The Evolution of Words

[soccer_fox]

Some of you may have read my previous entry on, what I call, the "verbing of America."  The thrust being that language mutates and, often, in ways I don't like.

To add to that discussion, I am pasting below a piece from The Word Detective on the evolution of "lackadaisical."  (For those of you interested, The Word Detective is a great website on

Comments

I grew up using that word

[john_arundel]

and also 'Hellacious" in N.C. I always knew what lackadaisical meant but its very interesting to read about its history. Hellacious, of course, means 'hell like'.

Re: I grew up using that word

[soccer_fox]

Yeah, you did! Lackadaisical is an awesome word that really deserves more use than it currently receives.

And can I get a "hell yah!" for Hellacious?! That's a pretty good word too. :-)