20 olde English words we need to start using again

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The Oxford English dictionary counts 171,476 words in current use, but there are so many more — by one count, 47,156 — that have been lost to history.

Not all of them deserve to get resurrected, but some for sure.

Here are some words that could help us describe our lives better than what's currently available.

Drake Baer contributed to an earlier version of this article.

Overmorrow: on the day after tomorrow.

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Example: "I'll have that report to you overmorrow." 

Why: Overmorrow was in Middle English but fell out of the language. So instead of having this word, we have the wordy "day after tomorrow." German still has this very useful word: übermorgen.

Bedward: heading toward bed.

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Example: "I'm bedward, putting this group text on mute." 

Why: Because it treats your bed as a cardinal direction. As it should be.

Elflock: hair that has been tangled as if by elves.

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Example: "I think I bruised my scalp trying to get those elflocks out." 

Why: Because hair tangles are frustrating, but elflocks are adorable. And speaking of them helps to re-enchant our world.

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