KJV Archaic & Obsolete Words Glossary
KJV Archaic & Obsolete Words Glossary
Comprehensive list of archaic, obsolete, and KJV-specific words with their
modern meanings.
A
| 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 |
B
| 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 |
C
| 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 |
D
| 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 |
E
| 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 |
F
| 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 |
G
| 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 |
H
| 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 |
I
| 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 |
J
| Word |
Meaning |
| Jangling |
vain talking |
| Jeoparded |
endangered |
| Jot |
smallest letter |
| Jubile |
Jubilee year |
K
| Word |
Meaning |
| Kerchief |
veil |
| Kin |
relative, redeemer |
| Kindred |
relative, redeemer |
| Kine |
cows |
| Kinsman |
relative, redeemer |
| Knop |
knob, bud |
L
| 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 |
M
| 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 |
N
| 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 |
O
| 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 |
P
| 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 |
Q
| Word |
Meaning |
| Quaternions |
groups of four soldiers |
| Quick |
living |
| Quickened |
made alive |
| Quit |
unpunished |
R
| 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 |
S
| 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 |
T
| 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 |
U
| 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 |
V
| 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 |
W
| 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 |
Y
| Word |
Meaning |
| Ye |
you (plural) |
| Yea |
yes |
| Yesternight |
last night |
| Yoke-fellow |
partner |
| Yonder |
over there |
| You-ward |
toward you |
Last Modified: 2026-08-03