Here's a breakdown of what it means:
* Pejoration is a type of semantic change where a word's meaning shifts from neutral or positive to negative.
* It's essentially the opposite of amelioration, where a word's meaning becomes more positive.
Here are some examples of pejoration:
* "Awful" originally meant "inspiring awe" or "worthy of reverence," but now it means "extremely bad."
* "Silly" used to mean "blessed" or "happy," but now it means "foolish" or "unintelligent."
* "Vulgar" once meant "common" or "ordinary," but now it means "crude" or "offensive."
* "Wicked" historically meant "powerful" or "energetic," but now it means "evil" or "morally wrong."
Why does pejoration occur?
* Social and cultural changes: As societies change, so do the meanings of words. What was once considered acceptable may later become taboo.
* Negative connotations: Words can acquire negative associations due to their use in contexts related to negative things or concepts.
* Shifting social attitudes: Words can become pejorative as social attitudes change. What was once considered neutral or positive may become offensive.
Pejoration is a fascinating aspect of language evolution, showing how the meanings of words can change over time and reflect societal shifts.