Language is fluid and is always changing, just a few years ago, gay had a totally different meaning.
Here are examples of 11 words that have changed over time
- Awful – from positive (inspiring awe) to negative
- Artificial – from skillfully made (artistic) to unnatural (usually negative)
- Admire – to wonder at (not necessarily positive) to regard with affection
- Hobby – a small horse (hobby horse) to leisure activity Jargon – bird chatter to specialised language
- Keen – brave or strong to eager
- Naughty – having nothing to evil to mildly bad / cheeky
- Girl – any young person (knave girl = boy) to female only
- Nice – from ignorant (nescius – latin) to pleasant Silly – from happy / innocent (seely) to foolish
- Fantastic – imaginary (fantasy) to great
- Terrific – causing terror to great
- Outrageous – negative (causing outrage) to more neutral or positive (enormous)________________________
This is why it’s so important to define terms, because meanings change over time, and often different people have different interpretations
