MELIORATION
MELIORATION, also amelioration. A process of SEMANTIC CHANGE in which there is an improvement or ‘upward’ shift in the meaning of a word: for example, nice has meant foolish, stupid (13–16c), lascivious, loose (14–16c), extravagant, elegant, rare, strange (15–16c), effeminate, shy, tender, slender, delicate, unimportant (16–17c), over-refined (17–18c), careful, precise, intricate, difficult, fastidious (16–19c), dainty, appetizing (18–19c), refined, cultured, discriminating (17–20c), and agreeable, pleasant (18–20c). See PEJORATION.
More From encyclopedia.com
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
MELIORATION