Facing life with a smile!

Facing life with a smile!
Click on my photo to go to http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Susan-Grigor/Products

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

E35 Dictionary Definitions Change


The other day, I heard the word ‘sophisticated’ used with ‘people’.  My dictionary gave these definitions of the past participle of the verb ‘sophisticate’:
  1. experienced in worldly ways; informed; knowing aware 
  2. lacking in natural simplicity or frankness
  3. artificial
  4. misleading
  5. of mechanical or electronic devices, complex and advanced in design: sophisticated missiles

But, my old dictionary says this about the verb ‘sophisticate’ following from the entry word Sophism (a spurious proposition; a specious but fallacious argument; a fallacy designed to deceive):
to pervert;  [as in twisting the truth or corrupting morals]
to wrest from the truth;  [as in misleading propaganda and spin]
to render spurious by admixture [as in adding cheaper stuff to wine]

Sometimes it pays to check out older sources; they may give you a clearer view of an idea.

No comments:

Post a Comment