19 Words That Used To Mean Something Completely Different

I have always said that English language is probably the most confusing language in the universe and I have some evidence to back up my claim but that is another article for another day. I was doing a research of recent and I came across some certain English words that the present meaning is different from what it used to be in the past. So today I have decided to share that with you and they are as follows

1.      Fascinated: Today is someone tells you they are fascinated about something, it means that they are interested or enthralled by that thing but can you believe that when the word first came to life that wasn't that meaning. Fascinated back then means to bewitched or enchanted as if by a magical spell.

2.      Livid: When this word first appeared in the early 16000’s it was used to describe a greyish-blue colour that means back then when you see something that has the colour greyish-blue you that thing is Livid but today that is not the case. The meaning of Livid today which is to express being furiously angry really has nothing to do with the former meaning

3.      Queen: In the present world that we find ourselves the word Queen his use to refer to the wife of a King but do you know that when the word was first formed it was a general term that was used to refer to woman. This means that back then all women were Queens and all Queens were women not like how you have it now

4.      Cheap: It would surprise you to know that as about five hundred years ago the word Cheap didn't mean something that has a low cost or less expensive instead it meant a marketplace. That right people back then the original meaning for Cheap is a marketplace and if want to ask for the price of something you say Cheapen. E.g: what is the Cheapen of this rice

5.      Explode: If I say something has exploded then it means that thing has blown up but that wasn't the original meaning of the word. Explode once meant to drive out by clapping or to hiss off the stage. That means back then this word was used by audience who chase away a performer from the stage. E.g Wizkid was explode from the stage

6.      Handicap: Back then this word represent a form of barter trade were two parties would hire a third impartial person to examine the goods each parties were offering and in return the third party would turn out his cap to collect his percentage of the bargain. The word today has a whole new meaning, a meaning that has nothing to do with trading or someone turning a cap.

7.      Dump: This word can be use for several meaning in today world but back then it simply meant absentminded daydreaming.

8.      Ambidextrous: In today usage, this word means to be able to use the right and left hands equally well which is far different from what it represented in the 16^th century. In the 16th century, the word “Ambidexter” represent a person who takes bribes from both sides in a legal dispute. Thus Ambidextrous meant something deceitful or two-faced.

9.      Punk: The earliest definition for this word was Prostitute and not a type of loud music as it is in today’s dictionary

10.   Speechless: Today when people don't have an ideal about what to say they tell you they are Speechless, if only they knew what it meant back then I am sure they won’t want to use it again. Back then when someone is speechless it actually refers to someone physically unable to speak.

11.   Naughty: About six hundred years ago when you have nothing they say you are Naughty but today it means mischievous or disobedient.