Comprehensive list of archaic, obsolete, and KJV-specific words with their modern meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Abase | to be humble or to make humble |
| Abjects | worthless, despicable |
| Abode | to dwell, remain |
| Afore | before |
| Aforetime | before |
| Agone | ago |
| Albeit | although, notwithstanding |
| All to | completely |
| Allow | to approve |
| Alloweth | to approve |
| Almug | type of wood (also Algum) |
| Aloof | at a distance |
| Anon | immediately |
| Apothecary | one who compounds spices |
| Apparently | visibly |
| Art | are (2nd person singular) |
| Assay | to test, try |
| Asswage | to restrain, hold back |
| Astonied | stunned, astonished |
| Attent | attentive |
| Averse | returning |
| Avouched | to appeal to |
| Away with | endure, tolerate |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bade | commanded, invited |
| Bakemeats | baked foods |
| Baken | baked |
| Bands | bonds, troops, cords (context) |
| Became us | to be fitting |
| Beeves | cattle, oxen |
| Begat | to father, give birth to |
| Begotten | to father, give birth to |
| Bekah | half-shekel |
| Beseech | to beg, entreat |
| Besom | broom |
| Bestead | ill-treated, hard pressed |
| Betimes | early |
| Betwixt | between |
| Bewray | to reveal, tell |
| Bewrayeth | to reveal, tell |
| Bier | frame for carrying a corpse |
| Bit | bridle part |
| Blains | blisters, boils |
| Bolled | budded |
| Bolster | pillow |
| Bosses | convex parts of a shield |
| Botch | ulcer, boil |
| Bravery | beauty, splendour (Isa 3:18) |
| Bray | cry of donkey or pound |
| Brayed | cry of donkey or pound |
| Breeches | priestly undergarment |
| Brigandine | armour |
| Brimstone | sulphur |
| Broided | braided, embroidered |
| Broidered | braided, embroidered |
| Bruit | rumour |
| Brutish | stupid |
| Buckler | shield |
| Bullock | young bull |
| Bulrush | reed plant |
| Bulwarks | fortifications |
| Bushel | measuring basket |
| By and by | immediately |
| Byword | proverb, sharp word |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cab | dry measure (~1.5L) |
| Camphire | shrub with fragrant flowers |
| Canker | ulcer, gangrene, rust |
| Cankered | ulcer, gangrene, rust |
| Carriage | baggage, goods |
| Cast clouts | rags |
| Castaway | unfit, unapproved |
| Caul | lobe of liver or hair net |
| Cauls | lobe of liver or hair net |
| Champaign | plain, wilderness |
| Chapiter | capital of a pillar |
| Chapmen | merchants |
| Chapt | shattered |
| Charger | platter |
| Charity | agape love |
| Chasten | discipline |
| Chode | strove, quarrelled |
| Choler | rage |
| Churl | deceitful, cruel |
| Churlish | deceitful, cruel |
| Cieled | covered, overlaid |
| Clamour | outcry |
| Clave | cleaved, clung |
| Cleanness of teeth | famine |
| Cloke | outer garment |
| Closet | inner room |
| Clouted | patched |
| Clouts | rags |
| Coast | border, region |
| Coasts | border, region |
| Cockatrice | poisonous snake |
| Cockle | weeds |
| Collops | slices of fat |
| Comeliness | splendour, honour |
| Commotion | tumult |
| Concision | mutilation |
| Concupiscence | forbidden desire, lust |
| Contemn | to despise |
| Conversant | to walk about |
| Conversation | conduct, behaviour |
| Convocation | assembly |
| Cor | measure (~250L) |
| Cotes | sheepfold |
| Coulter | ploughshare |
| Countervail | equivalent |
| Course | a class or group of priests |
| Cracknels | crumbled biscuits |
| Crib | manger |
| Crisping-pin | purse |
| Crookbackt | hump-backed |
| Cruse | flask |
| Cuckow | unclean bird |
| Cumbered | distracted, burdened |
| Cumbereth | distracted, burdened |
| Cummin | spice |
| Cunning | skilful |
| Curious arts | magic arts |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dainties | delicacies |
| Damnation | judgment |
| Damsel | young woman, girl |
| Darling | only one, unique |
| Daysman | mediator, arbiter |
| Dayspring | dawn |
| Dearth | famine |
| Decline | to turn aside |
