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At what point does 'old misuse' become correct usage?
by bglazer 13y ago
At what point does 'old misuse' become correct usage?
- lutusp 13y agoIt happens all the time. Take "decimate" as just one example of hundreds that come to mind. It once meant to reduce by one-tenth. But through common usage it has come to mean: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate "to destroy a large number of (plants, animals, people, etc.)" But for exasperate as a replacement for exacerbate, that's more of a stretch. Not to say it won't happen.
- jaykru 13y agoWhat are some of the other "hundreds" of examples that come to mind?
- lutusp 13y agoWhat's my incentive to do this? I post an interesting and relevant fact, and get downvoted. The more interesting and relevant to the topic of discussion, the more downvotes in proportion. I prefer the company of adults.