Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


Oct 16, 2008
This week's theme
Words about words

This week's words
epeolatry
univocalic
paragoge
semasiology
cacology


Discuss
Feedback
RSS/XML
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

semasiology

PRONUNCIATION:
(si-may-see-OL-uh-jee)

MEANING:
noun: The study of meanings in a language, especially the study of semantic change.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek semasia (meaning).

USAGE:
"It must be left to students of musical semasiology to account for the psychological association that exists between the spiritual concept of goodness and saintliness and the notational accident of the absence of sharps and flats in the key signature, which results in the 'whiteness' of the music."
Nicolas Slonimsky, et al.; The Listener's Companion; Schirmer Trade Books; 2002.

"The early theories of semasiology attempted to account for meaning shifts in language."
Federica Busa, et al.; The Language of Word Meaning; Cambridge University Press; 2001.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we resort to to hide them. -Francois de La Rochefoucauld, writer (1613-1680)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith