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Not sure how "new" it is, which is why that's in quotation marks.
I have to admit that the first several times I saw the word "nonplussed," I had to look it up -- the definition just didn't "stick." Eventually it did.
Today a poster used the word in another thread, and of course I thought he meant "bewildered." It became pretty clear, though, that he meant the OPPOSITE. I did a quick search and saw that now "nonplussed" means not only "bewildered," but it can also mean "not bewildered" (at least according to some sources).
I know that language evolves, but it usually doesn't evolve in such a way that the OPPOSITE of what a word means (or has meant) is now an acceptable definition. Or does it? Can you think of other words that have evolved this way?
I have to admit that the first several times I saw the word "nonplussed" I had to look it up
-- the definition just didn't "stick." Eventually it did.
I know that language evolves, but...
Quote:
Originally Posted by JEM
And now we add to the confusion, because is recent years nonplussed has come to take
on an opposite meaning, particularly in American English: "unfazed," "unperturbed," or "unimpressed,"
rather than "disconcerted." Now, this is America, English is a most democratic language, and you have
every freedom to speak and write as you like. But if you are going to use nonplussed, you have an
obligation to make clear in context which of these opposite senses you intend.
Not sure how "new" it is, which is why that's in quotation marks.
I have to admit that the first several times I saw the word "nonplussed," I had to look it up -- the definition just didn't "stick." Eventually it did.
Today a poster used the word in another thread, and of course I thought he meant "bewildered." It became pretty clear, though, that he meant the OPPOSITE. I did a quick search and saw that now "nonplussed" means not only "bewildered," but it can also mean "not bewildered" (at least according to some sources).
I know that language evolves, but it usually doesn't evolve in such a way that the OPPOSITE of what a word means (or has meant) is now an acceptable definition. Or does it? Can you think of other words that have evolved this way?
Contronyms (contranyms) are usually defined through context. I think the OP is referring to words that evolve into the opposite of what they originally meant.
Contronyms (contranyms) are usually defined through context. I think the OP is referring to words that evolve into the opposite of what they originally meant.
Yes, I was thinking contronyms, because I can come up with of a lot of those.
I had never heard the word "contronyms." Thanks for teaching me something today!!
But yes, I was referring specifically to words that have "evolved" to mean the opposite of what they originally meant (and sometimes recently meant) because so many people used them incorrectly.
I had never heard the word "contronyms." Thanks for teaching me something today!!
But yes, I was referring specifically to words that have "evolved" to mean the opposite of what they originally meant (and sometimes recently meant) because so many people used them incorrectly.
How about moot. It went com meaning debatable, to irrelevant, through misuse.
At long as they don't write "mute point" I am OK with that one.
However, the change in usage went from debatable, to not even debatable. That is a change to the opposite meaning.
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