prinsippielt
Prinsippielt is a linguistic term used in Scandinavian languages, particularly in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, to describe a word that remains in use despite its original meaning being lost due to the evolution of language. The term "prinsipiel" in Danish and "prinsippel" in Norwegian literally means "principle" or "rule," but in the context of linguistics, it refers to words that have undergone significant semantic changes but still maintain their functional usage in modern language.
Typically, prinsippielt words are derived from archaic concepts or technical terms that were once accurately descriptive
Examples of prinsippielt words include "herrego" in Danish, which originates from the term for a household slave
The concept of prinsippielt words highlights the dynamic nature of language, where words can change in meaning,