Welcome to another exciting episode of Word Woman's Weekly Work-Out! This is the ninth in our series of words which only seem to appear in the negative. And the Word of the Week is:
Uncouth:
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English uncūth, from un- + cūth familiar, known; akin to Old High German kund known, Old English can know — more at can
Date: before 12th century
1 a archaic : not known or not familiar to one : seldom experienced : uncommon, rare b obsolete : mysterious, uncanny
2 a : strange or clumsy in shape or appearance : outlandish b : lacking in polish and grace : rugged
"uncouth." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.
Merriam-Webster Online. 25 June 2010
but have you ever heard the word:
Couth:
Pronunciation: \ˈküth\
Function: adjective
Etymology: back-formation from uncouth
Date: 1896
"couth." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.
Merriam-Webster Online. 25 June 2010
Example: Daryl's manners, while entirely couth for the rural community where he grew up, were considered completely uncouth in the big city where he went to college.
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