General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: On the evolution of language and the "W" word [View all]nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)it is not about being valid or not. It is how society uses language, and this one is changing in front of your very eyes. It does not happen often... nor this fast.
Given this particular original word gave you both the roots to the kamasutra (KAMA= desire) and this, why are you surprised? By the way, the ties to prostitution go to Rome. Linguists believe the first break into two major roots happened about 7,000 years ago.
Some of the roots give you the words for beloved in Old Irish.
You might want to explore the origin of language... it can be fascinating.
Regardless, this is a semantic shift that does not preclude other definitions or uses. It adds to it, and I expect these new uses to become increasingly common, and they are actually gender neutral... and take some of the ties to actual, honest to goodness prostitution, off it.
Will it become the primary supra definition of the term? Time will tell. I suspect it might, since American political language is getting more and more coarse due to hyper partisanship. DU has a small part in this coarsening of language by the way, since it is a partisan site.
Now you try to get rid of a word who's origins go back 15,000 years. I not just dare you, I triple dare you.