The English language is constantly evolving, and there are a
multitude of words out there that don’t mean what they
used to. We’re talking about common words that you use
every day. We take them for granted, but at some point in
history, their meanings totally changed. Some of these
words did a complete 180, others went in bizarre new
directions, but they all originally meant something much
different.


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#10 Moody.

We were probably all called “moody” in our teenage years,
but if we had lived before the 16th century, that might not
have happened . . . unless you were exceptionally
courageous. Back then, “moody” was used to describe
somebody who was brave or willful.

“Moody” derives from the Old English word modig, which
means “brave,” “proud,” and “high-spirited.” It wasn’t until
the 1590s that “moody” became a word people would use to
describe others who were gloomy or sour.

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#9 Artificial.

In today’s world, when we hear the word “artificial,” we
automatically think of something that is fake or unnatural.

And then there’s artificial intelligence, a popular term that
has been used in the majority of science fiction movies over
the past 30 years. However, the original meaning of
“artificial” does not have anything to do with something
being unnatural or man-made. Instead, it was actually used
as sort of a compliment.
In the late 14th century, if someone was “artificial,” then
they were very skilled. On the other hand, if an object was
considered “artificial,” that meant it was artfully created. It
was not until approximately 100 years later that “artificial”
took on its modern-day meaning.

#8 Bully.

When most of us think of the word “bully,” we picture a big
jerk who steals kids’ lunch money or waits by lockers to give
students atomic wedgies. But years and years ago, “bully”
meant something completely different. Back in the middle of
the 16th century, “bully” came from the Dutch word boele, a
word which means “lover.”
Surprisingly, “bully” was a term of endearment. It could be
used for either males or females as a term of affection from
one lover to the other. The word actually did not take on its
intimidating meaning until the late 17th century, probably
because “bully” came to describe a love-vendor who violently
protected prostitutes.

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#7 Nice.

Generally speaking, the word “nice” is quite a compliment.
However, back in the late 12th century, if someone said you
were “nice,” it was far from flattering.
Way back when, “nice” was used to mean “foolish” and
“stupid.” That sounds more like the kind of term that would
start a fight instead of putting a smile on someone’s face.
Later on in the 13th century, “nice” came to mean “timid,”
and during the 14th century, it even meant “being careful.”
But finally in the 18th century, it changed to the kinder
definition we know today, and ever since then, people have
been using it in an endearing way.

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#6 Sad.

All of us get sad every now and then. It’s a normal part of
life.
However, once upon a time, “sad” had a very different
definition. Back in the 1300s, it was the perfect word if you’d
eaten too much food at dinner. After all, “sad” comes from
the Old English word saed, which means “sated.”
Through the years, the definition of “sad” changed to “heavy”
and then “tired,” all before evolving into the word we use
today. Interestingly, when “sad” took on its current
definition, it actually replaced unrot, an Old English word
that was the opposite of rot, a term that meant “cheerful” or
“glad.”

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#5 Fizzle.

Today, when someone uses the term “fizzle,” they are
referring to a real failure or something that didn’t work out
so well. However, back in the 1530s when it made its first
appearance, “fizzle” meant “to break wind without noise.” As
that’s a rather difficult challenge, “fizzle” must have been
one of those rarely used words.
It wasn’t until the 1800s that the word came to mean
“failure.” So what’s the story behind the new meaning? It all
started back in the early days of college. “Fizzle” became
slang for someone who failed to answer an examination by
a college professor. Like many other slang words, “fizzle”
became an insult, and the new definition quickly caught on.


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#4 Prestigious.

“Prestigious” is a word that does not get thrown around very
often. It is one of those words saved for the few who really
deserve it. It is used for those who inspire respect and gain
our admiration. However, you might be shocked to learn
that up until the 19th century, “prestigious” was actually
used as a derogatory term.
When “prestigious” made its first appearance in 1540, it was
used to describe someone who practiced magic. Now, you
may think to yourself, “What’s so bad about that?” Well, back
then, magic was not something to be enjoyed. Parents
would not hire magicians to come to their kids’ birthday
parties. Instead, people who practiced magic (or illusions)
were considered deceptive or full of tricks. They were not to
be trusted.
It was not until later, when magic became a fun activity, that
the definition of “prestigious” also began to change. When
people were dazzled by the illusions instead of growing
angry, “prestigious” gained a much more impressive
definition, which is why it’s such a compliment today.

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#3 Awful.

“Awful” is perhaps the one word on this list that should have
stuck with its original meaning. While today it means “bad”
or “terrible,” “awful” used to mean “awe-inspiring” or “full of
awe.” In other words, if something was “awful,” then it was
worthy of respect or even fear. Interestingly, the word
“awesome” was once used in a similar way. However, over
the years, “awesome” and “awful” have come to have
completely opposite meanings.
So how did the word “awful” develop its modern-day
definition? Well, in 1809, “awful” took on the same meaning
as egefull, an Old English word which means “very bad.” In
other words, “awful” has gone from describing powerful
kings and deities to insulting a friend’s cooking or a terrible
new haircut.

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#2 Clue.

If you’ve ever watched an episode of Scooby-Doo, then
you’re probably familiar with the word “clue.” After all, the
main characters were constantly trying to solve mysteries.
But back in the 1590s, this wasn’t the word you’d use for
such a dilemma. “Clue,” then spelled “clew,” was a ball or
thread of yarn. Now, that may seem like a pretty big jump,
linguistically speaking, but there’s a perfectly logical
explanation for the change.
The modern definition comes from the legend of Theseus, a
mythical king who needed to find his way out of the
Labyrinth. Ariadne, who had a major thing for Theseus, gave
him a ball of thread (or “clew”) to help him find his way out,
and that’s why the word took on such a different meaning.

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#1 Silly.

Everyone is a little silly now and then. It keeps life more
interesting if we let loose a little. However, the word originally
comes from the Old English gesaelig, which means
“prosperous.” But “silly” continued on its definition-changing
journey, and around the 13th century, it was used to mean
“innocent.”
About 100 years later, “silly” had made yet another
definition change. This time, it had changed into meaning
“weak.” Finally, around the 1570s, “silly” called it quits and
ended its long journey. So now, for almost 500 years, “silly”
has held the definition of “foolish” or “lacking in reason,”
and it looks like that definition is here to stay . . . for now.