11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

Xanthous

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

It is no surprise that the old-fashioned medieval fantasy world of the Souls series uses words that are not part of the common vernacular used today. To build a more believable world in Dark Souls, the writers had to dig deep and use words that would make sense not only for the terrifying world they built, but for the mysterious characters themselves.

The Xanthous King Jeremiah is a dark spirit who can invade your game while inside the Painted World of Ariamis. His form inside the game glows a reddish-brown and he has a rather large mummified head. While he has the title of king, no one is certain which kingdom he leads or where he is even from. After players defeat Xanthous they can receive the Xanthous armor set.

Xanthous means marked by yellow coloration, which makes sense since the armor set you receive is a yellow-brown color.

Japery

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

The Shrine Handmaid can be found in the Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls 3. This is where you will also hear the word japery used. After giving the Shrine Handmaid the Dreamchaser’s Ashes, she will begin to talk to you. If you choose to say nothing she will say the following:

“As the Ashen One ought to be.
Little time for japery, hm?”

Japery comes from the word jape, which means to jest, joke, jibe. The origins of jape can be traced all the way back to the 1300’s.

Prate

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

While talking to the Shrine Handmaid, you may also come across the word prate. This can be done by giving the Shrine Handmaid ash from a recently deceased. This will prompt the following response from her:

“Gracious. Passing fine ash thou’st given.
And awfully warm, at that.
Almost as if it had lived, mere moments ago…
Oh, forgive an old woman’s idle prate.
I’m sure an ashen one such as thee would never indulge such base contrivances…”

The definition of prate is to talk long and idly. The first known use of the word prate is from the 15th century.

Progenitor

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

Progenitor is spoken by the NPC Darkstalker Kaathe who is found in The Abyss after defeating The Four Kings, but before you place the Lordvessel on the Firelink Altar. Darkstalker Kaathe is another one of the primordial serpents in Dark Souls. If you speak to Kaathe with the Lordvessel in your inventory you will get this dialogue:

“Hmm… You are astonishing.
The truth I shall share without sentiment.
After the advent of fire, the ancient lords found the three souls.
But your progenitor found a fourth, unique soul.
The Dark Soul.”

Progenitor means an ancestor in your direct line. So Darkstalker Kaathe is referring to one of your ancestors finding The Dark Soul. Progenitor’s first known use was in the 14th century.

Forsooth

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

The word forsooth is encountered in Dark Souls when speaking with the large cat named Alvina. She is sitting in a window right past the Crest of Artoria’s door. When speaking to Alvina for the first time she will ask you if you have respect for what she says. If you answer no you will be given the following dialogue:

“Oh, I see. ‘Tis a pity indeed. But this is thine stubborn choice alone. I cannot enforce it upon thee. If thine mind should be alter’d, forsooth speak to me once more.”

Forsooth means in truth, but is often used to imply contempt or doubt. Forsooth isn’t used in modern language anymore, however, it does live on in the word sooth, which is still used today.

Pernicious

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

Pernicious is also used by the feline Alvina. In fact, you actually will see the word pernicious by following the same dialogue choices to get the word forsooth and then all you have to do is speak to her again. When speaking to Alvina after answering no to her first questions she will say:

“Pernicious caitiff.”

The archaic definition of pernicious means wicked. In this case, Alvina is using it as an insult since you previously told her you don’t respect what she has to say. Its first known use was somewhere in the 15th century.

Ascetic

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

The word Ascetic is used in the very beginning of Dark Souls 2 when the player is given the item Bonfire Ascetic. This item strengthens enemies in the area after the bonfire in which it is used at. The item description is as follows:

“Tossing this into a Bonfire strengthen nearby foes. Once the Bonfire Ascetic is devoured by the flames, its effects can never be reversed. Be prepared before using this perilous ember. Fire exhibits a connection to this curse, and when the flames grow stronger, so does the curse.”

Ascetic means practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline.

Prithee

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

Prithee is a word I was completely unfamiliar with before playing through Dark Souls 3. In fact, the first time I heard the words, I thought the NPC was calling my character pretty and was caught off-guard. When players enter the Firelink Shrine one character they can interact with is Blacksmith Andre. After talking to Andre upon your departure he will say the following:

“Prithee, be careful. I don’t want to see m’work be squandered!”

The etymology of prithee actually comes from an alteration of the term pray thee. Prithee is an archaic way to express a wish or request.

Beanpole

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

Beanpole is an extremely interesting word in the world of Dark Souls. Of course, to our UK readers many of you are aware beanpole is a common term, but many players, myself included were confused when messages on the ground left by others players would state that there is a beanpole coming up.

Upon some further research, players concluded that beanpole is meant to refer to Dragon Slayer Ornstein, but can be used to describe any tall and skinny enemy. Since Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough are fought together, there is an option for Ornstein which is Beanpole and option for Smough which is fatty in messages.

This is used to tell other players which one to kill first because the outcome of the fight determines which armor you will receive.

Even though most players agree that beanpole is used to describe Ornstein, there are some who just believe it to be an insult.

A beanpole is a pole up which bean vines may climb. But used informally, it is meant to describe a tall or lanky person.

Flexile

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

Flexile is a word you rarely see, if at all anymore. Dark Souls 2 introduced this word to me when going up against the boss Flexile Sentry. You encounter the Flexile Sentry below the deck of a ship in No-Man’s Wharf. The reason he is called Flexile Sentry is because of the way its torso rotates during the fight. One side is a warrior with scimitars and when it rotates it reveals a conjoined second warrior with spiked clubs.

The word flexile means flexible; pliant; tractable; adaptable. Its origin comes from the Latin word Flexilis. 

Gaol

11 Old-Timey Words Dark Souls Taught Us

Gaol, commonly mistaken for the misspelling of the word goal is, in fact, its own separate word. First encountered in the world of Bloodborne when being taken to the Hypogean Gaol. Players can enter this location early if they are caught by a Snatcher which will capture them in their Santa Claus-like sack and drag them to the Hypogean Gaol. Players will soon realize this is a jail where the Snatchers keep their victims.

Gaol is another word for jail that is rarely used. Gaoler is another word for jailer. Both of these are pronounced the same way just with a different spelling. This was the more common spelling between 1760-1830.