Language is a living archive of human expression, and in the case of English it still carries echoes of its medieval past. A list of ten ancient words compiled by NDTV traces terms from Old and Middle English that have survived into today’s conversations. 

Words such as “alas” (used since the 13th century to express regret) and “betwixt” (once the standard form of “between”) still pop up—especially in poetic, dramatic or fantasy contexts.  Others like “hither”, “hark”, “behold” and “yonder” evoke a bygone era of speech yet remain understood today. 

Even everyday words like “foe” (medieval for “enemy”) and “thou” (old informal “you”) remind us that modern English’s roots are deep and rich. The article’s takeaway: language evolves, but history lingers in every syllable. These survivors offer a fun window into our linguistic heritage - and prompt us to notice how much of the past is embedded in our everyday speech.