melioration
Americannoun
-
Historical Linguistics. semantic change in a word to a more approved or more respectable meaning.
Etymology
Origin of melioration
1620–30; < Late Latin meliōrātiōn- (stem of meliōrātiō ), equivalent to meliōrāt ( us ) ( meliorate ) + -iōn- -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration.
From Project Gutenberg
While disappointments and misfortunes are often the origin of insanity, a sudden melioration in circumstances, and unexpected pleasing intelligence have been also known to derange the intellects.
From Project Gutenberg
But professional reformation or melioration is usually an organic, incremental process.
From BusinessWeek
But the seeds from a young tree, having itself the tendency to melioration, are more likely to produce improved sorts.
From Project Gutenberg
There are certain meliorations against cruelty, which, if a nation should transgress, probably other nations might feel called upon to suppress.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
