Five words that don’t mean what you think they do
Simon Horobin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The opinions expressed here are purely those of the author and do not reflect the views of their employer or affiliations.
Pretty
Old English prættig, “cunning”, from præt “trick” – unrelated to prat “idiot”
- Used to describe someone cleverly made, good-looking, or ingenious
- Also used to refer to an attractive woman or child
Naughty
In Old English, to be naughty was to be poor, literally “to have naught” or “nothing”. It was later used to describe someone immoral and, in a weakened sense, mischievous or disobedient.
- The particular association with badly behaved children led to the “naughty corner” – a place of isolation to which a child may be sent as a punishment.
Sad
The modern use of sad to mean “sorrowful” can be traced back to Old English, where the word already carried a sense of being weary or tired of something, reflecting the way that satisfaction quickly shades into ennui.
- To suggest that we are using words incorrectly is to ignore the various ways in which meanings of words change over time.
Tall
From an Old English word that meant “swift” or “active”.
- Later developed into “handsome”, “elegant”, “skilful”, “tall”, “clever”, “dexterous”, “obedient”, and “buxom”.
Silly
Old English “silly” meant “weak” or “lacking sophistication.
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