3 ms·
Bemused (https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/can-bemuse-mean-amuse https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/can-bemuse-mean-amus...) is another word that is
by anon946 2y ago
Bemused (https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/can-bemuse-mean-amuse https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/can-bemuse-mean-amus...) is another word that is often understood "incorrectly".
- parpfish 2y agoI learned that “peruse” meant the exact opposite of what I thought when I got my GRE vocab study guide
- unzadunza 2y agoTravesty is another one, thanks to sports announcers.
- n4r9 2y agoA list of ones I've seen in this thread or know of already: * Nonplussed (miffed) * Ambivalent (conflicted) * Factoid (incorrect statement) * Bemused (confused) * Peruse (read thoroughly) * Travesty (distortion) * Transpire (to be revealed) * Literally (in actual fact) There's also "beg the question" which is often used to mean "naturally give rise to the question" but I believe originally meant "assumes the answer which it is trying to prove".
- bigstrat2003 2y agoDon't forget "could care less", which is profoundly stupid as the literal meaning of the words tells one that they are using the phrase wrong.
- technothrasher 2y agoThe modern colloquial usage of "begs the question" bugs the heck out of me. I try not to get too pedantic about language usage, but that one just sticks in my craw. I think because it's actually quite useful to understand when one is begging the question, and it feels a disservice to water down the phrase.
- n4r9 2y agoTo be fair, I can at least see roughly why the meaning changed. The word "beg" is being used in a strange (maybe archaic?) way, and it is also useful to encode the idea of giving rise to a follow-up question. The best outcome might just be for a different phrase to capture the original meaning, something like "assumes the conclusion".