Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-08-23
Odd Changes OF Meaning.

The meaning OF the word wretch
is one not generally understood. 1t was
originally, and is now in some parts Of
England, used as term of the softest
and fondest tenderness. This is not the
only instance in which words in their
present general acceptation bear a very
opposite meaning to what they did in
Shakespeare's time. "Damsel was
the appellation of young ladies of
quality, and Dame q title OF distinct
ion. "Knave once signi6ed a servant;
and in an early translation of the New
Testament, instead of "Paul, the SER
want" we read "Psul, the knave."
"Varlet" was formerly used in the
same sense as VdLet. On the other
hand, the word companion" instead
of being the honorable synonym of as
sociate, occurs in the play of "Othello"
with the same contemptuous meaning
which we now affix, in its abusive sense,
TO the word "fellow :" for Emilia, per-
ceiving that some secret villain had as
persed the character of the virtuous
Desdemona, thus Indignantly exclaims
80 Heaven that such companions thou'dst
unfold,
Nuu pun III ONOIg uOucbb uduu WHIP
10 lash the rascal naked through the world"
-iv.2 2.
civilian" formerly meant a bond
man. In feudal law, according to
Blackstone, the term was applied to
those who held lands and tenements in
UitJenage-a tenure by base services.
"Penant formerly meant school
master. Shakespeare says in his
"Twelfth Night y
ga pedant that keeps school in the church"
iii. 2.
Bacon, in his pathway unto Prayer"
thus uses the word Gimp" "Let us
pray for the preservation of the kings
most excellent majesty, and for the
prosperous success of his entirely be-
loved son Edward our prince, that most
angelic imp"
1t is a somewhat noticeable fact that
the changes in the Specification of words
have generally been to their deteriora-
ton; that is, words that heretofore had
no sinister meaning have acquired it.
The word cunning" for example, for
merly meant nothing sinister or under
handed; and in Thrope's confession, in
"Fox's Book of martyrs" is The SEN
tence, 1 believe that all these three
persons in the Godhead] are even in
power, and in cunning, and in might,
full of grace and of all goodness. :"
"Demure" is another of this class. 1t
was used by earlier writer's without the
insinuation which is now almost latent
in it, that the external shows of modesty
and sobriety rest on no corresponding
realities. explode" formerly meant
to drive off the stage with loud clippings
of the hands, but gradually became ex-
aggerated into its present Specification.
"Facetious," too, originally meant ur
bane, but now has 80 degenerated as to
have acquired the sense of buffoonery;
and Mr.. Trench sees indications that it
will ere long acquire the sense of indie
cent buffoonery.
"Flppery" now means trumpery and
odds and ends of cheap finery; but once
it meant old clothes of value, and not
worthless, as the term at present i'm
plies. The word "gossip" formerly
meant only sponsor in baptism. Spon-
sors were supposed to become acquaint-
ed at the baptismal font, and by their
sponsorial act to establish an indefinite
affinity toward each other and the child.
Thus the word was applied to all who
were familiar and intimate, and finally
obtained the meaning which is now pre-
dominant in it.
Homely" once meant secret and
familiar, though in the time of Milton
it had acquired the same sense as al
present.
Incense" one meant to kindle not
only anger, but good passions as we'll
Fuller uses it in the sense of "to in.
cite"
Incidence" originally signifed 9
freedom from passion or pain, but now
implies condition of languid non-exer.
tion. "Insolent " was once only "un
usual"
"Obsequious" implies an unmanly
readiness to fall in with the will of an
other; but in the original obsequium, OF
in the English word as employed two
centuries ago, there was nothing of this
it rather meant obedience and mildness
Shakespeare, speaking of deceased
person, says:
Chow many a holy and obsequious tear
Hath dear religious love stolen from my eye,
AS interest of the dead"
property and "Propriety" were
once synonymous, both referring to ma
terial things, as the French word "pro
priete" does now. Foreigners do no
often catch the distinction at presen
made in English between the tive
words, and we know a French gentle
man who recently, meeting with som,
pecuniary reverses, astonished his friend
by telling them that he had lost all hi
propriety."
A poet is person who writes poetry
and, according to the good old custom
a proser was person who wrote prose
and simply the antithesis of poet. Thu
word has now sadly different significa
ton; and it would not be considered
very respectable to term Addison, Irv
ing, Bancroft or Everett "prosers.