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Historical Semantics

Historical Semantics Quiz

15 Questions Published
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Questions

Question 1 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Which of the following is not a major period in the history of the English language?

  1. Old English
  2. Middle English
  3. Modern English
  4. Early Modern English
Question 2 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for the process by which the meaning of a word changes over time?

  1. Semantic drift
  2. Semantic change
  3. Semantic evolution
  4. All of the above
Question 3 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Which of the following is an example of semantic drift?

  1. The word 'nice' originally meant 'foolish'
  2. The word 'awful' originally meant 'inspiring awe'
  3. The word 'gay' originally meant 'carefree'
  4. All of the above
Question 4 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for the process by which a word acquires a new meaning?

  1. Semantic extension
  2. Semantic narrowing
  3. Semantic bleaching
  4. Semantic pejoration
Question 5 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Which of the following is an example of semantic extension?

  1. The word 'computer' originally meant 'a person who computes'
  2. The word 'table' originally meant 'a flat surface'
  3. The word 'book' originally meant 'a written work'
  4. All of the above
Question 6 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for the process by which a word loses its original meaning?

  1. Semantic narrowing
  2. Semantic bleaching
  3. Semantic pejoration
  4. Semantic amelioration
Question 7 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Which of the following is an example of semantic narrowing?

  1. The word 'meat' originally meant 'food'
  2. The word 'deer' originally meant 'animal'
  3. The word 'bird' originally meant 'flying animal'
  4. All of the above
Question 8 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for the process by which a word acquires a negative connotation?

  1. Semantic pejoration
  2. Semantic amelioration
  3. Semantic bleaching
  4. Semantic extension
Question 9 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Which of the following is an example of semantic pejoration?

  1. The word 'villain' originally meant 'peasant'
  2. The word 'knave' originally meant 'boy'
  3. The word 'slut' originally meant 'slovenly person'
  4. All of the above
Question 10 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for the process by which a word acquires a positive connotation?

  1. Semantic amelioration
  2. Semantic pejoration
  3. Semantic bleaching
  4. Semantic extension
Question 11 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Which of the following is an example of semantic amelioration?

  1. The word 'nice' originally meant 'foolish'
  2. The word 'awful' originally meant 'inspiring awe'
  3. The word 'gay' originally meant 'carefree'
  4. All of the above
Question 12 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for the study of the history of word meanings?

  1. Historical semantics
  2. Historical linguistics
  3. Etymology
  4. Lexicography
Question 13 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for a word that has changed its meaning over time?

  1. A polyseme
  2. A homonym
  3. A synonym
  4. An antonym
Question 14 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for a word that has multiple meanings?

  1. A polyseme
  2. A homonym
  3. A synonym
  4. An antonym
Question 15 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

What is the term for a word that has the same meaning as another word?

  1. A polyseme
  2. A homonym
  3. A synonym
  4. An antonym
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