"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Saturday, 19 January 2013

Sorner

  
A sorner was at one time a criminal.  He used force or meance to procure food or lodgings for himself.  Gradually the criminal element of it declined and the word simply came to mean one who obtruded on others – especially his relatives and so-called friends - for his bed and board; an unwelcome guest.  Quite a few sorners made appearances in P G Wodehouse's books. The word seems to have fallen into disuse which is a shame since there are still a few sorners around.
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2 comments:

  1. Canadian Chickadee20 January 2013 at 01:50

    Oh. I thought maybe a sorner was a square corner! :o) xox

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  2. DawnTreader20 January 2013 at 19:53

    Can't remember coming across the word... I read most PG Wodehouse's in Swedish translation.

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