“Nice” Hasn’t Always Been Nice

“Nice” Hasn’t Always Been Nice
The meaning of a word often evolves over time. Some word meanings change more drastically than others. The word “nice” has a number of meanings, including appealing, kind, or satisfactory. The same word is used sarcastically to mean just the opposite. For example, you will often hear someone exclaim, “Nice!” when their true reaction is that something is rude, bad, or gross. This sarcastic use of the word “nice” is similar to its Latin origin. The Latin word “nescius” means unaware. By the thirteenth century people were using the word “nice” to mean foolish, senseless, or clumsy. Its meaning then evolved to mean shy and later tasteful. By the late 1800s, expressions with “nice” in a positive sense became common. Today the word “nice” is so common that it is often considered cliché.

1. The word “nice” originated from the Latin word “nescius”, meaning unaware.
2. When used sarcastically, the word “nice” means rude, bad or gross.
3. These days, the word “nice” is considered cliché.