Anyone who's ever taken a high school English literature course knows that if you go back far enough, English gets real cray. The high diction of the 1800s might take a few rereadings to help piece together, but it's still close enough to our lexicon that you can get the general gist of what people are saying. And Shakespeare is fairly comprehensible once you get past the weird pronunciation. But if you go back to Middle English, like The Canterbury Tales, woof. You can't tell a love poem from a cooking recipe from a weather forecast.
Don't know what crapulous, hugger-mugger, petty fogger, mumpsimu, bleater, or batty fang mean? You will soon enough.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
-
Selena Gomez’s Fresh-Faced Selfie Radiates Self-LoveShe’s letting her natural skin and hair shine.
-
Princess Kate Is Absolutely Nailing the Business Casual Look This Week
Pantsuits everywhere!
-
24 Hours With Naomi Osaka
The tennis star on her new beauty routine after welcoming her baby, easing back into tennis, and her self-care ritual.
-
Bridgerton's Hair and Makeup Designer Reveals the Beauty Products Fit for Royalty
Erika Ökvist takes us behind the scenes of the Netflix hit.
-
The Ultimate Gift Guide for 'Bridgerton' Lovers
Live like you belong in the hit Netflix Regency-era romance romp.
-
12 New 2022 Memoirs to Add to Your TBR Pile
From Kendra James's 'Admissions' to Viola Davis's 'Finding Me.'
-
Netflix’s ‘Maid’ Helped Me Open Up About Domestic Violence
The show is being praised for its portrayal of emotional abuse and other underrepresented forms of DV.
-
Julia Quinn's Bookshelves Are (Naturally) Filled With 'Bridgerton' Memorabilia
The historical romance novelist gives us a peek of her home library in MC's 'Shelf Portrait' series.
-
Kim Kardashian West Insists She Divorced Kanye “For His Personality”
The mega-influencer's 'SNL' monologue was unexpectedly savage—and hilarious.
-
10 Books to Read If You Love Watching the Olympics
These stories revolve around the sports and competition we can't get enough of.
-
The Cast of 'Firefly Lane': Get to Know Who's Who
Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke lead the cast of the beloved Netflix dramedy.
