The archaic meaning of egregious is something good. Now it means the opposite.
When did this occur and is there any reasoning on why this occurred?
asked Feb 24, 2016 at 20:12
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1Have you checked any sources? There is some information here: etymonline.com/index.php?term=egregious which claims it is an ironic use from the late 16th C.– DyingIsFunFeb 24, 2016 at 20:14
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Well the literal definition of its root is to stand out from the flock, so it's not hard to see how this could come to be understood in a negative light.– CharonFeb 24, 2016 at 20:15
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Ah @Silenus has found a good source: according to it, egregious started off being used in the bad sense ironically. Funny how using something in mockery/jest can make its meaning evolve.– CharonFeb 24, 2016 at 20:17
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2Possible duplicate of What's up with the word "egregious"? Also How do you usually interpret “egregious”? and How does a word come to have two completely opposite meanings?, among others.– FumbleFingersFeb 24, 2016 at 20:25
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