Question

Select the process that the following word has undergone.

knight, from OE cniht (servant)

A.amelioration: change in meaning to something more favorable
B.pejoration: change in meaning to something less favorable
C.specialization: meaning narrows to refer to something specific
D.generalization: meaning broadens to refer to something general

Answer 1

A.amelioration: change in meaning to something more favorable

Step-by-step explanation:

If the original meaning was servant, we can easily see how the meaning became something more favorable. While servants have this image of being under others, Knights are nobles in armor that possessed lands for themselves. Even though nights might be servants of the king, the word has a different connotation.

Answer 2

The process that the word knight has undergone is A) amelioration: change in meaning to something more favorable.
The meaning of servant has changed to that of a noble knight, which is definitely better.