Yep. Me!
Since I’m often on a work-supplied computer, I’m careful about what I actually type.
I forgot to mention, a “dip” can be a pickpocket, like the Artful Dodger.
Well, yes, I know that. But obviously it isn’t the sense being used in the cartoon.
I just thought of lousy. Originally it meant infested with lice. It lost that meaning centuries ago and now simply means “bad”.
I’m honestly surprised that one hasn’t been mentioned in this thread yet. Yes, I did do a search.
Though it retains the “infested by lice” meaning in the phrase “lousy with.”
Electrocuted - a portmanteau of electricity and execution, originally meant death in the electric chair. Now means any electric shock, however mild or serious.
Not to be confused with elocution.
There’s another thread for that sort of thing.
Incorrectly, in my opinion. The proper term is for receiving an electric shock not resulting in death is “shocked.”
“Electrocuted”, just like “drowned”, means death. “Electrocuted” did expand beyond execution to include accidents, but it still means an electric shock resulting in death, in my opinion.
“McMansion” originally meant to cookie-cutter subdivsion homes. It morphed over time to overly large homes build on relatively small lots.
An interesting one I just learned about is ‘gossip’. In the Middle Ages it was godsibb, and it meant godparent. (God meant God, and sibb meant any close relative. Sibb died out, and was revived in 1903 by the scientist Karl Pearson to create “sibling”.) The godsibb meaning shifted from “godparent” to “close relation” to “someone who talks about you” and then to the talk itself. Of course, English being English, the verb “to gossip” also appeared. Gossip as a verb was apparently first used in writing by Shakespeare.
Everything was first used in writing in Shakespeare.
Well, not quite everything, but a heck of a lot.
I had no idea that “sibling” was so recent, though. It’s such a useful concept that one would think it demands a word.
“Bespoke” used to mean “made specifically for one customer.” (“My taylor makes my suits bespoke.”) Now, at least the way it’s used in advertising, it just means “high quality.” (“Check out our bespoke selection of beach towels.”)
“Curated” used to mean “well cared for.” (“At least two dozen Picassos are curated at a museum in Chicago.”) Now, at least the way it’s used in advertising, it just means … well it doesn’t really seem to mean anything. (“Check out our curated wine list.”)
But not nearly as many words as is commonly believed.
Shakespeare is often credited with coining many thousands of words, but this is certainly an overstatement. The myth first arose a couple of hundred years after his death when dictionaries were compiled that cited the first use of a given word that the dictionary writer could attest to. See here.
Even 2,000 words may be an exaggeration, because there are two other effects going on.
First off, Shakespeare’s works survive, whereas the works and writings of many lesser-known authors and playwrights have not. So there is survivorship bias.
Secondly, Shakespeare became revered in the centuries after his death, and so indexes and quotation guides were prepared of his works, making it easy to trace a given word to one of his writings, even if it wasn’t the first use.
Even more detail here:
P.S. If you are interested in linguistics and the history of English, Dead Language Society is fantastic.
So far as I can tell, “bespoke” still means that, and any advertisement that uses it otherwise is just plain wrong.
“Curated” still has its meaning, though. It’s not about being well cared-for; it’s about being selected. The curator of a museum carefully selects which pieces will go on display. And presumably, the head sommelier at a restaurant carefully selects which wines the restaurant will serve.
How about, “girl” meant a child, or young person. It still means that, however the person in question is supposed to be female. So has the original meaning been lost, or just specialized?
Bespoke still means made for one person. It’s more likely that ad is just using it wrong.
Well, sorry, but just ain’t the way language works. While not common, I found a few press accounts where in the past couple of years it was to used to mean something to the effect of ‘special’ or ‘high quality.’ Not common now, but like it or not, words evolve and change meanings, which sort of ties in with the title of this thread, although ‘bespoke’ hasn’t lost any meaning, and this newish usage is uncommon enough that it hasn’t impressed any lexicographers.
Yet.
A sort of circular definition: A curator is a person in charge of well cared for things, and therefore what a curator selects or is in charge of is a well cared for thing.
That is true, but for that to work the “evolved” meaning must be understood by more than one marketing droid. Unless you are saying that someone going for, say, a bespoke suit would be satisfied by anything less than a custom tailored article of clothing.