A special use of a word or expression. Obsolete.

Linguistics. The development of a more favourable meaning or of more positive connotations for a word or expression. Cf. pejoration, n. 2.

Linguistics. The development of a less favourable meaning or of less pleasant connotations for a word or expression.

Linguistics. In or with reference to the theories of Gustaf Stern: a type of semantic change arising from a change in the perception of a word's…

Linguistics. In or with reference to the theories of Gustaf Stern: a type of semantic change (see quot. 1931).

Linguistics. = amelioration, n. 3.

a change in the meaning of a word resulting from the influence of a foreign language; a word so affected.

an immediate, non-rational, conditioned response to a stimulus or a symbol.