Archaic words.

Question

Can archaic or dated words be used in one's essays and articles? For example, I once used the word converse in a sentence to mean conversation as in the archaic meaning. Is it wrong? Another example being,the use of the word wherefore instead of why in a poem.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Iltutmishthe word converse in a sentence

Converse is somewhat old-fashioned, but not archaic. There is the verb and the noun. The meanings are different.

Con•verse' (the verb) means to speak, or hold a conversation. The verb is the most frequent usage of the word.

e.g.
He could converse in six different languages with equal alacrity.
They went into a corner of the room and conversed in whispers so no one could hear what they said.

Con'•verse (the noun) means the opposite.

e.g.

These studies show that vitamin D is ineffective in curing cancer. What other studies are there that show the converse?

The Cosmological Proof is merely the converse of the Ontological Proof.

Note the different stress on the verb as compared with the noun.

If you used the verb as a noun in a modern sentence, the result would not be very good.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Wherefore is wonderful in poetry, but the rest of the vocabulary in the poem should be from the same time period.

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?Deny thy father and refuse thy name.Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my loveAnd I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

Anonymous · Answer

IltutmishCan archaic or dated words be used in one's essays and articles?

That depends on your audience and on whether you want to be understood or not. Many can be used playfully, but use your judgment.

IltutmishFor example, I once used the word converse in a sentence to mean conversation as in the archaic meaning. Is it wrong?

Dead wrong. That is totally obsolete in the plain meaning "conversation", and nobody will know what you mean. The word in various similar meanings is hanging on by its fingernails at the fringes of erudite discourse, but even there you are asking for trouble because you won't be familiar with the idiom and are likely to use it maladroitly.

IltutmishAnother example being,the use of the word wherefore instead of why in a poem.

You can do whatever you want in a poem. Anything at all. But you have to take the heat when it stinks. "Wherefore" to mean "why" will invariably be taken as a reference to Juliet, and you should take that into account.

Archaic words.

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