melioration

[meel-yuh-rey-shuhn, mee-lee-uh-]

noun

1. Historical Linguistics.,  semantic change in a word to a more approved or more respectable meaning.

2. amelioration.

Word History and Origins

Origin of melioration¹

1620–30; < Late Latin meliōrātiōn- (stem of meliōrātiō ), equivalent to meliōrāt ( us ) ( meliorate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration.

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If the consolations of true religion are proffered, they are either spurned with anger, or merely produce an evanescent melioration.

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But professional reformation or melioration is usually an organic, incremental process.

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But the seeds from a young tree, having itself the tendency to melioration, are more likely to produce improved sorts.

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There are certain meliorations against cruelty, which, if a nation should transgress, probably other nations might feel called upon to suppress.

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