Poetry & Contingency

Poetry and lexicography, buzzfeed style. Having recently ranked the neologisms of prolific poetic word-coiners, I decided to look at all verse-coined words in OED [*caveat], and rank them according to their frequency in British National Corpus. Only words first attested after 1500 are included, on the basis that a large proportion of the lexicographical record before that is in verse. Frequency is per million headwords (pos-tagged) in the BNC.

1. job, n. (f=322.9)
   A piece of work; esp. a small definite piece of work done in the way of one’s special occupation or profession.
   First recorded use by: Thomas Middleton
   In: Mayor Quinborough (a 1627)

                                              I cannot read,
   I keep a Clark to do those jobbs for need.

2. control, n. (f=381.2)
   The fact of controlling, or of checking and directing action; the function or power of directing and regulating; domination, command, sway.
   First recorded use by: William Shakespeare
   In: Comedy of Errors (1590)

                                            The winged fowles
   Are their males subiects, and at their controules.

3. real, a. (f=230.3)
   Having an objective existence; actually existing as a thing.
   First recorded use by: William Shakespeare
   In: All’s Well that Ends Well (1607)

                                     Is there no exorcist
   Beguiles the truer Office of mine eyes?
   Is’t reall that I see?

4. central, a. (f=194.1)
   Of or pertaining to the centre or middle;
   First recorded use by: Henry More
   In: Platonical Song of the Soul (1647)

                               Or else his inward life
   And Centrall rains do fairly him compell
   Within himself.

5. model, n. (f=184.2)
   An architect’s set of designs … hence, a similar set of drawings made to scale and representing … an existing building.
   First recorded use by: George Gascoigne
   In: Posies, Herbes (1575)

   To tel some‥reasonable worde,
   Of Hollandes state, the which I will present, In Cartes, in Mappes, and eke in Models made.

6. concerned, ppl. a. (f=157.6)
   First recorded use by: Abraham Cowley
   In: Davideis (1656)

   With concern’d haste her thoughtful
   Looks she rais’d.

7. American, a. (f=157.5)
   First recorded use by: Joshua Sylvester
   In: Du Bartas (1598)

    Under the Empire of the Ocean,
   Atlantike, Indian, and American.

8. despite, prep. (f=146.0)
   In spite of.
   First recorded use by: William Shakespeare
   In: Henry VI part 2 (1593)

   Or thou, or I Somerset will be Protectors,
   Despite Duke Humfrey, or the Cardinall.

9. list, n.6 (f=138.9)
   A catalogue or roll consisting of a row or series of names, figures, words, or the like.
   First recorded use by: William Shakespeare
   In: Hamlet (1602)

    Young Fortinbras‥Hath‥Shark’d vp a List of Landlesse Resolutes.

   The Leuies, The Lists, and full proportions are all made Out of his subiect.

10. act, v. (f=137.0)
    To put in motion, move to action, impel; to actuate, influence, animate.
    First recorded use by: William Warner
    In: Albion’s England (1602)

    Thy Senses fiue that acte thy life; thy Speache, whereby to many
    Thou doest communicate thy selfe, saue God disclameth any.

11. modern, a. (f=130.9)
    Being at this time; now existing.
    First recorded use by: William Dunbar
    In: Poems (1500-20)

    Hodiern, modern, sempitern,
    Angelicall regyne!