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Word for the Wise March 15, 2007 Broadcast Topic: Newfangled

After we were seized by the notion that something newfangled is generally less desirable than something simply new, we decided to investigate just what fangled adds to (or, more figuratively, detracts from) that adjective. (来源:英语学习门户 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

Much to our surprise, the fangle in newfangled followed, not preceded, newfangled into our lexicon. Newfangled first appeared in print during the 14th century, when it meant "attracted to novelty." Believe it or not, that meaning lasted until the middle of the 16th century, when newfangled developed a new sense, the one familiar to most of us: "of the newest style or kind."

But the novelty of newfangled suggests something that is usually ingenious but either unnecessary or objectionable. How did fangle—which names a fashion, especially when foppish or silly—help shape that meaning?

It didn't. Remember that the original meaning of newfangled was "attracted to novelty;" the fangle in newfangled comes from an Old English verb meaning "to take; seize." To take or be seized by something new is a common enough human behavior, and so is disparaging a person for doing just that.

 
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