Semantic Change processes

What is neosemy?

• The process of a word acquiring a new meaning
• The loss of a word's meaning
• The process of a word becoming obsolete
• The process of a word becoming more complex

Which word originally had a negative meaning but now has a positive one?

• Villain
• Pretty
• Notorious
• Hussy

Which process describes a word acquiring a more specific meaning?

• Generalisation
• Amelioration
• Specialising
• Pejoration

How has the word 'meat' changed in meaning?

• It has generalised
• It has ameliorated
• It has specialised
• It has pejorated

What does the process of pejoration involve?

• A word acquiring a more positive meaning
• A word becoming less favourable
• A word broadening in meaning
• A word acquiring many meanings

What is an example of a word that has undergone weakening or bleaching?

• Villain
• Thing
• Brave
• Hussy

What does the word 'place' illustrate in terms of semantic change?

• Specialising
• Generalisation
• Pejoration
• Amelioration

Which word used to mean 'housewife' but now refers to a woman with loose morals?

• Hussy
• Villain
• Notorious
• Fond

What type of semantic change is illustrated by the word 'brave'?

• Pejoration
• Amelioration
• Generalisation
• Weakening

How has the meaning of 'foot' changed through polysemy?

• It now means to grasp something
• It now means a specific type of food
• It has many meanings, including a part of the body and the bottom of a hill
• It has lost its original meaning