Amelioration
The process by which a word's meaning becomes more positive or prestigious over time. Amelioration shows how word meanings change.
Real World
The word 'nice' travelled from the Latin 'nescius' (ignorant) through meanings of 'foolish' and 'fussy' before ameliorating to its current sense of 'pleasant' — a journey spanning several centuries.
Exam Focus
Track the direction of change clearly — state the original meaning, then the improved modern meaning, using dates or periods if possible.
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