How We Judge

A word for someone fortunate became an insult, and a word for a fool became a compliment. Social rank and scholarly reputation also left their marks on the language of judgement. These words show how descriptions acquire contempt, how praise develops and how strong feelings become everyday expressions.

In approximate historical order, from the origins and events behind the words.

1. silly (adj.)when innocence became foolishness
2. villain (n.)the villager who became the bad character
3. nice (adj.)a compliment that began as an insult
4. awful (adj.)when awe became an everyday complaint
5. dunce (n.)a scholar’s name became an insult
6. prestige (n.)the trick that became a reputation

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