Exploring how a word's meaning can change over time
I can explain how the meanings of words can change over time.
Exploring how a word's meaning can change over time
I can explain how the meanings of words can change over time.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Weakening is when a word is overused and loses the strength of its meaning
- Intensification is when a word acquires a stronger meaning over time
- Amelioration is when a word acquires a certain, more pleasurable meaning than it once had
- Pejoration is when a word acquires negative connotations that it did not have before
Keywords
Weakening - When a word is overused and its meaning is altered this is called weakening.
Intensification - When a word acquires a stronger meaning than it had before this is called intensification.
Amelioration - Amelioration is when a word acquires pleasant connotations that it didn’t have before.
Pejoration - Pejoration is when a word acquires negative connotations that it didn’t have before.
Superlative - A superlative shows the highest or lowest quality of something. e.g 'best' or 'greatest'.
Common misconception
That the process of amelioration and pejoration mean a word completely changes its meaning.
Pejoration and amelioration refer to a word becoming more negative/positive and this does not mean the word completely changes its meaning.
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: Exploring how a word's meaning can change over time, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: Exploring how a word's meaning can change over time, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 3 english lessons from the A history of language unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
when a word acquires a more negative meaning
a process when a word acquires a more pleasant meaning
when a word gains a stronger meaning than it had before