Semantic drift, words that have changed their meanings over time

2. Semantic drift
• Semantic drift is the evolution of word usage
— usually to the point that the modern
meaning is radically different from the original
usage.

3. Etymology
• Etymology is the study of the origins of words.
• As languages develop the meaning of words
can change over time. This causes confusion
and misunderstanding when communicating
with other people.

4. Why words change their meanings?
• Influence of other languages and cultures.
• Predominate use of slang words.
• Advancement of science and technology

5. How Latin words got into English
language
The Roman
Empire
expanded into
Britain,
bringing Latin
Latin words
found
their way into
the
Anglo-Saxon
language
of the people in
Ancient Britain
Latin word
“stratum”
means
“layered
road”
“Stratum”
became
“straets”
in
Anglo-
Saxon
Now
called
“streets”
in
modern
English

6. How fast are words changing?
• Once every ten years, the Merriam- Webster
dictionary is updated.
• Their 11th edition for 2003 included some
10,000 new words along with 100,000 new
meanings to words already existing and some
225,00 revised definitions.

7. Words that have changed their
meanings!
Words Old Meaning New Meaning
Awful Full of awe Bad or unpleasant
Ambulance Walking hospital Carries the patient to the
hospital
Amuse To distract and mislead
someone
To entertain
Apology To defend oneself Formal statement of regret
Bachelor A young man hoping to
become a knight
Unmarried
Basement Toilet Foundation of a building

8. Words that have changed their
meanings!
Words Old Meaning New Meaning
Bimbo Tough guy An attractive but empty
headed woman
Bully Sweetheart , darling Harasser of the weak
Cauldrons Started out as something
for heating people
Cooking utensil
Confuse To ruin someone To make something less
easy to understand
Cute Acute, keenly perceptive
and shrewd
Pretty and charming
Defecate To purify To discharge faeces
Diaper A special white fabric with
diamond shapes
Absorbent material for
babies

9. Words that have changed their
meanings!
Words Old Meaning New Meaning
Embarrass To block or obstruct Ashamed
Garble To sort something out To mess it up
Girl Young person of either sex Only female
Grin To show your teeth in
anger
Smile broadly
Husband House owner The person a woman is
married to
Idiot Anybody who is not a
clergyman
A stupid person

10. Words that have changed their
meanings!
Words Old Meaning New Meaning
Imprecate To pray for someone’s good To cause harm to someone
Manage The age at which one
becomes a man
To take control
Matrix Pregnant animal An environment or
material where something
develops
Nice Silly and foolish Pleasant, agreeable
Sad To be satisfied or settled Unhappy
Servant An admirer One who is employed to
carry out duties

11. Words that have changed their
meanings!
Words Old Meaning New Meaning
Spinster A woman who spun for a
living
Unmarried girl
Stupid Surprised, amazed Lacking intelligence
Success Outcome no matter good
or bad
A final good outcome
Tomboy A boy lacking good
manners
A girl who acts like a boy
Zombie Name of a snake god Soulless creatures that eat
brains!

12. REFERENCES
• http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/words-literally-changed-
meaning-through-2173079
• http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Words-that-have-
changed-meaning-over-the-years/-/691232/1940530/-/gmgvtl/-
/index.html
• http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/05/31/735843/-The-Mad-Logophile-
Words-That-Have-Changed-Their-Meaning-Part-1
• http://wethepak.com/eight-words-which-have-completely-changed-their-
meaning-over-time/
• http://www.virtuescience.com/etymology-how-words-change-over-
time.html