Well gosh darnit the study of etymology is gonna want a word (hehe) with you. a faggot used to be an old unpleasant woman who was like baggage, as difficult to carry around as a bundle of sticks which was also called a faggot. Brits smoke fags.
Literally is another example. Through use, it now has a secondary definition which is exactly the opposite of its primary one.(figurative, emphasis)There are less popular examples but your premise as i understand it is just wrong friend
The main meaning of a word can change, but at any given time, you can’t use the word in a different context, and expect how people receive it to be completely divorced from its current main meaning
This is true, which is why context matters.
Like if you love a song so much and say,“That’s sick!”, people might think you mean “ill” and assume something negative.
Well gosh darnit the study of etymology is gonna want a word (hehe) with you. a faggot used to be an old unpleasant woman who was like baggage, as difficult to carry around as a bundle of sticks which was also called a faggot. Brits smoke fags.
Literally is another example. Through use, it now has a secondary definition which is exactly the opposite of its primary one. (figurative, emphasis)There are less popular examples but your premise as i understand it is just wrong friend
I didn’t say the main meaning can’t change, just that you can’t remove it from said meaning by using it in a different context
I’m afraid i don’t follow (no sarcasm). Can you elaborate?
The main meaning of a word can change, but at any given time, you can’t use the word in a different context, and expect how people receive it to be completely divorced from its current main meaning
This is true, which is why context matters. Like if you love a song so much and say, “That’s sick!”, people might think you mean “ill” and assume something negative.