Five words that don’t mean what you think they do

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”

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.

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.

Tall

From an Old English word that meant “swift” or “active”.

Silly

Old English “silly” meant “weak” or “lacking sophistication.

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