Words change over time with use, context, and development, sometimes taking on a meaning that is the opposite of the original. Do you know the original meaning of these words? Take this quiz to find out!
Question 1/12
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"Awful" has changed from its original meaning of...
Pleasant
Being in awe
Terrible
Question 2/12
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"Fathom" once meant...
To be imaginative
To think carefully
To put your arms around something
Question 3/12
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Not surpringly, "naughty" used to mean...
A lack of something
Scandalous
That you had nothing
Question 4/12
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To "flirt" used to mean to...
Go to lots of parties
Make a sudden movement
Travel
Question 5/12
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"Nice" once meant...
Unpleasant
Sly
Simple
Question 6/12
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A "basement" used to mean a...
Kitchen
Toilet
Sitting room
Question 7/12
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"Perfume" originally meant...
A smoke that smelled nice
The smell of cooking
A bath
Question 8/12
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A "bully" was once a...
A cousin
Mailman
Good person
Question 9/12
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"Nervous" once meant...
Weak
Vigorous
Growing
Question 10/12
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"Furniture" used to mean...
Tools
Supplies
Utensils
Question 11/12
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"Aarial" used to mean...
As thin as air
Perspective
A good eye
Question 12/12
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"Almost" once meant...
Rarely
A lot
Mostly all
You don't know many original meanings of words, and that's okay - at least you know their modern-day definitions!
C+, Brush Up
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Right!
You know some original meanings of words - good for you! It's interesting to see how they have changed over time.
B+, A Little New, A Little Old
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Right!
You know many original meanings of words, and are probably a vocabulary pro, too. These words may have different meanings today, but its interesting to know how they changed!
A+, Wordy Wiz
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Right!
1
"Awful" has changed from its original meaning of...
Pleasant
Being in awe
Terrible
2
"Fathom" once meant...
To be imaginative
To think carefully
To put your arms around something
3
Not surpringly, "naughty" used to mean...
A lack of something
Scandalous
That you had nothing
4
To "flirt" used to mean to...
Go to lots of parties
Make a sudden movement
Travel
5
"Nice" once meant...
Unpleasant
Sly
Simple
6
A "basement" used to mean a...
Kitchen
Toilet
Sitting room
7
"Perfume" originally meant...
A smoke that smelled nice
The smell of cooking
A bath
8
A "bully" was once a...
A cousin
Mailman
Good person
9
"Nervous" once meant...
Weak
Vigorous
Growing
10
"Furniture" used to mean...
Tools
Supplies
Utensils
11
"Aarial" used to mean...
As thin as air
Perspective
A good eye
12
"Almost" once meant...
Rarely
A lot
Mostly all
