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Vvz Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

Scape

Hi all.

How archaic is the word "scape"? Would it be ok to use it in a poem with a line like this: "You can't scape from your hell"?
  

Top answer

It's an archaic form of 'escape' that I wouldn't suggest using in a poem except for the sake of meter.

— Philip

  • It's an archaic form of 'escape' that I wouldn't suggest using in a poem except for the sake of meter.
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7 Answers
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It's an archaic form of 'escape' that I wouldn't suggest using in a poem except for the sake of meter.
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Hi,



Shakespeare wrote

Use every man after his desert, and who shall 'scape whipping? Hamlet , II, ii. HAMLET



I see no reason why this wouldn't be OK in your poem, but use the apostrophe to indicate it's an abbreviation of the full word escape.



Clive
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What if the poem does need to have an archaic "flavor"?
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Hi,

Note that can't does not sound archaic. Cannot is OK.

Clive
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So mixing "can't" and "scape" will sound not right?
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Hi,



It's your poem, so you have to decide whether you want to mix modern and older English.

Poets often do things to surprise their readers.



Clive
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