Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-09-04
Odd Changes Of Meaning.

The meaning Of the word "wretch
is not one generally understood. 1t
was originally, and is in some parts
Of England, used as term of the fon'
dest tenderness. This Is not the only
instance in which words in their pres
ent meaning to what they did in
Shakespearc's time. The word "wench"
formely was not nsed in the low and
vulger acceptalion that it is at present.
"Damsel" was the appellation Of
young laddies Of quality, and "Dame"
q title of distinction. "Knave" once
signified servant and in IN early
translation of the New Testament,
instead or paul the servant" we read
"Paul the knave." "Varlet" was for.
merly used in the same sense as odlet.
On the other hand, the word "com-
panions,' instead being the honorable
synonym of associate, occurs in the
play of ''Othello' with the same con-
temptuous meaning which we afiix
in its abusive sense, to the word Tel-
low )" for Emilian, preciving that
some secret villain he'd aspersed the
character Of the yirtuous Desdemona,
thus Indignantly exclaimed
80 Heavens ! that such companions thou
'dst unfold,
And put in every honest hand whip,
10 lash the rascal naked through the world"
--iv. 2.
"Vill,an" formerly meant bondsman.
In feudal law, according to Blackstone
the term was applied to those who
held lands and tenements in uUenage
Il tenure by base services.
'Pedant" formerly meant 4 school.
master. SHAKESPEARE says in the
"Twelflh Night: :"
"a pedant that keeps school in the church.
iii. 2.
Bacon, in his pathway unto Pray
er," thus used the word ''imp:" "Let
us pray for the preservation of the
Kings most excellent Majesty, and
for the prosperous success ofhis entire
ly beloved son Edward our Prince,
that most angelic imp
1t is a somewhat noticeable fact that
the changes in the Specification Of
wordshave generally been their deteri
Grafton that is words which hereto
fore had no sinister meaning have
acquired it. The word "cunning" for
example formerly meant nothing
sinister or underhanded and in
Thrope's confession, in "Fox's Book
OF Martyrs is the sentence, 81 believe
that all these three persons in the
Godhead1 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 show OF modesty and
sobriety rest on no corresponding
realities. Explode formerly meant
to drive off the stage with loud clap
pings of the hands. but gradually be-
came exaggerated into its present
Specification. "Facetious" too, O.
riginally meant urbane, but now has so
degenerated as to have acquired the
sense of buffoonery; and Mr.. Trench
sees indications that it will ere long
acquire the sense of indecent bufoon.
cry.
"F'lippery' now means trumpery
and odds and ends of cheap fnery
but once it meant old clothes of value,
and not worthless as the term at
present implies. The word "gossip"
formerly meant only sponsor in
baptism. Sponsors weres supposed to
become acquainted at the baptismal
front and by their sposoral act to es-
tablish an indefinite affinity toward
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