What epithet would John Quincy Adams use?
score:14
Very astute question. One of the amusing bits I read about the old HBO western series Deadwood was that its copious cursing was purposely not period, but translated. Their researchers reported that cursing in the 19th Century was largely profane (religious in nature), and they made the decision to translate it into modern sexual cursing so it would have the same impact on the audience as it would have to listeners at the time.
According to John Spurr, professor of history at Swansea University, this was in fact the case from the 15th-18th centuries as well, but even moreso. My favorite quote from in there
It was said that Thames bargemen had only ever heard the name of their saviour as part of a profane oath.
Jesse Shiedlower, author of The F-Word, was quite insistent that this went for most of 19th Century America as well.
the evidence that we have is that they were using more religious blasphemy than the sexual insults which are popular today
So most likely what was uttered was some form of suggestion that God should damn the person in question (or perhaps that he should take the initiative and go there on his own). However, the Deadwood writers would argue that this should probably be "translated" into modern English using something sexual* to have the same reaction out of a modern audience.
* - Likely using the F-word, but perhaps instead suggesting some inclination out of heterosexuality or into incest. Watch an episode of Deadwood, or go drive slow in New Jersey if you need inspiration.
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Source: stackoverflow.com
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