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← Language & CommunicationIf a word originally meaning 'crafty' gradually starts being used to describe something evil, which consequence follows regarding its semantic properties?
A)Amelioration of the word occurs
B)Taboo status becomes more evident
C)Pejoration has likely taken place✓
D)Euphemism obscures original meaning
💡 Explanation
Pejoration is the process where a word's meaning becomes more negative over time; this occurs because of changes in societal attitudes and association. Therefore, the shift to describing something as 'evil' constitutes pejoration, rather than amelioration, which is the opposite change.
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