Why Shakespeare Would Call You 'Nice' to Insult You

If you've ever felt lost reading , you're not alone—and it's not your fault. The Bard wrote in Early Modern English, a language full of familiar words that have quietly twisted their meanings over the last . As a writer who invented over new words, even he couldn't stop language from evolving.

From Compliment to Cringe: Words That Flipped

Some of the most dramatic shifts feel like a complete reversal. In Shakespeare's day, calling someone 'nice' was actually an insult meaning 'foolish' or 'ignorant.' To be 'fond' of someone didn't mean you liked them; it meant you were foolishly naive, like a lover embarrassing themselves in public. Likewise, 'silly' described someone innocent, helpless, and worthy of sympathy—a far cry from today's meaning of being unintelligent or not serious.

The Subtle Shifts That Change Everything

Other words changed more subtly, but with major implications. 'Brave' wasn't about courage but about being handsome or finely dressed. 'Cunning' simply meant 'clever' or 'sharp,' without the modern undertone of manipulation. And Othello's famous 'jealousy' wasn't just envy; it meant a much broader sense of suspicion and mistrust. His wasn't petty insecurity, but a corrosive, all-consuming doubt that destroyed everything in its path.