| Degenerate | to decline in quality |
| Delicates | luxury, dainties |
| Derision | mockery |
| Descry | to spy out |
| Despite | contempt |
| Diadem | turban, crown |
| Diet | ration |
| Disannul | abolish, make void |
| Discomfited | beaten, crushed |
| Discover | to uncover, make naked |
| Doleful | wailing |
| Dote | to lust, be foolish |
| Doted | to lust, be foolish |
| Doting | to lust, be foolish |
| Draught house | toilet |
| Drave | drove |
| Dregs | sediment |
| Dureth | lasts |
| Durst | dared |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ear | to plough |
| Earing | to plough |
| Emerods | haemorrhoids |
| Emulation | rivalry, envy |
| Enchantments | sorcery |
| Endamage | to injure |
| Endue | to endow |
| Ensample | example |
| Ensign | banner |
| Ensue | to pursue |
| Ephah | dry measure |
| Ephod | priestly garment |
| Equity | uprightness |
| Ere | before |
| Eschew | to shun |
| Espy | to spy |
| Estate | condition, office |
| Estrange | to alienate |
| Eventide | evening |
| Every several | every single |
| Every whit | completely |
| Evidently | plainly |
| Exact | to demand |
| Exchangers | money-changers |
| Execration | curse |
| Experiment | trial, proof |
| Extortion | oppression |
| Eyeservice | working only when watched |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fain | to desire |
| Fallow ground | untilled |
| Familiar spirit | spirit of the dead |
| Familiars | close friends |
| Fan | winnowing shovel |
| Fare | welfare |
| Fared | to gladden |
| Farthing | small Roman coin |
| Fast | firmly, soundly |
| Fatling | well-fed animal |
| Feign | pretend |
| Feller | tree cutter |
| Felloes | wheel rims |
| Fetters | shackles |
| Fillet | band |
| Finer | refiner |
| Fining pot | crucible |
| Firebrand | burning stick |
| Firkin | ~34 litres |
| Flags | reeds |
| Flakes | folds |
| Flay | remove skin |
| Fleshhook | fork |
| Flowers | menstrual period |
| Flux | dysentery |
| Fodder | animal feed |
| Folden | interwoven |
| Forbad | forbade |
| Forbear | refrain, cease |
| Forborne | ceased |
| Ford | crossing |
| Foreship | bow of ship |
| Forsook | abandoned |
| Forswear | swear falsely |
| Forthwith | immediately |
| Founder | smelter |
| Fourscore | eighty |
| Foursquare | square |
| Fowler | bird catcher |
| Froward | perverse, crooked |
| Fuller | garment washer |
| Furbish | polish |
| Furlong | ~185-201 metres |
| Furrow | plough trench |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gaddest | wander |
| Gainsay | contradict |
| Galbanum | resin |
| Gall | bitter poison |
| Garner | storehouse |
| Garrison | troops |
| Gat | got |
| Gazingstock | spectacle |
| Gender | to breed |
| Gerahs | 1/20 shekel |
| Ghost | spirit |
| Gin | snare |
| Gird | belt, sash |
| Girdle | belt, sash |
| Girt | belt, sash |
| Glede | bird of prey |
| Glistering | shining |
| Go to | come! |
| Goad | ox prod |
| God speed | wish well |
| Goodman | master of house |
| Gotten | acquired |
| Graff | graft |
| Graven | carved |
| Graving | engraving |
| Greaves | leg armour |
| Grecians | Greek-speaking Jews |
| Grisled | spotted |
| Grove | sacred pole/tree |
| Guile | deceit |
| Gutter | water conduit |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Habergeon | coat of mail |
| Haft | handle |
| Hale | drag |
| Haling | drag |
| Hallow | sanctify |
| Hap | chance |
| Haply | perhaps |
| Hard by | beside |
| Hart | stag |
| Hast | have |
| Hath | has |
| Haunt | dwelling place |
| He ass | male donkey |
| Heady | reckless |
| Heath | dry tree |
| Heathen | nations, Gentiles |
| Helve | axe handle |
| Henceforth | from now on |
| Heresy | sect |
| Heretick | factious person |
| Heretofore | previously |
| Herewith | with this |
| Hewn | cut, quarried |
| Highminded | proud |
| Hin | liquid measure (~6L) |
| Hind | female deer |
| Hither | here |
| Hitherto | until now |
| Hoar | gray, old |
| Hoary | gray, old |
| Hoised | lifted |
| Holden | held |
| Holpen | helped |
