Monday, August 16, 2010

Word Play



Language is constantly evolving. Some words that once meant only one thing now have other definitions. Here are a few words that used to mean only one thing but now have additional meanings.

Fierce

Traditional meaning: Having a savage and violent nature; ferocious. See synonyms at cruel.

Modern or colloquial meaning: A term used first primarily by gay men in the late 1990s and early 2000s to describe absolutely everything that was of "exceptional quality".

Crazy

Traditional meaning: brainsick; affected with madness or insanity; "a man who had gone mad"

Modern or colloquial meaning: cool; very nice, ex.; "Dude, that movie was crazy!" or "Those shoes are crazy!"

Stupid

Traditional meaning: lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity

Modern or colloquial meaning: can be used to amplify positive words; ex.,"Dude, that hot dog was stupid good!" or "Your mom is mad stupid hot, yo!"

Wicked

Traditional meaning: morally bad in principle or practice

Modern or colloquial meaning: in the US synonym for; really, very, extremely. In the UK synonym for; cool, good, great, funky. Ex.; 1. That tune is wicked hot 2. That tune is wicked!


Do you have any words that are an example of this?

10 comments:

Moanerplicity said...

"Sick" Traditional meaning: in bad or grave health. Not well. Not healthy.

Today SICK is the ultimate compliment: some thing, some one, or some quality that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Superior.


Odd that.

One.

Francis Holland said...

"Hip": initially meant a part of the upper legs with a joint connecting to the body.

In the 1960' came to mean, "informed and comprehending the latest trends or the somewhat secret information that one shares with another,e.g. "I'm hip" meant I understand and I "second that emotion."

Today, "hip" means: a part of the upper legs with a joint connecting to the body.

Val said...

@Lin

Sick is a good one.

Val said...

@Francis

And some people use hip to mean I understand or I know. Example; Yeah man I'm hip to that.

? said...

How about a more recent evolution in usage, a subcultural one. The term "G" originated with Five Percenters and originally stood for 'God.' Only later did it become the short hand usage for 'Gangsta.'

Anonymous said...

Philly is crazy with this stuff.
Where I came from "decent" meant marginal, here it means great or far above the norm.

"young bull" is male cow everywhere else, here it is any young man.

"Jawn" or any unintelligable word that sounds like it. traditional meaning???? street meaning, "thing"...
This jawn right here is decent.

where I grew up...
bra, short for brazier... or relaxed version of "bro" short for brother... the root word of Brohammas

Val said...

@?

Wow, I didn't know that. I always thought the use of, "G" was born with the gangsta rap genre.

Btw, are the Five Percenters still around? I used to hear about them all the time but I haven't heard about them in a long while.

Val said...

@brohammas

"Jawn", is a good one. Since it's traditional meaning was colloquial and it's new meaning is also.

? said...

I noticed that there was a 'Black Power Conference' held this past may in Atlanta by the New Black Panther Party. The Five Percent Nation was listed among attendee groups, and Erykah Badu and Andre 3000 were there-both of whom are Five Percenters, I believe.
So they are still around.

Val said...

@?

Interesting, thanks.

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Soldier Of Love

I've lost the use of my heart
But I'm still alive
Still looking for the life
The endless pool on the other side
It's a wild wild west
I'm doing my best

I'm at the borderline of my faith,
I'm at the hinterland of my devotion
In the frontline of this battle of mine
But I'm still alive

I'm a soldier of love.
Every day and night
I'm soldier of love
All the days of my life

I've been torn up inside (oh!)
I've been left behind (oh!)
So I ride
I have the will to survive

In the wild wild west,
Trying my hardest
Doing my best
To stay alive

I am love's soldier!

I wait for the sound
(oooh oohhh)

I know that love will come (that love will come)
Turn it all around

I'm a soldier of love (soldier of love)
Every day and night
I'm a soldier of love
All the days of my life

I am lost
But I don't doubt (oh!)
So I ride
I have the will to survive

In the wild wild west,
Trying my hardest
Doing my best
To stay alive

I am love's soldier!

I wait for the sound

I know that love will come
I know that love will come
Turn it all around

I'm a soldier of love
I'm a soldier

Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around
(4x)

I'm a soldier of love
I'm a soldier

Still waiting for love to come
Turn it all around
(3x)

Still waiting for love to come

Miss Keri Baby!

Tracee!

Solange!

Solange!
The only interesting Knowles

un·for·get·ta·ble: Earning a permanent place in the memory; memorable: an unforgettable experience.

Alicia says...

Rest in Peace Mitrice

Rest in Peace Mitrice
Mitrice Richardson