History of English

Words that have changed their meaning over time and why...

Etymology
The Study Of The Origin Of Words

Why words change

• Some reasons why is the influence of other languages
• Another reason is slang, it makes things easier for the people with that language to speak.
• Sometimes new words are created because of discoveries

Some more reasons why

• Broadening the word's meaning
• Narrowing the word's meaning

Example

• "Nice used to be an insult and meant foolish or stupid in the 13th century and it went through many changes right through to the 18th century with meanings like wanton, extravagant, elegant, strange, modest, thin, and shy or coy. Now it means a good & pleasing or thoughtful & kind (Etymology Virtue Science, 2016)"

The influence of others

• There are many words that have been influenced by other countries
• French and Germanic languages are two main languages that influenced English

Examples

• Novel has an origin of Italian (Novella)
• Tsunami has an origin of Japanese (津波 which means harbour wave)
• Axis has an origin of Latin

Words from Technology

• Sometimes new words come from the invention of a new item

Example

• For Example Cyberbullying, Before there was the internet there wouldn't have been cyberbullying

Broadening

• This means that the word might have meant one certain thing and the word's meaning became bigger

Examples

• "The word dog referred to just one particular breed, and thing meant a public assembly. (How do the Meanings of Words change About Education, 2016)"
• Nowadays dog means any kind of animal that barks and thing means anything.

Narrowing

• Narrowing is starting with a broad meaning word and changing it to mean one certain thing

Example

• Girl used to mean any young person, now it means a young female