The Dictionary of Lost Words

by Pip Williams

Some words are more important than others—I learned this, growing up in the Scriptorium. But it took me a long time to understand why.

“But when we talk about her, she comes to life.” “Never forget that, Esme. Words are our tools of resurrection.”

“Words change over time, you see. The way they look, the way they sound; sometimes even their meaning changes. They have their own history.”

Our thinking was limited by convention (the most subtle but oppressive dictator). Please forgive our lack of imagination.

“The Dictionary is a history book, Esme. If it has taught me anything, it is that the way we conceive of things now will most certainly change.

“Some words are more than letters on a page, don’t you think?” she said, tying the sash around my belly as best she could. “They have shape and texture. They are like bullets, full of energy, and when you give one breath you can feel its sharp edge against your lip. It can be quite cathartic in the right context.”

“It’s not about forgiveness, Essymay. We can’t always make the choices we’d like, but we can try to make the best of what we must settle for. Take care not to dwell.”

entry for mother. The proof already gave the first meaning as A female parent, but to this Mr. Dankworth had added, A woman who has given birth to a child.

Mr. Dankworth?”

In his opinion, females are prone to overstatement, and for that reason should not be employed where precision is needed.”

Mr. Dankworth

space that Mabel had occupied was already gone; the neighbouring stalls had expanded to fill it. I stood there for a minute or an hour, I don’t know which, and struggled to imagine how Mabel and her crate of whittled sticks had ever fit there. No one who passed seemed to notice her absence.

“everyone who contributes copy to the Dictionary will leave a trace of themselves, no matter how uniform Father, or Mr. Dankworth, would like it to be. Try to take Mr. Dankworth’s comments as suggestion, not dictum.”

needed. I sat on the bottom stair, my coat still on, and read Gareth’s letter again. Then I read all the words he had blacked out for others and transcribed for me.