Obsolete Meaning
An obsolete meaning is a definition or sense of a word that is no longer in current use, having been replaced by newer meanings or fallen out of favor due to cultural or linguistic change. Obsolete meanings represent historical layers of language that remain documented in comprehensive dictionaries and historical texts but are rarely encountered in modern communication.
What Does Obsolete Mean?
An obsolete meaning refers to a definition of a word that has fallen completely out of use in contemporary language. While the word itself may still exist in modern English, one or more of its historical definitions have become archaic—so outdated that modern speakers no longer recognize or use them. This distinction is important: a word is not obsolete simply because an alternative meaning has become dominant; rather, specific meanings become obsolete when they cease to serve communicative purposes in modern contexts.
How Obsolete Meanings Develop
Language constantly evolves, and words accumulate new meanings over time while old ones fade away. This process occurs through semantic shift, where words acquire new senses that gradually eclipse their original definitions. For example, the word "gay" once primarily meant "cheerful" or "carefree" in the 18th and 19th centuries; today's primary meaning relating to sexual orientation has largely rendered the earlier meaning obsolete in casual speech. However, the older meaning remains documented in historical literature and comprehensive dictionaries.
Historical Documentation
Obsolete meanings are typically marked in dictionaries with labels such as "archaic," "obsolete," or "historical," distinguishing them from current usage. Comprehensive reference works, particularly the Oxford English Dictionary, meticulously catalog obsolete meanings alongside their first recorded uses and the periods during which they were active. This preservation serves both historical and linguistic research purposes, allowing scholars to understand language evolution and interpret historical texts accurately.
Examples in Literature and Language
Obsolete meanings frequently appear in classic literature, religious texts, and historical documents. Recognizing these meanings is essential for proper textual interpretation. For instance, "awful" once meant "full of awe" (inspiring awe), an obsolete meaning now replaced by its modern sense of "very bad." Similarly, "nice" originally meant "foolish or silly" before evolving through multiple meanings to reach its current definition of "pleasant."
Distinction from Related Concepts
It's crucial to distinguish obsolete meanings from archaic language generally. An archaic word might still carry its original meaning but simply sound old-fashioned. An obsolete meaning, by contrast, refers specifically to definitions that have been abandoned even if the word survives with different meanings. This nuance helps linguists and language enthusiasts understand the difference between words that sound outdated and words whose meanings have shifted entirely.
Key Information
| Word | Obsolete Meaning | Modern Meaning(s) | Historical Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awful | Inspiring awe; majestic | Very bad; unpleasant | 15th-18th centuries |
| Nice | Foolish; simple-minded | Pleasant; agreeable | 13th-18th centuries |
| Gay | Cheerful; carefree | Sexually attracted to same gender | 18th-20th centuries |
| Prevent | To go before; precede | To stop something from happening | 14th-17th centuries |
| Artificer | Any skilled worker; craftsman | Now rarely used; historically general | 16th-19th centuries |
| Naughty | Possessing nothing; poor | Disobedient; badly behaved | 15th-18th centuries |
Etymology & Origin
Latin (obsoletus, "worn out, disused") + Old English (mæning, "sense, significance")