words that change meaning over time

[mandimoo]

for example, gay used to mean happy, then homosexual, then a bit crap. awful, i am told, did not used to mean terrible, but full of awe.
does this changing of meaning have a term?

[DaSwede]

The short answer is that it's a semantic change or semantic shift. The long answer...

long answer 1

long answer 2

(The quick answer you would probably have gotten by posting your question in Phrases & Sayings instead of Arts & Literature ;-)

[Abdulmajid]

semantics???? What has being Jewish got to do with it?

[EngTeach]

This is great. I will do a lesson on this in English class. Thank you, Thankyou, We have wrapped up most of our big units and have 13 days left. This will be great for those lond, last days til summer hols start.

[figure]

I've always known and understood 'Gay' to mean happy, cheerful etc. Only about ten years ago I learned Gay also has a gender connotation to it. What planet am I from. lol