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Lesson 4 of 8

Exploring how a word's meaning can change over time

I can explain how the meanings of words can change over time.

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Lesson 4 of 8
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Exploring how a word's meaning can change over time

I can explain how the meanings of words can change over time.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Weakening is when a word is overused and loses the strength of its meaning
  2. Intensification is when a word acquires a stronger meaning over time
  3. Amelioration is when a word acquires a certain, more pleasurable meaning than it once had
  4. Pejoration is when a word acquires negative connotations that it did not have before

Keywords

  • Weakening - When a word is overused and its meaning is altered this is called weakening.

  • Intensification - When a word acquires a stronger meaning than it had before this is called intensification.

  • Amelioration - Amelioration is when a word acquires pleasant connotations that it didn’t have before.

  • Pejoration - Pejoration is when a word acquires negative connotations that it didn’t have before.

  • Superlative - A superlative shows the highest or lowest quality of something. e.g 'best' or 'greatest'.

Common misconception

That the process of amelioration and pejoration mean a word completely changes its meaning.

Pejoration and amelioration refer to a word becoming more negative/positive and this does not mean the word completely changes its meaning.

This lesson presents lots of great discussion opportunities for words that students over-use or use for exaggeration which are now quite different from their original meaning e.g. 'literally'. 'incredibly', 'genius'.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In which language was the Lord's Prayer first said?

Correct answer: Aramaic
Latin
Old English
Greek

Q2.
Order these texts chronologically from the first appearance of the Lord's Prayer to the most recent.

1 - Wessex Gospels
2 - Tyndale Bible
3 - King James Bible

Q3.
Which of the below is an example of a superlative?

Correct answer: Greatest
Cool
Excellent
Superb

Q4.
Which of the below is the definition of superlative?

Correct answer: A word that shows the highest or lowest quality of something
A language device using 'like' or 'as'
A word that sounds like the thing it describes
A describing word

Q5.
What is being described here: 'shortened forms of words and phrases that convey the same meaning in fewer words (e.g. ‘Tbc’ instead of ‘To be continued’)?

Simile
Correct answer: Abbreviation
Prefix
Suffix
Metaphor

Q6.
If something occurs across generations then it can be described as ....

Correct Answer: Intergenerational, inter-generational, inter generational

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When a word's meaning grows less intense over time this is known as word ....

Correct Answer: weakening, Weakening

Q2.
Match the key terms to their correct definitions.

Correct Answer:Pejoration,when a word acquires a more negative meaning

when a word acquires a more negative meaning

Correct Answer:Amelioration,a process when a word acquires a more pleasant meaning

a process when a word acquires a more pleasant meaning

Correct Answer:Intensification,when a word gains a stronger meaning than it had before

when a word gains a stronger meaning than it had before

Q3.
The word 'stunning' used to mean 'capable of rendering someone unconscious' but now means something impressive or attractive. This is an example of...

intensification.
Correct answer: weakening.
amelioration.
pejoration.

Q4.
The word 'knight' used to mean a small boy or servant but now refers to a brave warrior known for their honour and nobility. This is an example of...

weakening.
amelioration.
pejoration.
Correct answer: intensification.

Q5.
Which of the below best explains how the word 'geek' has ameliorated?

It has developed into a very positive word to describe an expert or specialist
Correct answer: It has evolved from meaning a 'sideshow freak' to denote an expert in something
It has always been positive but has recently grown even more positive
It has changed from being a positive nickname to a term of offence

Q6.
Which of the below best explains how the word 'notorious' has undergone word pejoration?

Correct answer: Its meaning has changed from well-known to well-known but for negative reasons
Its meaning has stayed consistently negative over the years
Its meaning has changed from well-known to well-known for positive reasons
Its meaning has become much more negative

Lesson appears in

UnitEnglish / A history of language

English

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