How Nice Changed Over Time
Nice, a word which style guides recommend be avoided in writing. It is thought to be both ubiquitous and nearly devoid of meaning. While it’s meaning today may be rather unexciting, this word has had its share of adventures as its definition transformed over time. It is such a simple word with several meanings and a sordid past. Webster (Merriam-Webster.com) defines nice as pleasing and agreeable. Throughout the world phrases such as “It is nice to meet you,” “Have a nice day,” “Nice work,” and “That looks nice on you,” to name a few, are said numerous times a day. Who hasn’t relished a compliment in which nice was used at least once in their lives? Compliments are a nice addition to boosting one’s self-confidence. However, if the compliment’s
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Recorded in history rather early in the French language around the year 1160, the French used the word nice to describe the careless, clumsy, weak, simple, foolish, or stupid. As time continued on to the 1400s, nice was used in French, as well as other Romance languages such as Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian to label people, actions and sayings as silly or foolish (Britannica). The word in French is not commonly used today however it may still be found in some older manuscripts referring to someone as simple or naive. The word retained it’s meaning in the Romance languages. The evolution of the word nice in English is a somewhat complex affair with fourteen meaning changes over the centuries. From the original meaning of ‘foolish, silly, simple’, the word went on to be used with a vast array of meanings including slothful, effeminate, shy, wanton, and meticulous.
In the 14th century, the word began to morph into meaning ‘fussy, finicky, and fastidious.’ In the 15th century, it meant ‘dainty, delicate.’ In the 1500s, it was used to mean ‘precise, careful.’ There was no considerable change in meaning from the 1500s to the 17th century. By the 18th century the meaning shifted to ‘agreeable, delightful.’ The 19th century is where nice acquired its current connotation of ‘kind, and
Recorded in history rather early in the French language around the year 1160, the French used the word nice to describe the careless, clumsy, weak, simple, foolish, or stupid. As time continued on to the 1400s, nice was used in French, as well as other Romance languages such as Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian to label people, actions and sayings as silly or foolish (Britannica). The word in French is not commonly used today however it may still be found in some older manuscripts referring to someone as simple or naive. The word retained it’s meaning in the Romance languages. The evolution of the word nice in English is a somewhat complex affair with fourteen meaning changes over the centuries. From the original meaning of ‘foolish, silly, simple’, the word went on to be used with a vast array of meanings including slothful, effeminate, shy, wanton, and meticulous.
In the 14th century, the word began to morph into meaning ‘fussy, finicky, and fastidious.’ In the 15th century, it meant ‘dainty, delicate.’ In the 1500s, it was used to mean ‘precise, careful.’ There was no considerable change in meaning from the 1500s to the 17th century. By the 18th century the meaning shifted to ‘agreeable, delightful.’ The 19th century is where nice acquired its current connotation of ‘kind, and