
Obviously, I have been tantalized by language
my entire life. I imagine 'twas born of my love
for reading. I remember a vocabulary test my
5th grade teacher gave me to determine age vs.
word usage. I may have been only eleven, but
I tested out at 84 years of age! Damn that Bill
Shakespeare!
A fun side of lingo is of course, the 'naughties'
as I tend to think of them. In our daily use and
misuse of them, we forget these words have a
history, as well as very specific meanings.
A byword by definition, is a substitute word.
For example, darn instead of damn. Crap in
lieu of shit. Hades rather than hell, although
heard extremely rarely.
Listen to the term curse word. It actually
refers to placing a curse on a given person.
Obviously used in days of yesteryear, but
now we flaunt it rather loosely.
The same applies to swear word. In days
of yore, this referred to swearing allegiance
to a feudal overlord or the lord of the manor.
This served to underline one's affirming the
truth to uttered words and/or promises. Ah,
such, such fun 'tis language!
words of yesteryear
verse making love to the soul
rest in its verbiage
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