[Aaron Poochigian]

How do we feel about the word "cajolery"? Is it living spoken English? Is it living literary English? Is it just another archaic (dead) mofo?

[Ann Drysdale]

I have used it in the last couple of weeks. But then I am a very old woman and nobody listens to me anyway. This is probably because I am an archaic mofo.

[Aaron Poochigian]

That's encouraging news, Ann! Let's bring "cajolery" back from the dead. It will be a zombie word!

[Matt Q]

I don't know that I've heard it spoken (or possibly I'm just one of those people who doesn't listen to Annie), but it's meaning is clear at a glance, and it doesn't seem odd to me. I'd say go for it.

[Aaron Poochigian]

Going for it:

". . . a sage/above cajolery and smirking wit. . ."

[John Isbell]

I think that is living English, whether the word started off moribund or not.

Cheers,
John

[Jim Moonan]

X
“Cajole” yes. “Cajolery” no never. Although I did buy my lovely a nice necklace recently.

X

[Jayne Osborn]

Hi Aaron,

"Cajolery" is a perfectly acceptable noun, and it's in all of my dictionaries... (I have one in almost every room, not that I'm obsessive, or anything) ...including my massive old copy of Webster's!!

There ya go. The word lives, and doesn't require bringing back from the dead after all!

Jayne

[John Isbell]

Thanks, Jayne - it was time really for someone to crack open a dictionary or two. Good to know the word is alive and unproblematic.

Cheers,
John

[Edmund Conti]

OK, OK, I'll use it.