evolve: to change over time
drastic: very noticeable; extreme
appealing: likeable
satisfactory: acceptable
sarcastic: not sincere; opposite of one’s true feelings
tasteful: having an appropriate sense of style or fashion
cliché: too expected or common; lacking in originality
“Nice” Hasn’t Always Been Nice -Nice 并不总是意味着美好
The meaning of a word often evolves over time. Some word meanings change more drastically than others. The word “nice” has a number of meanings, including appealing, kind, or satisfactory. The same word is used sarcastically to mean just the opposite. For example, you will often hear someone exclaim, “Nice!” when their true reaction is that something is rude, bad, or gross. This sarcastic use of the word “nice” is similar to its Latin origin. The Latin word “nescius” means unaware. By the thirteenth century people were using the word “nice” to mean foolish, senseless, or clumsy. Its meaning then evolved to mean shy and later tasteful. By the late 1800s, expressions with “nice” in a positive sense became common. Today the word “nice” is so common that it is often considered cliché.
