word
amelioration
uh-mee-lee-uh-RAY-shun
əˌmiːliəˈreɪʃənListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
amelioration
Sounds like
Say 'uh-mee-lee-uh-RAY-shun'.
Dictionary meaning
The process by which a word's meaning becomes more positive over time (opposite of pejoration).
History and origin
Latin — 'ameliorare' (to make better).
Examples
- 'Nice' has undergone amelioration — it once meant 'foolish' (from Latin 'nescius', ignorant).
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