Semantic change Flashcards
Neosemy
a process where words begin to be used in different ways and acquire new meanings
Broadening
the meaning of a word broadens so that it retains its old meaning but also takes on added meaning(s) holiday - holy day a day of religious importance
Narrowing
a word becomes for specific in meaning - wife was referred to all women
Amelioration
over time a word acquires a more positive meaning - pretty meant sly or cunning
Pejoration
over time a word becomes less favourable - villain used to mean ‘farm worker’
Bleaching
the loss or reduction of the force of meaning of a word - ‘shit’ is not uncommon for people use expressions such as ‘I’m getting my shit together’
Metaphor
words acquire additional meanings as physical ideas are extended to abstract ideas - high = physical height or to get high
Euphemism
the creation of polite expressions for things that may be considered as unpleasant - collateral damage = unintentional death of civilians
Polysemy
words acquire many possible meanings which coexist with the original - milk/milking it
