Semantic change is the evolution of word usage. Semantic narrowing is the shift in which words refer to a more specific class of items or objects or the process by which a word's meaning becomes less general than its earlier meaning. Semantic narrowing is the narrowing of meaning. This happens when a word with a general meaning is applied to something more specific. Semantic narrowing is the opposite of semantic widening. ([1])
The process by which semantic narrowing occurs is called specialization. Most languages undergo semantic narrowing over time.
Most semantic narrowing occurs because a definition for a word is used more frequently compared to other definitions so the definition eventually evolves to a more specific one. Some factors that affect semantic narrowing are liguistic, psychological, sociocultural, and cultural/encyclopedic factors.
Specialization is a process by which the meaning of a word shifts from the general to the specific definition. It occurs when a word is used for a specific definition more often than the others so it eventually evolves over time to having a more specific meaning.
[2]
Meat - The word mete(in Old English) or meat originally meant "food." In present day the word now means "food in the formAn example of Semantic Narrowing
Skyline - The word skyline used to refer to any horizon, but now specifically means "a horizon decorated by skysrapers."
Deer - The word deer originally meant "any four-legged beast," but now specifically means "an animal of the family Cervidae." ([3])
Engine - The word engine meant "mechanical contrivance" (mostly of war or torture) but since the Industrial Revolution, Now means a mechanical sense of power.
Accident - The word accident means "an unintended injurious or disastrous event." the word originally means any event, especially one that was unforseen.
Girl - Originally meant a person of any gender, but now means a female person. ([4])
Undertaker - Originally meant "one who undertakes to do anything," but now as come to mean "one who undertakes the special task of preparing bodies for burial."
Disease - as can be seen by analyzing the word, once referred to any "discomfort," but now has the narrower meaning of "illness," that is, a particular type of discomfort.
Verb- - The base originally meant "word"and still does in verbose and verbatim, but in hte case of verb, a particular type of word denoting action, it has narrowed its meaning.
Diffident - once meant "not trusting," and Milton speaks of "diffedence of God"; but now it has acquired the more specific meaning of not trusting oneself, lacking self-confidence.
Vest- - The base as a Latin word referred to any garment; now, however, vest is applied to a special type of clothing.([5])
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