Historisms and semantic changes

Abstract

The author discusses characteristics of words to which lexicologists and lexicographers usually refer as historisms. Semantic changes related to the original appearance and reappearance of historisms are analysed as well as the influence of extralinguistic reality to this processes. In the end the author considers the possibility of synonymy and extension of historism’s meaning through methaphoric use.

Keywords

• historism
• extralinguistic reality
• meaning
• semantic change
• polysemy
• synonymy methaphoric use