Language Change Exercise

Lean
The modern meaning of lean is be in or move into a sloping position and a deviation from the perpendicular; an inclination. This has changed from originally meaning thin, emancipated. Lean has been through a semantic change of broadening. The adjective of lean is defined as (a person or animal) being thin, especially healthily so; having no superfluous fat. This shows a conversion as it has changed from being a verb to an adjective. The semantic change that has taken place is amelioration as it has changed from meaning a sloping position to being healthy which shows a positive change of definition.


Novice
Novice is now defined as a person new to and inexperienced in a job. The previous meaning of this word was  a member of a religious order who has not taken vows yet meaning it has been broadened. The definition is now less specific but has the same general meaning.


Revolutionary
An earlier meaning of revolutionary was someone who favours overthrowing the government, however, more recently it is defined as  a person who advocates or engages in political revolution or engaged in or promoting political revolution. This shows that a semantic change has taken place of narrowing as the definition is now a lot more specific to politics. It has also been through a semantic change of amelioration, the definition is now more positive as it is engaging and promoting politics rather than overthrowing.


Lewd
Lewd used to mean not having an official position in the church, to now being defined as crude and offensive in a sexual way. This show lewd has been through a semantic change of broadening as it no longer applies to people in a church, another change is pejoration as it now has attained a much more negative meaning.