Word on the Street

Results are in: ‘Wicked’ among winners of evolving language poll

A close-up photo of a pile of white refrigerator word magnets.

In our spring 2024 story “When did woke become a four-letter word?”, we covered a pretty complicated topic: the meaning of the word “woke” and how it has changed over time. Inspired by the impact words can have on us all—and curious about your thoughts—we asked you, our readers, to let us know your favorite word that has changed meanings in your lifetime.

Your most popular write-in was…

Wicked 

Originating in the 1200s from the term “wick,” meaning bad or false, the term took on a new meaning when F. Scott Fitzgerald used it to mean “wonderful” in the 1920s. The present-day Massachusetts-based meaning of “very” or “extremely” seems to be a bit of a mystery, however.

And here are the other results in order of popularity.

Illustration of a brown dog digging a hole in the ground.

Dig 

“Dig” has been in use since the 13th century meaning to break up, turn, or loosen (earth) with an implement. These days, to dig something can also mean to like it. Paradoxically, a dig can also mean an insult.

Troll doll with blue hair in front of a green backdrop.

Troll

Originally, the verb “to troll” meant to fish by trailing a lure or baited hook from a moving boat. However, the verb is now commonly used to describe someone who posts (or the action of posting) a deliberately provocative message online with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

Illustration of a reaper dabbing with a scythe.

Slay

Beginning in the 1600s, the word “slay” was defined as “to kill violently, wantonly, or in great number.” In the 1970s and 80s, the term’s definition took on a more figurative spin. The Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ ballroom scene popularized its new meaning as a compliment for someone’s performance or dress. Today, it is used more broadly for someone who has succeeded in something amazing.

Illustration of a gloved hand pointing at an open book.

Literally

Word snobs such as myself have had a pretty big reaction to the change in this word’s definition. Its meaning for the last seven centuries has been “to emphasize the truth or accuracy of a statement or description.” Now, for better or worse, its more colloquial usage meaning “figuratively” (usually included for emphasis) is listed as an official definition too.

A small off-white bird with orange and black wings sitting on a branch.

Tweet

The word “tweet” in and of itself is a relatively new addition to the English language, beginning its usage in the mid-1800s. The word is an onomatopoeia—imitating the chirping sound a small bird makes. But since the invention of the online platform Twitter (now X), the term is also used to describe a post on that platform or the process of transmitting one.

Small child wearing butterfly wings and a blue dress.

Awful

The original 1300s meaning was closer to our current term “awesome,” in the sense of “inspiring awe.” However, it was not always a positive. One could be inspired to awe by something bad or frightening, which is how its current usage came to be “extremely bad or unpleasant; terrible.”

Readers write

At UMass Magazine, we are always learning! We are so grateful for our readers who write in to provide extra context and their experiences with the topics of our articles. One etymology-minded alum wrote in to give us a little more history about the term “woke.”

“Woke” did not arise spontaneously in the 1960s; rather, it was used in its current sense by the Black blues singer Huddie William Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, in his 1938 song “The Scottsboro Boys,” about nine African-American teenagers falsely accused of rape in 1930s Alabama. In the song, recorded by archivists from the Library of Congress, Lead Belly urged listeners “best stay woke” to racial injustice. 

Lead Belly’s music is widely considered a crucial precursor to later work, including covers of his tunes, by artists such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Kurt Cobain. Smithsonian Magazine quoted George Harrison as saying, “No Lead Belly, no Beatles.” 

Sincerely,

A.D. “Dave” Gram ’80 
Montpelier, Vermont

We’re on the lookout

Share your most intriguing nooks, niches, coordinates, or curiosities on campus or anywhere in the region. Email magazine@umass.edu and we’ll investigate!