| Homer | dry measure (~230L) |
| Hosen | garments |
| Hough | hamstring |
| Husbandman | farmer |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ignominy | shame |
| Imagery | idols |
| Impenitent | unrepentant |
| Imperious | domineering |
| Implacable | cannot be appeased |
| Importunity | shameless persistence |
| Impotent | disabled |
| Impudent | shameless |
| Incontinent | without self-control |
| Inditing | stirring |
| Infamy | slander |
| Infidel | unbeliever |
| Inkhorn | inkwell |
| Inordinate | unrestrained |
| Instant | urgent |
| Instantly | earnestly |
| Issue of blood | flow of blood |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Jangling | vain talking |
| Jeoparded | endangered |
| Jot | smallest letter |
| Jubile | Jubilee year |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kerchief | veil |
| Kin | relative, redeemer |
| Kindred | relative, redeemer |
| Kine | cows |
| Kinsman | relative, redeemer |
| Knop | knob, bud |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lade | load |
| Laden | load |
| Lascivious | unrestrained lust |
| Latchet | sandal strap |
| Laud | praise |
| Laver | wash basin |
| Leasing | falsehood |
| Leathern | leather |
| Leaven | yeast |
| Lees | dregs |
| Let | to hinder, restrain |
| Letteth | to hinder, restrain |
| Lewd | wicked |
| Libertines | freedmen |
| Lien | lain |
| Lign-aloes | fragrant wood |
| Ligure | precious stone |
| Liking | condition (good/worse) |
| Listed | desired |
| Listeth | desired |
| Litters | carrying vehicles |
| Lively | living, vigorous |
| Lo | behold |
| Loathsome | nauseating |
| Loft | upper room |
| Log | liquid measure (~0.5L) |
| Loweth | moo |
| Lowring | cloudy |
| Lucre | gain |
| Lusty | robust |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Magnifical | magnificent |
| Mallows | marsh plant |
| Mammon | riches |
| Mandrakes | plant/fruit |
| Maneh | 60 shekels |
| Marishes | marshes |
| Mart | marketplace |
| Maschil | instruction (psalm title) |
| Matrix | womb |
| Mattock | hoe |
| Maul | club |
| Maw | stomach |
| Mazzaroth | constellation |
| Mean men | insignificant |
| Meat | food |
| Meet | fitting, proper |
| Menstealers | kidnappers |
| Mess | portion |
| Mete | measure |
| Meteyard | measuring tool |
| Milch | milk-giving |
| Mincing | tripping steps |
| Minish | diminished |
| Mire | mud |
| Mite | tiny coin |
| Mitre | turban |
| Mollified | softened |
| Morrow | tomorrow |
| Mote | speck, twig |
| Munition | fortress |
| Murrain | cattle plague |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Napkin | handkerchief |
| Naught | worthless, bad |
| Naughty | worthless, bad |
| Naves | wheel hubs |
| Necromancer | one consulting dead |
| Neesings | sneezings |
| Nephew | descendant |
| Nether | lower |
| Nigh | near |
| Nitre | soda |
| Noised abroad | spread |
| Noisome | harmful |
| Nought | nothing, worthless |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Obeisance | bow |
| Oblation | offering |
| Occupy | trade |
| Occurrent | occurrence |
| Odious | hateful |
| Offscouring | scrapings |
| Oft | often |
| Omer | ~2L dry measure |
| Onycha | aromatic shell |
| Oracle | inner sanctuary word |
| Ossifrage | vulture |
| Ouches | settings |
| Outgoings | borders |
| Outlandish | foreign |
| Outwent | preceded |
| Overlive | outlive |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Paddle | tool |
| Palmerworm | locust |
| Palsy | paralysis |
| Paramours | lovers |
| Parbar | temple structure |
| Parlour | upper room |
| Passion | suffering |
| Pate | head |
| Pavilion | canopy |
| Peculiar | special possession |
| Peeled | polished |
| Peep | chirp |
| Penury | poverty |
| Peradventure | perhaps |
| Perdition | destruction |
| Phylacteries | prayer boxes |
| Piety | reverence |
| Pilled | peeled |
| Pinnacle | wing/extremity |
| Pisseth | urinates |
| Plaiting | braiding |
| Plat | plot of ground |
| Platted | braided |
| Pleiades | constellation |
