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Sat 22 Mar, 2008 08:13 pm
"he is the friend and aider of those who would live in the spirit". This is what Arnold said of Emerson. But "AIDER "the word can not be found in my dictionary. Is it ancient English meaning "assistant", not in use today? Thank you!
A little old fashioned but not "ancient"!
Aider: One who, or that which, aids.
[1913 Webster] [US English dictionary]
But still in use today. An "aider and abettor" is somebody who aids and abets a criminal.
Sometimes you need to look in more than one dictionary.
"Aider" is a bit old-fashioned now, but probably quite acceptable diction in the mid-19th century when Emerson and Arnold were writing.
"Ancient" when applied to English usually means medieval or earlier.
Noddy24 wrote:"Ancient" when applied to English usually means medieval or earlier.
Or language used by adults as described by kids, eh, Noddy?
JTT--
"Ancient" (when used by teens) a disparaging word with a slight flavor of awed respect.
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