out from these will show
various grades of obsolescence, and very different values as examples
bearing on the question at issue.

_Table of homophones taken from among the obsolete words in Cunliffe's
'A New Shakespearean Dictionary,' Blackie_, 1910.]

ANCIENT: replaced by ensign.

BATE = remit.

BECK = a bow of the head: preserved in 'becks and nods',
mutual loss with beck = rivulet.

BOOT = to profit: Sh. puns on it, showing that its absurdity
was recognized.

BOTTLE (of hay): preserved in proverb.

BOURNE = streamlet: preserved in sense of limit by the line of
Sh. which perhaps destroyed it.

BREEZE = gadfly.

BRIEF (_subs._): now only as a lawyer's brief.

BROOK (_verb_).

BUCK = to steep (linen) in lye.

COTE: as in sheepcote.

DOLE = portion, and dole = sorrow: probably active mutual
destruction; we still retain 'to dole out'.

DOUT.

DUN (_adj._): now only in combination as dun-coloured.

EAR = to plough.

FAIN and FEIGN: prob. mutual loss due to undefined sense of
FAIN. n.b. FANE also obsolete.

FEAT (_adj._) and FEATLY: well lost.

FERE.

FIT = section of a poem.

FLAW: now confined to a flaw in metal, &c.

FLEET (_verb_) and FLEETING, as in the sun-dial motto, 'Time
like this shade doth fleet and fade.'

FOIL: common verb, obsolete.

GEST: lost in _jest_.

GIRD = to scoff: an old well-established word.

GOUT = a drop of liquor.

GUST = taste (well lost).

HALE = haul (well lost).

HIGHT = named.

HOAR: only kept in combination, hoar-frost, hoar hairs.

HOSE: lost, though hosier remains, but specialized in
_garden-hose, &c._

HUE: not now used of colour.

IMBRUED (with blood): prob. lost in _brewed_.

JADE: almost confined to _jaded_(?).

KEEL = cool.

LIST: as in 'as you list'.

MAIL: now only in combination, coat of mail, &c.

MARRY!

MATED = confused in mind (well lost).

MEED: lost in _mead_ = meadow (also obs.) _and
mead=metheglin_.

METE and METELY = fitting, also METE in 'mete it out', both
lost in _meet_ and _meat_.

MERE (_subs._).

MOUSE (_verb_): to bite and tear.

MOW = a grimace.

MUSE = to wonder: lost in _amuse_ and _Muse_.

NEAT = ox.

OUNCE = pard.

PALL = to fail.

PEAK: survives only in 'peak and