According to the dictionary, the word Busted is the past tense or past participial of the word bust and is from a dialect pronunciation of burst. Bust is both a noun and a verb and has a wide variety of meanings for both uses. Many are slang or informal (Random House, 2016).
The word Busted has greatly evolved with time and the upbringing of kids born in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The word has been in the English language since 1837 (Barnhart, 1988). According to the etymology dictionary (Barnhart), the formal definition of the …show more content…
In this example, the definition of the word means that the person ruined their pants while exercising.
Slang- I was busted by my parents for skipping school. In this example, the definition of the word means that the person was caught doing something they should not have been doing.
The house he lives in has a busted backyard. In this example, the definition of the word means ugly. The backyard has an unpleasant appearance.
After researching the word Busted, and coming across many different examples of the usage of the word, the main difference that I found is definitely the definition and the environment in which it is being used. The meaning and understanding of the word changes depending on which generation is using the word, and whether the conversation is formal or relaxed. In this instance the word, Busted remains the same, but the definition of the word changes.
In a formal conversation, which would take place between older adults, business owners and education individuals with a more formal environment such as a business office, formal gathering, or conference the meaning of the word is much different. The context and understanding of the word would likely be the formal definition. During formal conversations, appropriate grammar and phrases are used to provide more creditability, to what is being said during the conversation. It also gives those listening to the conversation clarity on what is being