Words that have changed their meaning...

[The Large One]

... or had added meaning - either over the years or quite recently. I'm including general use words and vernacular words.

Gay - used to mean 'happy'.
Like - now used as a conjunction or to mean 'said' or 'says'.
Awful - used to mean the same as 'awesome'.
Perusal - used to mean to study intently, rather than study leisurely

There's almost certainly plenty. What else...?

 

[philsussex]

Falmer. Was a dream. Now reality.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Pussy - Used to be a cat

 

[Acker79]

Fact.

Used to mean a universal truth, unarguable data information solid and unchanging regardless of bias.

Now it means "that's my guess" or "in my opinion"

 

[Seecider]

Wicked

 

[Notters]

Literally - now seems to mean not literally
Terrific - also the opposite of what it used to mean
Mint - good
Safe - good
Bad - good

 

[Mellotron]

gate - used to mean an openable part of a fence, now suffixed to any SCANDAL as an easy way of describing a situation/series of events.

 

[The Large One]

Literally - now seems to mean not literally
Terrific - also the opposite of what it used to mean
Mint - good
Safe - good
Bad - good

I think that's more a word that's used badly, rather than having its meaning changed.

Isn't it? Whatever, I hope that particular use of it dies down soon.

 

[Norman Potting]

Infamous - there is an advert on the radio currently for Eurostar which mentions "....infamous vineyards". Infamous in my dictionary is "having a bad repuation, notorious" and I am sure that this is not what they meant!

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

Gay - used to mean a homosexual

 

[Sausage]

Sick.
Wicked.

 

[narly101]

Sick - now means wicked (see above)

 

[Acker79]

Infamous - there is an advert on the radio currently for Eurostar which mentions "....infamous vineyards". Infamous in my dictionary is "having a bad repuation, notorious" and I am sure that this is not what they meant!

I thought it meant 'more than famous'. Lucky agrees with me.

[yt]GIGtHhAfe8w[/yt]

 

[Easy 10]

Bitch - used to mean a female dog, or to moan. Now its a term of endearment.

 

[Brovion]

Infamous - there is an advert on the radio currently for Eurostar which mentions "....infamous vineyards". Infamous in my dictionary is "having a bad repuation, notorious" and I am sure that this is not what they meant!

I must admit I'm with you. The sentence "Adolf Hitler was an infamous Austrian" to me means he was a well-known but not in a good way. I've never heard of it being used in the way Acker describes as meaning 'more than famous'.

 

[Gwylan]

Infer - used to mean deduce now seems interchangeable with imply
Fulsome - used to mean excessively flattering/insincere now seems to be a synonym of much (fulsome praise used to be negative, now seems to be positive)

 

[The Large One]

'Infamy' I thought meant 'oppressed'.

Infamy, infamy, they've all got it infamy...

 

[fruitnveg]

ep·ic (pk)
n.
1. An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
2. A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.
3. A series of events considered appropriate to an epic: the epic of the Old West.

adj.

1. Of, constituting, having to do with, or suggestive of a literary epic: an epic poem.
2. Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: "A vast musical panorama . . . it requires an epic musical understanding to do it justice" (Tim Page).
3. Heroic and impressive in quality: "Here in the courtroom . . . there was more of that epic atmosphere, the extra amperage of a special moment" (Scott Turow).

epic - definition of epic by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.


It now seems to mean, "Cool." This is a horrible misuse of the English language. Whoever started this needs to DIAF

 

[ManxSeagull]

What about the infamous NSC word "FIXTURES"

 

[Acker79]

I've never heard of it being used in the way Acker describes as meaning 'more than famous'.

Did you not see the video in my post? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIGtHhAfe8w

I've only ever heard it descrivbed that way in The Three Amigos.