Apedia

Word Disremember Forget Shaw Dialectal March Verb Dis Rih Mem Ber

Word disremember
Date March 28, 2008
Type verb
Syllables dis-rih-MEM-ber
Etymology English has been depending upon the word "forget" since before the 12th century, but in 1805 a new rival appeared in print -- "disremember." A critic in 1869 called "disremember" both "obsolete" and "a low vulgarism," and later grammarians have agreed; it has been labeled "provincial and archaic," and in 1970 Harry Shaw opined that "disremember" was "an illiteracy," adding, "never use this word in standard English." (By 1975, Shaw amended his opinion to "this word is dialectal rather than illiterate.") "Forget" is indeed a vastly more popular word, but "disremember" still turns up occasionally, often in dialectal or humorous contexts.
Examples "'It was the British who did it,' I said quickly. 'I disremember the place and time....'" (E.L. Doctorow, Loon Lake)
Definition : forget

Tags: wordoftheday::verb

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Next card: Reservoir water large n-count 可数名词 水库;蓄水池 lake supplied

Previous card: Arcadia region writers innocence simple quiet idyllically march

Up to card list: Word of the Day