Hiya everyone.
Im doing a project on semantic change and one of the examples im using is the amelioration of the adj 'pretty'. Ive used the OED online but I don't quite understand what its saying. What I need to know is when and why the change occured.
From what I can gather, it was from the borrowings from Middle Dutch that gave it its original meaning of sly and cunning. But I dont understand WHY it changed from that meaning to its present day meaning and when this occured.
Can anyone help please?
Thanks in advance
Suzie
Im doing a project on semantic change and one of the examples im using is the amelioration of the adj 'pretty'. Ive used the OED online but I don't quite understand what its saying. What I need to know is when and why the change occured.
From what I can gather, it was from the borrowings from Middle Dutch that gave it its original meaning of sly and cunning. But I dont understand WHY it changed from that meaning to its present day meaning and when this occured.
Can anyone help please?
Thanks in advance
Suzie
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