Side project: The Dead Words

The Dead Words is a project created and curated by graphic designer Karen To. The idea behind the project is to rediscover dead words — words which were once part of our language but have now been omitted from the English dictionary — through the art of lettering.

What’s interesting about this project is that not only do you get to see some great examples of lettering but thanks to the accompanying definitions you also get to learn about what each of the words mean. If you’re a keen letterer you can also get involved and submit your own piece by following a few simple steps.

Before you do that though, feast your eyes on some of our favourite pieces from the project:

Aretaloger (ar-ta-log-er]) n.1623 – 1656, braggart; one who boasts about his own accomplishments

Tragematopolist (jus-soo-lent) n.1656 – 1658, confectioner; seller of sweets

Teterrimous (tey-ter-ee-muhs) n.1704 – 1864, most foul

Sinapistic (sin-uh-piz-tik) adj.1879 – 1879, consisting of mustard

Senticous (sen-tee-kuhz) adj.1657 – 1657; prickly; thorny

Sagittiferous (suh-jit-uh-fer-oh) adj.1656 ‑1858; bearing arrows

Findible (fahyn-dee-buhl) adj.1656 – 1790, able to be cleft or split

Scandiscope (skan-dee-skohp) n.1825 ‑1825; machine for cleaning chimneys

Which of these is your favourite? Do you have a similar side project? Let us know in the comments.