General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: On the evolution of language and the "W" word [View all]nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)over 15000 years ago in proto European. Yes, the word is THAT OLD.
It's changed it's meanings over the millennia and even acquired a few other spellings, and a few meanings over the course of Millenia. Some are positive, some are not.
What you are seeing is a new meaning emerge in real time. I suspect with the internet the process of language shift will actually accelerate. For the record, this new term applies to the political sphere and has none to do with shaming women. I would say it is associated with the term media (magical word here) See, I don't think I can use the word even in a discussion here.
I have no problem using the word, especially when discussing it with other language geeks. But there is a problem here on DU, it is a problem of this site. And it has impoverished the site.