Literally was literally used as a figurative intensifier from basically the first moment it stopped meaning āof or pertaining to lettersā.
English is full of contronyms. We even have a special word for them.
No one complains about ādustā having two contradicting meanings (apply or remove a powder), or āoriginalā meaning ātraditionalā or ānovelā.
What should the dictionary do when the people who use the language start using it in a way the dictionary says is wrong? Does the dictionary just ignore the language and insist that dusting only means to apply powder, and original only means new?
Communication is better facilitated by describing how language is used and trusting the listener and speaker to use context to convey meaning unambiguously.
I donāt need the dictionary to tell me Iām not being asked to put powdered sugar on the mantle, or that someone isnāt sharing their grandmotherās newly created, bespoke recipe they invented for their family.
Literally was literally used as a figurative intensifier from basically the first moment it stopped meaning āof or pertaining to lettersā.
English is full of contronyms. We even have a special word for them.
No one complains about ādustā having two contradicting meanings (apply or remove a powder), or āoriginalā meaning ātraditionalā or ānovelā.
What should the dictionary do when the people who use the language start using it in a way the dictionary says is wrong? Does the dictionary just ignore the language and insist that dusting only means to apply powder, and original only means new?
Communication is better facilitated by describing how language is used and trusting the listener and speaker to use context to convey meaning unambiguously.
I donāt need the dictionary to tell me Iām not being asked to put powdered sugar on the mantle, or that someone isnāt sharing their grandmotherās newly created, bespoke recipe they invented for their family.