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Vocabulary is the most unstable element of a language as it is under-going constant changes both in form and content.
The content is even more unstable than the forms.
Word-meaning changes by modes if extension， narrowing， degradation， elevation and transfer. of these， extension and narrowing are by far the most common.
1.Extension （generalization）——is a term referring to the widening of meaning. It is a process by which a word， which originally had a specialized meaning， has now become generalized.
Word old meaning now meaning
Manuscript handwriting any author’s writing whether written by hand or typed
with a type-writer or a word-processor
Fabulous resembling a fable incredible， marvelous
Barn a place for storing only barley storeroom
Picture painting include “drawings” and even “photographs”。
Mill place for grinding into flour place where things are made
Journal daily paper periodical
Butcher one who kills goats one who kills animals
Companion one who shares bread a company
。 A large proportion of polysemic words of modern English have their meanings extended sometimes in the course of development. Some words are generalized to such an extent that they can mean almost anything.
Word old meaning now meaning
Thing a public assembly or a council anything
Business， concern， condition， matter， article， circumstance
。 Technical terms
Word old meaning now meaning
Alibi （a legal term） plea that the accused is not at the place excuse
When the crime is committed
Allergic （a medical term） too sensitive to medicine averse or disinclined to
Feedback （computer term） response
。 From proper nouns
Word old meaning now meaning
Lynch the Lynch’s Law kill without lawful trial
Sandwish a gambler’s name to denote a kind of fast place or squeeze between
Food
Vandal a member of an East Germanic tribe malicious destruction of a thing
A person of such behaviour
V. vandalize
Adj. Vandalic/vandalistic
n. vandalization/vandalism
2. Narrowing （specialization） ——is a term referring to the shrinking of meaning. It is a process by which a word of wide meaning acquires a narrower or specialized sense.
Word old meaning now meaning
Deer animal
Corn grain maize
Garage any safe place a place for storing cars
Liquor liquid alcoholic drink
Disease discomfort illness
Poison drink poisonous drink
Wife woman a married woman
Accident event unfortunate event
Girl young person of either sex female young person
。 Turn into a proper nouns
The City business center of London
The Peninsula Iberian Peninsula
The Prophet Mohammed
。 For economy， some phrases are shortened and only one element of the original is left to retain the meaning of the whole.
e.g. a private = a private solider
a general = a general officer
an editorial = an editorial article
。 Material nouns
Word old meaning now meaning
Silver silver dollars
Glass cup-like container or mirror
Iron device for smoothing clothes
3.Elevation or amelioration——refers to the process by which words rise from humble beginnings to positions of importance.
Word old meaning now meaning
Nice ignorant —— foolish delightful， pleasant
Marshal / constable keeper of horses high-ranking army officer / policemen
Angle messenger messenger of God
Knight servant rank below baronet
Earl men count
Governor pilot head of a state
Fond foolish affectionate
Minister servant head of ministry
Shrewd evil， wickedness smart
Nimble be good at taking things without permission smart
Chamberlain servant high official of royal courts
Success result
4. Degradation or pejoration of meaning ——It is a process whereby words of good origin fall into ill reputation or non-affective words come to be used in derogatory sense.
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2006/9/28
