semasiological
/sɪˌmeɪziəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/
adjective
- Relating to the study of meaning in language, especially how words and phrases change meaning over time.
- The professor's semasiological research traced how the word 'nice' changed from meaning 'foolish' to 'pleasant'.
- Her semasiological analysis showed that the term 'awful' once meant 'full of awe'.
- A semasiological approach looks at how a single word can develop many different meanings.
Synonyms