Where did “nice” come from?

Posted by Solver 6 years, 3 months ago to Education
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nice (adj.)
late 13c., "foolish, stupid, senseless," from Old French nice (12c.) "careless, clumsy; weak; poor, needy; simple, stupid, silly, foolish," from Latin nescius "ignorant, unaware," literally "not-knowing," from ne- "not" (from PIE root *ne- "not") + stem of scire "to know" (see science). "The sense development has been extraordinary, even for an adj." [Weekley] -- from "timid" (pre-1300); to "fussy, fastidious" (late 14c.); to "dainty, delicate" (c. 1400); to "precise, careful" (1500s, preserved in such terms as a nice distinction and nice and early); to "agreeable, delightful" (1769); to "kind, thoughtful" (1830).

https://www.etymonline.com/word/nice


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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 6 years, 3 months ago
    The confounding of our language. Not to be confuse with many languages, they already existed but a confounding of meanings, usage and translations.
    Admittedly yes, history, time passed alone, will confound a language and it's words...but it is obvious, much has been done on purpose...thanks a lot mr progressive...

    The word cute is another example: Once defined as: being so Ugly but in a very strange way...kind of interesting.

    Greed is another: originally just to note a persons predilection to collecting a thing...until the French got a hold of the word and applied it to fat people.

    The worst confoundation of words is "Hate" once only to denote "Physical Animosity" Not a simple dislike.
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