creeping etymology

Meaning:

Creeping etymology refers to the gradual change in the meaning of a word over time, often through misinterpretation or folk etymology.

Origin:

The term "creeping etymology" was coined by the linguist Otto Jespersen in his book "Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin" (1922). Jespersen observed that the meanings of words often change subtly over time, as they are influenced by popular usage and cultural shifts.

Examples:

• Gullible: Originally derived from "gullible" (gullible), meaning easily deceived. Over time, the word shifted to mean "credulous" or "naive."
• Pillow: Derived from the Middle English word "pilwe," meaning "pillowcase." Through creeping etymology, the meaning gradually narrowed to refer to the soft inner covering of a pillowcase.
• Awful: Originally meant "awe-inspiring" or "full of awe." Over time, the word shifted to mean "terrible" or "extremely bad."
• Nice: Once meant "foolish" or "unpleasing." Gradually, the meaning shifted to "agreeable" or "pleasant."
• Prestigious: Derived from the Latin word "praestigiae," meaning "deception" or "illusion." Through creeping etymology, the word evolved to mean "highly esteemed" or "reputable."

Mechanism:

Creeping etymology occurs through several processes, including:

• Misinterpretation: People may misunderstand the original meaning of a word and assign a different meaning to it.
• Folk etymology: People may create new etymologies for words based on popular beliefs or cultural associations.
• Analogical extension: People may extend the meaning of a word to include similar concepts.
• Semantic drift: The meaning of a word may gradually change over time as it is used in different contexts.

Creeping etymology is a natural process that has occurred throughout the history of language. It contributes to the evolution of language and the ongoing changes in our vocabulary.

creeping relate terms

• creep

  Etymology The word creep has Germanic origins Old English crēopan Dutch kruip

• creeping

  Meaning Creeping etymology refers to the gradual change in the meaning of a word over ti

• crawl

  Etymology Middle English crawlen from Old English crawlian Proto Germanic krawlija

• snail

  Etymology The word snail is derived from the Old English word snægl which may have

• reptile

  Etymology The word reptile is derived from the Latin term reptilis which means cree

• obreption

  Etymology Latin obreptĭo from obrept obrepere to creep upon creep stealthily tow

• Bufo

  Etymology Latin bufo Proto Indo European bheubhre to swell inflate Meaning

• prehensile

  Etymology The word prehensile derives from the Latin word prehendere which means t

• burglarize

  Etymology The word burglarize comes from the following elements Burg noun a forti

• travel

  Etymology The English word travel derives from the Old French word travailler which

• crepe

  Etymology The word crepe originates from the French word crêpe which means fabric

• move

  Etymology The word move is derived from the Middle English muven which in turn came