Here's a breakdown:
Original Meaning:
* "Arrive" originally meant "to come to shore," or "to reach land." This stemmed from the Latin word "arrivare," meaning "to come to the shore."
Shift in Meaning:
* Over time, the word's meaning broadened to encompass a more general sense of "coming to a place or point." This could be a physical location or a metaphorical one, like reaching a conclusion or a specific age.
Examples:
* "The ship arrived at the port." (Original, concrete meaning)
* "He arrived at the meeting late." (Broadened, more abstract meaning)
* "We finally arrived at a decision." (Metaphorical, abstract meaning)
Factors Contributing to the Change:
* Generalization: The original meaning of "arriving" at a specific location (shore) was extended to include arriving at any location.
* Metaphorical Extension: The concept of "arriving" was extended to cover abstract notions like achieving a goal or reaching a point in time.
This semantic shift reflects how language adapts and evolves to express increasingly complex thoughts and ideas. While the original meaning remains rooted in physical arrival, the word "arrive" has become more versatile and applicable to various aspects of life and experience.