Arts & Literature

words that change meaning over time

for example, gay used to mean happy, then homosexual, then a bit crap. awful, i am told, did not used to mean terrible, but full of awe.
does this changing of meaning have a term?

mandimoo Fri 23/05/08 22:48

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DaSwede
Sat 24/05/08
00:28

The short answer is that it's a semantic change or semantic shift. The long answer...

long answer 1

long answer 2

(The quick answer you would probably have gotten by posting your question in Phrases & Sayings instead of Arts & Literature ;-)

Abdulmajid
Sat 24/05/08
00:29

semantics???? What has being Jewish got to do with it?

EngTeach
Mon 26/05/08
03:09

This is great. I will do a lesson on this in English class. Thank you, Thankyou, We have wrapped up most of our big units and have 13 days left. This will be great for those lond, last days til summer hols start.

figure
Mon 26/05/08
03:16

I've always known and understood 'Gay' to mean happy, cheerful etc. Only about ten years ago I learned Gay also has a gender connotation to it. What planet am I from. lol

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