| Plummet | plumb line |
| Polled | shaved |
| Polls | heads |
| Pommels | bowl-shaped tops |
| Porter | gatekeeper |
| Potsherd | broken pottery |
| Pottage | stew |
| Pourtray | engrave |
| Prating | chattering |
| Presbytery | body of elders |
| Presently | immediately |
| Pressfat | wine vat |
| Prevent | to go before |
| Pricks | goads |
| Privily | secretly |
| Privy | knowing, private part |
| Procured | brought about |
| Profane | defiled |
| Progenitors | ancestors |
| Prognosticators | foretellers |
| Proper | one's own |
| Propitiation | appeasement |
| Proselyte | convert |
| Provender | animal food |
| Providence | forethought |
| Psaltery | stringed instrument |
| Publican | tax collector |
| Pulse | vegetables |
| Purloining | stealing |
| Purtenance | inwards |
| Pygarg | antelope/goat |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Quaternions | groups of four soldiers |
| Quick | living |
| Quickened | made alive |
| Quit | unpunished |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rabbi | master |
| Rabboni | master |
| Raca | empty-headed |
| Rail | revile |
| Railer | reviler |
| Railing | reviling |
| Raiment | clothing |
| Rampart | fortress wall |
| Ranges | rows |
| Rase | make bare |
| Ravening | tearing, plundering |
| Ravin | tearing, plundering |
| Ravished | seized, enjoyed sexually |
| Receipt of custom | tax office |
| Recompense | repay |
| Redound | abound |
| Rehearse | recount |
| Reins | kidneys, emotions |
| Remission | forgiveness |
| Remit | release |
| Rend | tear |
| Renown | fame |
| Rent | torn |
| Reprobate | rejected |
| Reproof | rebuke |
| Requite | repay |
| Rereward | rear guard |
| Revellings | carousals |
| Ribband | cord |
| Rid | remove |
| Rie | spelt grain |
| Rifled | plundered |
| Ringstraked | striped |
| Riot | wasteful living |
| Riotous | wasteful living |
| Room | place, office |
| Rude | unlearned |
| Rush | reed |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sackbut | musical instrument |
| Sackcloth | mourning cloth |
| Sacrilege | temple robbery |
| Sardine | red gem |
| Sardius | red gem |
| Sat at meat | reclined to eat |
| Satiate | filled |
| Satyr | goat-demon |
| Savour | smell or taste |
| Scall | scab |
| Scant | lean |
| Scapegoat | sin-bearing goat |
| Scrip | bag |
| Seared | cauterized |
| Sect | party, division |
| Secure | safe, carefree |
| Securely | safe, carefree |
| Sedition | insurrection |
| Seethe | boil |
| Selvedge | edge |
| Sepulchre | tomb |
| Serjeants | officers with rods |
| Servile | laborious |
| Servitor | servant |
| Settle | ledge |
| Several | separate |
| Severally | individually |
| Shambles | meat market |
| Shamefacedness | modesty |
| Sheaf | bundle |
| Shekel | weight/coin |
| Sherd | pottery fragment |
| Sheriffs | magistrates |
| Shew | show |
| Shittim | acacia wood |
| Shivers | fragments |
| Shod | wearing sandals |
| Signet | seal |
| Silly | simple, naive |
| Silverlings | silver coins |
| Similitude | likeness |
| Sith | since |
| Sixscore | 120 |
| Skill | to be able/know how |
| Sleight | deceit |
| Slime | bitumen |
| Slips | cuttings |
| Slow bellies | lazy gluttons |
| Smart | suffer |
| Snuffdishes | trays |
| Sobriety | self-control |
| Sod | boiled |
| Sodden | boiled |
| Sodering | soldering |
| Sojourn | dwell as alien |
| Solace | delight |
| Sometime | formerly |
| Soothsayer | diviner |
| Sop | morsel |
| Sottish | foolish |
| Spake | spoke |
| Span | ~9 inches |
| Spikenard | perfume |
| Spittle | saliva |
| Spue | vomit |
| Stacte | gum resin |
| Stanched | stopped |
| Staves | rods |
| Stead | place |
| Stedfast | firm |
| Steel | bronze |
| Stock | trunk, family |
| Stomacher | robe |
| Stout | proud, strong |
| Stouthearted | proud, strong |
| Straightway | immediately |
| Strait | narrow, distressed |
| Straitened | narrow, distressed |
| Straitly | strictly |
| Strake sail | lowered sail |
| Strakes | stripes |
| Strawed | scattered |
