Extended, widened, broadened or generalized word examples

Exercise 2

Extended, widened, broadened or generalized word examples:

 Escape - came into English from the Latin “excappāre” in which “ex” meant “out” and “cappa” meant cloak.

- Its original meaning meant “to uncloak” or to get undressed.

- Over time, “escape” broadened to mean “to get free from detention.”

 Aroma - was adopted in the thirteenth century and comes from the Greek “aroma” meaning “seasoning, spice, or sweet herb.”

- The term “aroma” originally referred to the smell of spices.

- Over time, became used to refer to good smells in general.

 Business – Middle English bisynesse, from bisy+-nesse-ness.

- Originally meant “the state of being busy, careworn, or anxious”.

- was broadened to encompass all kinds of work or occupations.

 Allergic – delivered from German allergisch

- (original) too sensitive to medicine

- (present) averse or disinclined

Restricted, narrowed or specialized word examples:

 Starve

- which meant “to be stiff” then became the meaning “to die”.

- The meaning over time narrowed to “die of cold” and by 1520 it had narrowed to mean “to kill with hunger.”

 Keel

- Original meaning was Ship.

- Now it means a lower part of the hull

 Fowl

- (old use) any kind of bird.

- (now) only a domestic bird, such as a chicken, that is kept for its meat and eggs, or the meat of this type of bird.

 Hound

- (original) a dog of any breed.

- (now) only a hunting dog that fast and has a good sense of smell, used for hunting.

Ameliorated or elevated word examples:

 Fond

- (old use) foolish

- (now) having an affection or liking, used with of.

 Constable

- (in the past) a keeper of horses.

- (at present) a British police officer of the lowest rank.

Pejorative developed, degenerated or degraded word examples:

 Silly

- (in the past) blessed and happy.

- (at present) innocent, simple or simple-minded, foolish.

 Gossip

- (positive old meaning) The one who talks scandals.

- (negative change) tells slanderous stories about other people.

 Knave

- Original meaning was a Boy.

- Now uses as a swindler, a scoundrel.