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The Not-so-Nice Origins and Meanings of the Word "Nice"
Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 11-24-15 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 11/25/2015 7:02:50 AM PST by Salvation

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To: Salvation

Very Noice!


21 posted on 11/25/2015 8:46:50 AM PST by Zack Attack
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To: Salvation
My favorite example of the negative shift in meaning (pejoration) of a word in German is geil.

[...] indem sie die Welt den Teuffel das geile Fleisch und sich selbstenueberwindet [...]

- Christliches und Andaechtiges Jahr

Originally, the word meant "weak." Only as of the 20th century did it acquire the (now predominant) meaning of "horny, sexually aroused."

I, personally, most regret the pejoration of the word "awesome," which - until about 25 years ago - meant "inspiring awe," and which is now sometimes used to express neutral assent, as in:

"Do you mind if we stop at the grocery store on the way home?"

"Awesome."

Regards,

22 posted on 11/25/2015 8:59:19 AM PST by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Mercat

That is exactly what I thought of when I read this at the Archdiocese of Washington site.


23 posted on 11/25/2015 9:16:11 AM PST by Tax-chick (Oh, dear. I confused me.)
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To: Tax-chick

It’s the last mid-night. hmmm.


24 posted on 11/25/2015 9:17:51 AM PST by Mercat
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To: Mercat

Hmmm.

That makes me think of a headline I saw on the tv screen while I was in the gym this morning: “Obama to speak about holiday season security threats.”


25 posted on 11/25/2015 9:25:39 AM PST by Tax-chick (Oh, dear. I confused me.)
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To: Salvation

I guess that explains “Minnesota Nice.” For outsiders, it means backstabbing coward.


26 posted on 11/25/2015 9:28:19 AM PST by antidisestablishment (If Washington was judged with the same standard as Sodom, it would not exist.)
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To: Salvation

Fascinating bit of linguistics there.


27 posted on 11/25/2015 10:06:26 AM PST by Kommodor (Terrorist, Journalist or Democrat? I can't tell the difference.)
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To: antidisestablishment
I guess that explains “Minnesota Nice.” For outsiders, it means backstabbing coward.

Especially when translated into Somali.

28 posted on 11/25/2015 12:06:55 PM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: Salvation

My mother always told us to ACT nice, insinuating we were not really nice. Now I don’t even ACT nice. I am usually politely insistent and uncompromising.

Mrs. BCC calls my “politely” as sometimes questionable.

I like Msgr. Pope’s insistence against the perceived Jesus the harmless hippie. Brilliant preaching.


29 posted on 11/25/2015 2:05:26 PM PST by Blue Collar Christian (Ready for Teddy, Cruz that is.)
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