Selcouth
Strange and marvellous because rarely encountered — unfamiliar, wondrous, seldom known. Now rare to the point of obsolescence.
Full definition of Selcouth →:: COMPARE ::
SelcouthvsUncouth
The short answer
Same root, opposite fate. Both start from 'known'. Selcouth turned 'seldom known' into wonder; uncouth turned 'not known' into an insult — which tells you something about how English feels about unfamiliarity.
Side by side
| Aspect | Selcouth | Uncouth |
|---|---|---|
| Literally | Seldom known | Not known |
| Became | Wondrous | Crude |
| Still current | Barely | Yes |
| Shared element | cūþ | cūþ |
What each one means
Uncouth
The contrast above sets out how Uncouth differs from Selcouth on the points that actually matter.