The term “inkhorn term” refers to a word that is seen as overly pretentious or unnecessary. It originated in the 16th century when writers were criticized for using words that were unfamiliar to most people. These words were often derived from classical sources such as Latin and Greek, resulting in a sudden increase in the English vocabulary. While some of these new terms did not survive, many have become common words in the English language today.
Despite the initial backlash against inkhorn terms, many words like dismiss, celebrate, encyclopedia, and absurdity have stood the test of time and are widely used today. Others, such as “expede” and “emacerate”, faded into obscurity. The reasons why some new words thrived while others did not remain a mystery. The disapproval of inkhorn terms eventually faded by the end of the 17th century, but the words that were created in opposition to them did not gain widespread usage.
Even though many of the words that were once considered inkhorn terms are now part of everyday language, the controversy surrounding them raises questions about what makes a word pretentious or unnecessary. In modern times, words like absurdity, atmosphere, enthusiasm, and system – which were once criticized – are now commonly used without any negative connotations. Playwright Ben Jonson recognized Shakespeare’s linguistic creativity in reinventing the English language despite having limited knowledge of classical languages.
Shakespeare, along with other writers of the 15th and 16th centuries, contributed significantly to the expansion of the English vocabulary by introducing between 10,000 to 25,000 new words. These lexical innovations helped shape the language into what it is today. While the inkhorn controversy may have once been a point of contention among writers and scholars, it ultimately played a role in enriching the English language with a variety of new and expressive words.
