General Examples:
* "Awful" originally meant "inspiring awe," but now it means "very bad."
* "Silly" once meant "happy," but now it means "foolish" or "unintelligent."
* "Vulgar" used to mean "common" or "ordinary," but now it means "rude" or "offensive."
* "Cunning" originally referred to someone who was knowledgeable and skilled, but now it implies someone who is deceitful or sly.
* "Hussy" originally meant "housewife" or "mistress," but now it is a derogatory term for a promiscuous woman.
Specific Examples:
* "Wicked" used to mean "powerful" or "strong," but now it means "evil" or "morally wrong."
* "Crap" originally meant "waste material," but now it is a slang term for something of low quality or worth.
* "Bawdy" originally meant "boisterous" or "lively," but now it implies something indecent or obscene.
* "Gossip" originally referred to "godparents" or "sponsors," but now it means spreading rumors or engaging in idle talk.
* "Queer" originally meant "strange" or "peculiar," but it has been reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community and has unfortunately been used as a derogatory slur for someone who is gay.
Factors Contributing to Pejoration:
* Social Change: Changes in societal values and beliefs can lead to a word being seen as negative.
* Shifting Attitudes: A word might be considered acceptable at one point in history but offensive at another.
* Negative Associations: A word might become linked to negative experiences or events, causing its meaning to shift.
It's important to note that the process of pejoration is not always linear or consistent. A word's meaning can be subject to various influences and can shift back and forth over time.