Buzz
As language naturally evolves, the meanings of many words and phrases stretch beyond their original boundaries. Slang, for example, has redefined words like 'bad' and 'ill' to carry a positive connotation. However, even with these shifts, the original meanings generally remain intact, and we simply broaden their usage.
Yet, there are numerous words in the English language whose original meanings have been almost entirely forgotten over time. It’s not necessarily that we're misusing them or relying on a secondary meaning; rather, these words have undergone such dramatic changes that using them in their original sense might make you sound like you're speaking an entirely different language.
10. Awful
Originally, 'awful' meant 'full of awe,' but over time, it has become synonymous with 'terrible' or 'horrible.' Nowadays, 'awful' is more commonly used to describe something unpleasant or offensive to the senses.
However, the word 'awful' has roots in the Middle English terms 'agheful' and 'aueful,' which were used to describe the feeling of being filled with awe or to refer to something that invoked awe. Interestingly, even in those early days, it was sometimes used to describe something that caused awe to the point of inducing fear. This evolution helps explain why the word eventually came to carry negative connotations.
9. Apology
Most of us apologize when we've wronged someone, seeking forgiveness and admitting our mistakes. While this is the current use of the word, it’s quite different from its original meaning.
In the 16th century, the term 'apology' referred to a defense against an accusation. An 'apology' or 'apologie' could present facts or simply be an individual's attempt to explain their side of the story—much like Plato’s *Apology*. The shift toward its current meaning, where an apology involves seeking forgiveness, is a gradual one, influenced by its usage in works like Shakespeare’s *Richard III*.
8. Terrific
Centuries ago, 'terrific' was primarily used to describe something that caused immense fear or dread. As recently as the 1800s, the word was more closely tied to things that were vast in size or extreme in nature. It essentially merged the ideas of 'terrifying' and 'excessive,' with an emphasis on the latter.
So, how did 'terrific' come to mean something amazing? The change seems to have occurred in the late 1800s when the word was used with irony in advertisements and reviews. The emerging idea was that something so bold or extreme had to be experienced. Interestingly, many words in English, once associated with fear, gradually transformed into positive expressions through the concept of 'awe.'
7. Cynicism
The ancient Greeks used the term 'cynic' to describe people with 'dog-like' qualities. It was particularly applied to a group of philosophers who advocated for simple living focused on virtue. These philosophers were called Cynics by those who saw them as outsiders or beggars.
When the word 'cynic' made its way into English, it was initially used to describe the philosophers and their ideas in a neutral, observational way. Over time, however, the term 'cynical' began to be associated with those who criticized the Cynics, partly due to the belief that they judged others harshly. This shift, combined with the original philosophical beliefs, led to our modern understanding of a cynic as someone who is skeptical of society and its systems.
6. Peruse
In modern usage, people often use the word 'peruse' to describe a casual glance at something, such as perusing a book or a sales rack. However, dating back to the 16th century, 'peruse' originally meant to read something with great attention to detail or to examine it thoroughly.
Interestingly, there remains an ongoing debate over the proper definition of 'peruse.' Some dictionaries offer both interpretations—one meaning a casual look and the other meaning a deep, detailed examination—while others prefer one over the other. Despite the growing popularity of the 'skim' definition, earlier works still show the word being used in its original sense.
5. Nice
Though today the word 'nice' is often used to describe something pleasant or kind, it can also be used sarcastically, such as calling someone 'too nice' or mocking a simple mistake. In the 1300s and 1400s, however, 'nice' was more frequently used to refer to someone as ignorant or foolish.
What caused the shift? Society did. Over time, 'nice' came to describe excess and the lifestyle of the upper class, who were often seen as overly concerned with polite appearances. As societal norms changed, the word 'nice' lost its negative connotations, evolving into a much more neutral concept. Still, you can occasionally find people using 'nice' in a mocking or critical way today.
4. Naughty
Often used as the opposite of 'nice,' especially during the holidays, 'naughty' is used to describe someone or something that is mischievous or very bad. It’s so widely recognized that it’s often employed in a humorous or exaggerated way to underscore bad behavior.
Originally, 'naughty' referred to poor people with very little to their name. Over time, it came to describe those individuals who were thought to lack basic morality, a meaning that eventually took hold. By the 1600s and 1700s, 'naughty' was mostly used to describe children or individuals exhibiting bad behavior or mischief.
3. Bully
As far back as the 1500s, the term 'bully' was actually a term of affection, similar to how we might use the word 'sweetheart' today. It referred to individuals with whom one shared an intimate bond. However, by the 1600s, the word began to shift, describing men as 'good fellows' or 'upstanding individuals.'
The evolution of the term 'bully' continued, with it eventually being used to describe men who were bold and unafraid to take risks. This meaning expanded further to include individuals who had committed wrongdoings—often violent acts—against others. Although it came to signify troublemakers or thugs, there remained a lingering trace of the original intimacy that was associated with the term, as the emotional pain of being hurt by someone close to you was still implied.
2. Speed
In the late Middle English period (around the late 1500s), the word 'speed' was often used to express the idea of success, particularly the accomplishment of one's goals. While the word occasionally suggested the speed at which these goals were achieved, it was not always tied to the concept of quickness. Even the phrase 'Godspeed' didn’t necessarily imply haste at that time.
By the mid-1500s, however, 'speed' started to take on the meaning of a swift and successful endeavor or journey. As it became associated with the industrial sectors, which emphasized faster work and productivity, the element of haste in the word became much more prominent. To this day, the word is often used with an underlying sense of both success and speed.
1. Meat
It's almost impossible to imagine that the word 'meat' could have had another meaning. While we may use various slang expressions that incorporate the word in different contexts, it's hard to picture a time when 'meat' wasn't simply used to describe animal flesh prepared as food.
However, up until around the 14th century, 'meat' was actually used to describe any solid food (as opposed to liquids). If we look back far enough, we'll see that the word covered a broad range of substances. Over time, as the English language developed, 'meat' gradually became more specifically associated with the food we think of today.
