What is “bad?” It is a very common word, yet there is not really a clear definition, as is frequent with words based on perception. The dictionary gives 48 different definitions, and there are likely more. The word is rampant in modern slang. It is frequently overused, and is generally looked upon as a very “boring” word. School children are discouraged from using it often because it is such a “plain” and “unexpressive” word. Society has generally abandoned a word that really is one of the most general, well known, and, in comparison to many words, is not really that old. It appears in many languages roughly the same way, both phonetically and visually.
How does one define a word based on perception? It is much like trying to define a color to the blind, or a sound to the deaf. One must then call into question that “bad” is generally considered an adjective, while it appears to be an experience. Much as the definition of love differs from person to person, so must bad. For instance, one may consider joining the armed forces and undesirable, or “bad,” while another would consider it a positive thing. Unfortunately, as “bad” is considered almost a second-class citizen among words, people simply take for granted the complexity of the word.
Perhaps, most perplexing, is how the word came to mean what it does today. Its historic root is in the Old English word bæddel, meaning hermaphrodite (House 1). How the word evolved is not entirely clear. The word seems to have no Latin roots, and was rarely, if ever, used before the 1400’s, and was still less common than the word “evil” until the 1700’s. The ironic slang use of the word as a compliment, or word of approval, has been in use orally since at least the 1890’s, and in print it first appeared during the 1920’s jazz movement (Harper 1).
The modern-day use of the word “bad” is not very different from its historic use, not to be confused with its vastly disparate root. While it is far more common, it has had the same general meaning since the 1400’s, and its slang use is still the same as it was in the early 1900’s. Though it is now slipping into the back burner of our vocabulary, and is primarily used in its slang form, a form which probably followed the same etymological evolution as the word “rude,” in British English. The slang for of the word is actually still quite popular, and used on a regular basis by most. The slang for has almost completely overtaken the actual use of the word and has completely turned around the general assumed meaning of the word.
So, what is “bad?” What does “bad” smell like? Taste like? Feel like? All one can say is that bad is, smells, feels, tastes, ext. rather unpleasant to whoever is saying that it is bad, unless they are using the slang form, in which, it actually is quite pleasant. “Bad” is the all-inclusive term that we rarely include. It’s its own antonym, it is ironic in and of itself, and is all around a very unique and peculiar word. Its history is virtually unknown, as far as origin, though usage is fairly well documented. What is known of its root form is very different from its modern. Why this term, this experience in word form, is not more often used is a mystery. It is a tragedy that such an expressive word has fallen from the grace of modern usage. One might say that its fall from regular utilization is, well, “bad.”
Works cited
"bad." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 01 Apr. 2008. Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bad.
"bad." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 01 Apr. 2008. Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bad.
Adding your reply:
Registration is required because of issues with spam. It is fast and free! This author would LOVE to get a comment from you, please join!
pnktrky
April 5
Edit | Reply
TeChNoWC
April 7
Edit | Reply
Bad can also refer to an objectivity of one's subjective experience, when referring not to morality as much but more so to the experience in and of itself, or even more definitive, the raw feeling. Feelings are, to your brain, definable as good or bad, pleasing and wanted or painful and avoidant. This is, seemingly, a more easily definable mode of the word 'bad'.
When it comes to a more philosophical approach on inherent bad things and good things, it's definition can seem rather subjective. I think there is definitive good and bad, but the raw 'bad' and the raw 'good' is not always easy to see or identify, and also it is not always what it seems.
June 17
Edit | Reply
Language is relative.
Interestingly enough the two related old english derogatory terms bæddel and bædling (like you mentioned, meaning "hermaphrodite" or "pederast") cannot be connected to the word 'bad' for certain, but only as they have a similar sounding roots. The first occurrence of bad is cited to be as early as 1203.How does one define a word based on perception?
All words are based on perception. That is language for you. I'd challenge you to find a conversational (non scientific/mathematical/etc) word that does not vary depending on language, culture, religion, time, or speaker. I don't think it can be done.
Please register or login to comment! It's totally free