| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| yclept, y-clept (adj.) |
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| are two spellings of the past participle of the Old English verb clepian, meaning “called” or “named.” The y is a later spelling of the unstressed ge- prefix of the Old English past participle; it was pronounced yuh in Old English and later, in Middle English, ee. Later poets, especially Spenser and Milton, restored clip and cleppe and especially yclept to literary use. Today this archaic word is used only in a self-conscious effort to make one’s words sound humorous or ancient: My elderly sedan is yclept Gwendolyn. Pronounce it ee-KLEPT. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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