praught

Definition

simple past and past participle of preach

Etymology

Derived from preach by analogy with teach : taught. Apparently a modern jocular construction but taken seriously by some. In print, generally appearing as a nonce in a much-quoted doggerel verse, attributed by some to Phoebe Cary in 1854, appearing in Punchinello 1.27 in 1870, there attributed to Amos Keeter. See quot. 1870.

Example Sentences

• "SALLY SALTER, she was a young teacher, who taught, And her friend, CHARLEY CHURCH, was a preacher, who praught; Though his enemies called him a screecher, who scraught."
• "1996-05-22 The Anglican Mailing List http://memoriam.anglicansonline.org/mamawolf/msg00352.html … I don't remember the earnest soul who praught it …"
• "2000-01-30 Larne Parish Homily Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20071205165638/http://www.briantumelty.dnet.co.uk/homily_pubs/B04_Ord_00.htm They praught in the synagogue every Sabbath, week in, week out."