| Striker | quarrelsome |
| Suborned | secretly induced |
| Subtil | crafty |
| Subtilty | crafty |
| Succour | help |
| Suffer | allow, permit |
| Sumptuously | luxuriously |
| Sup | eat evening meal |
| Superfluity | excess |
| Superscription | inscription |
| Supplant | trip up |
| Supple | cleanse |
| Suppliants | worshippers |
| Surety | security, pledge |
| Surfeiting | drunken excess |
| Swaddling clothes | infant wraps |
| Sycamine | mulberry-like tree |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tabering | beating tambourine |
| Taches | hooks |
| Tale | number |
| Talent | large weight/coin |
| Tapestry | covering |
| Tares | weeds |
| Target | large shield |
| Taunt | sharp reproach |
| Teats | breasts |
| Teil tree | oak/elm |
| Temperance | self-control |
| Thee | you (singular) |
| Thence | from there |
| Threescore | sixty |
| Thrice | three times |
| Thronged | pressed tightly |
| Thus | in this way |
| Thy | your (singular) |
| Thyine | fragrant wood |
| Tillage | cultivated ground |
| Tire | headdress |
| Tirshatha | governor title |
| Tithe | tenth |
| Tittle | small mark |
| To wit | namely, to know |
| Told | numbered |
| Tophet | place of fire |
| Tormentors | torturers |
| Tow | flax |
| Traffick | trade |
| Translate | transfer |
| Travail | labour, birth pangs |
| Traversing | twisting |
| Trench | fortification |
| Trodden | trampled |
| Trow | think |
| Trump | trumpet |
| Tumultuous | uproarious |
| Turtles | turtledoves |
| Tutors | guardians |
| Twain | two |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Unawares | unexpectedly |
| Uncomely | unbecoming |
| Unction | anointing |
| Undergirding | bracing a ship |
| Undertake | be surety |
| Unicorn | wild ox (likely) |
| Unlade | unload |
| Unperfect | unformed |
| Untoward | perverse |
| Upbraid | reproach |
| Us-ward | toward us |
| Usurp authority | domineer |
| Usury | interest |
| Utter | outer |
| Uttermost | extreme |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vagabond | wanderer |
| Vail | covering |
| Vale | valley |
| Vanities | worthless idols |
| Variance | division |
| Vaunt | boast |
| Vehemently | forcefully |
| Venture, at a | at random |
| Verily | truly |
| Vestments | garments |
| Vestry | garments |
| Vesture | garments |
| Vex | oppress |
| Vexation | turmoil |
| Vial | bowl |
| Victuals | food |
| Vigilant | watchful |
| Vile | despised |
| Villany | folly |
| Viol | harp |
| Virtue | power |
| Visage | face |
| Visitation | inspection |
| Vocation | calling |
| Volume | scroll |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wag | shake head |
| Wallow | roll |
| Wanton | lustful |
| Wantonness | unbridled lust |
| Ward | prison |
| Ware | merchandise |
| Warp | loom threads |
| Watchings | sleeplessness |
| Waterspouts | water channels |
| Wax | grow, become |
| Waxed | grow, become |
| Wayfaring | travelling |
| Waymarks | signposts |
| Wen | sore |
| Wench | maidservant |
| Wert | were |
| Whelp | cub |
| Whence | from where |
| Wherefore | why |
| Whereinsoever | in whatever |
| Wherewith | with which |
| Whet | sharpen |
| Whilst | while |
| Whit | bit |
| Whither | to where |
| Whore | prostitute |
| Whoremonger | male prostitute |
| Wiles | tricks |
| Wimples | veils |
| Winebibber | drunkard |
| Winefat | winepress vat |
| Winked at | overlooked |
| Winnoweth | separates grain |
| Wist | knew |
| Wit | know |
| Withal | also, together |
| Withs | cords |
| Witty | skilful |
| Woe worth | alas |
| Wont | accustomed |
| Wormwood | bitter herb |
| Worship, have | be honoured |
| Wot | know |
| Would God | if only |
| Wreathen | twisted |
| Wrest | pervert |
| Wringed | squeezed |
| Wroth | angry |
| Wrought | worked, made |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ye | you (plural) |
| Yea | yes |
| Yesternight | last night |
| Yoke-fellow | partner |
| Yonder | over there |
| You-ward | toward you |
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