Seems that the younger generation have added/changed the meaning of the word 'cool'. When I was recieving my Secondary School education in 1952-56, the word 'cool' was the opposite of 'warm'.Has this description now been changed, and what does 'cool' now actually mean and why has the English language made this change?I hear another abuse now with the name of 'wicked', seems it's not a name for a nasty person any more, or is it? It's applied to something that some people regard as rather exciting?Why then has the English language become distorted, as these alterations make English, (not an easy language to learn any more, nor has it ever beeen) harder to learn?Why has these 'opposite' words become accepted by some?Maybe someone can answer this old timer's questions?

Why then has the English language become distorted, as these alterations make English, (not an easy language to learn any more, nor has it ever beeen) harder to learn?Why has these 'opposite' words become accepted by some?Maybe someone can answer this old timer's questions?

Because the English language has and always will be something that evolves; it is an amalgamation of influences from other languages and cultures. The version of it that you were taught in the 1950s would too have been completely alien to someone from many years before, and the might wonder of you: 'why hast thee hast spake forth in thy strange tongue?' Al

English is a dynamic, living language. New words are added, older ones fall into disuse, and old words adopt new meanings. "Cool" has meant "nice" or generally favorable for as long as I can remember, and it sounds like I started elementary school about the same time as you. At first, "cool" was adopted from the jazz and "beat" musicians, and then it likely entered popular culture in the form of Maynard G. Krebs, the odd Bob Denver character on Dobie Gillis.Bostonians, and particulalry those from the near-in suburb of Revere, like to claim "wicked" as their own. It's simply an adverb meaning "very," as in "wicked cool."Even FORTRAN, my native tongue, is constantly changing.

With regard to abuse of the word 'wicked', I christened my father's second wife 'The WSM' some years ago. She, at an age considerably greater than mine, took the appellation as a compliment. She's pretty cool like that despite having completed her formal education a few years before you arrived at your secondary school.She went on to refer to her mother as the WWW, although in that case I believe she was using the word's original meaning.Regards,D

English is a dynamic, living language. New words are added, older ones fall into disuse, and old words adopt new meanings. "Cool" has meant "nice" or generally favorable for as long as I can remember, and it sounds like I started elementary school about the same time as you. At first, "cool" was adopted from the jazz and "beat" musicians, and then it likely entered popular culture in the form of Maynard G. Krebs, the odd Bob Denver character on Dobie Gillis.

'Cool' was certainly around in the '50s, and did come from jazz culture. I suspect (guesswork here) that it was originally coined to differentiate the new, bebop and later, jazz styles emerging in the '40s from the 'hot' jazz of the '20s and '30s. The term vanished for a while and re-emerged over the last couple of decades for some unknown reasonWe still await the rediscovery of 'square', 'daddy-o' and other inventions of the era.

Even FORTRAN, my native tongue, is constantly changing.

Isn't FORTRAN like Latin, a dead language spoken only by priests? :( scott s..

Isn't FORTRAN like Latin, a dead language spoken only by priests? scott s..

Watch Futurama closely. You'll see signs for Old Fortran Malt Liquor, one of Bender's favorite beverages.There are still FORTRAN based projects out there, particularly in old systems. Some of these are military applications, others scientific.I also speak fluent Ada, by the way. Fortunately, I'm going to retire in a few years.

There are still FORTRAN based projects out there, particularly in old systems. Some of these are military applications, others scientific.I also speak fluent Ada, by the way. Fortunately, I'm going to retire in a few years.

I speak fluent FORTRAN, as well as COBOL, SNOBOL and ASSEMBLER. My colleagues used to tease me about my rather pronounced LISP though... :( Now however in my late dottage, I'm slowly becoming a Lua-natic... :(

I speak fluent FORTRAN, as well as COBOL, SNOBOL and ASSEMBLER. My colleagues used to tease me about my rather pronounced LISP though... :(

Yeah, we all have the same BASIC symptoms.

'Cool' was certainly around in the '50s, and did come from jazz culture. I suspect (guesswork here) that it was originally coined to differentiate the new, bebop and later, jazz styles emerging in the '40s from the 'hot' jazz of the '20s and '30s. The term vanished for a while and re-emerged over the last couple of decades for some unknown reasonWe still await the rediscovery of 'square', 'daddy-o' and other inventions of the era.

That's cool daddy-oGreat question OP...I've wondered the same :)

This being the internet, it's all been well archived:http://www.newberry.k12.sc.us/mchs/50sSlang.htm#a-bAnyway daddy-o the word from the bird is that I gotta split this crib cuz it's, like, late and my old lady's already crashed. You cats continue rapping.

This being the internet, it's all been well archived:http://www.newberry....0sSlang.htm#a-bAnyway daddy-o the word from the bird is that I gotta split this crib cuz it's, like, late and my old lady's already crashed. You cats continue rapping.

I could'nt have said it better myself, This will date me for sure but what the heck. Anyway cool means it's ok or you like it. I've heard Old fashioned now called "Old School" which is also called "Retro" Every generation comes up with new slang.

This rap is groovy man!