It is hard to imagine that a word like “awful” once met something closer to “awesome” than “terrible,” but if you think about it and break it down, it kind of makes sense – awe/full or in other words “full of awe.” These are 25 original word meanings that will surprise you!
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Manufacture

Current meaning – to mass produce with machinery
Original meaning – create by hand
Doom

Current meaning – an unhappy destiny
Original meaning – a law or ordinance
Last

Current meaning – final
Original meaning – highest
Protest

Current meaning – show disapproval
Original meaning – make a solemn declaration
Hilarity

Current meaning – boisterous merriment
Original meaning – calm joy
Bully

Current meaning – a person who is habitually cruel to others
Original meaning – a fine chap
Radical

Current meaning – very different from the usual
Original meaning – fundamental
Pretty

Current meaning – attractive
Original meaning – sneaky
Guy

Current meaning – a man
Original meaning – a person of grotesque appearance
Brave

Current meaning – having courage
Original meaning – showy
Egregious

Current meaning – really bad
Original meaning – really good
If you’re enjoying this post, be sure to take a look at 25 Interesting and Somewhat Strange Word Origins.
Nervous

Current meaning – anxious
Original meaning – strong
Pedant

Current meaning – someone who shows off their knowledge
Original meaning – a male schoolteacher
Garble

Current meaning – to alter or distort
Original meaning – to sift
Evil

Current meaning – morally reprehensible
Original meaning – uppity
Awful

Current meaning – terrible
Original meaning – amazing (awe/full)
Nice

Current meanning – kind
Original meaning – foolish
Sad

Current meaning – affected by grief
Original meaning – content
Artificial

Current meaning – contrived
Original meaning – skillful
Facetious

Current meaning – inappropriately joking
Original meaning – well mannered
Nuisance

Current meaning – annoying or unpleasant
Original meaning – injurious or harmful
Sophisticated

Current meaning – very complicated
Original meaning – unnatural
Stupid

Current meaning – slow of mind
Original meaning – amazed
Passenger

Current meaning – a traveler in a vehicle
Original meaning – someone traveling by foot
If you enjoyed this post, check out 25 Words You Are Probably Saying Wrong.
Angel

Currently means – a messenger that acts on behalf of a higher being
Original meaning – any hired messenger
Photos: 25. Hans Splinter via flickr, 24. Chris Potter via flickr, 23. Retouched by Papa Lima Whiskey 2 via wikimedia commons/ photo original by shrimpo 1967 via flickr, 18. Joey Gannon via flickr, 15. Sarah Reid via flickr, 12. Grand Canyon National Park via flickr, 11. quotes everlasting via flickr, 10. Selena N. B. H. via flickr, 9. Quinn Dombrowski via flickr, 6. Sharon Sinclair via flickr, 1. Antonio Foncubierta via flickr