Archaisms

Archaisms are words which are no longer used  in everyday speech, which have been ousted by their synonyms. Archaisms remain in the language, but they are used as stylistic devices to express solemnity. Most of these words are lexical archaisms and they are stylistic synonyms of words which ousted them from the neutral style.

Examples:
  • avaunt - go away;
  • behold -see or observe;
  • buss - a kiss;
  • coz - a cousin;
  • dark - ignorant;
  • fair - beautiful.

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