Everyone's talking about change lately. I started thinking about it myself. I know what the word means, but I still looked it up. Here's the definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
Change
Pronunciation: \ˈchānj\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): changed; chang·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French changer, from Latin cambiare to exchange, probably of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish camm crooked
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1 a: to make different in some particular : alter (never bothered to change the will)
b: to make radically different : transform (can't change human nature)
c: to give a different position, course, or direction to
2 a: to replace with another (let's change the subject)
b: to make a shift from one to another : switch (always changes sides in an argument)
c: to exchange for an equivalent sum of money (as in smaller denominations or in a foreign currency) (change a dollar bill)
d: to undergo a modification of (foliage changing)
e: to put fresh clothes or covering on (change a bed)
intransitive verb
1: to become different (her mood changes every hour)
2: of the moon : to pass from one phase to another
3: to shift one's means of conveyance : transfer (on the bus trip he had to change twice)
4: of the voice : to shift to lower register : break
5: to undergo transformation, transition, or substitution (winter changed to spring)
6: to put on different clothes (need a few minutes to change for dinner)
7: exchange, switch (neither liked his seat so they changed with each other)
I find it interesting that, as a word, change is neither positive nor negative. Change just means moving from one place, circumstance, position, course, etc, to another.
That could be a positive thing. As human beings we wish for things to change for the better. But, it could also be a negative thing.
I guess we'll have to be more specific about what we wish for.
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