Words with Unexpected Meanings

[freeztar]

While looking up the definition of vicarious recently, I realized that it carries several meanings that were unknown to me.

Originally Posted by merriam-webster.com

* Main Entry: vi·car·i·ous
* Pronunciation: \vī-ˈker-ē-əs, və-\
* Function: adjective
* Etymology: Latin vicarius, from vicis change, alternation, stead — more at week
* Date: 1637

1 a : serving instead of someone or something else b : that has been delegated <vicarious authority>
2 : performed or suffered by one person as a substitute for another or to the benefit or advantage of another : substitutionary <a vicarious sacrifice>
3 : experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another
4 : occurring in an unexpected or abnormal part of the body instead of the usual one <vicarious menstruation manifested by bleeding from the nose>

I am familiar with number 3, and 1b sounds vaguely familiar, but the rest were surprising.

So, what other words can you think of with surprising meanings unknown to you?
Why do words gather so many different meanings and how does this relate to their etymological roots?

[Jay-qu]

I have posted this somewhere before but:

Inflammable
Inflammable In*flam"ma*ble, a. [CF. F. inflammable.]
1. Capable of being easily set fire; easily enkindled;
combustible.

So basically the same as flammable - not to be confused with the usual english pattern of positive: capable, negative: incapable.. etc

[sman]

If you're allright with non-standard usage, then I'd like to submit wicked. It means, of course, "good", or "cool" - not so unexpected. But since I've lived in Maine (2 - 3 yrs) I've heard it used differently. It took me awile to figure it out. It is an adverbial intensifier, like very or super.
If you use it as an adjective, they look at you like your from Boston. This is not a nice look.

[freeztar]

Right, that was a wicked post (Obviously I'm from Boston).
That post was wicked freaking good (ah, back in Maine).

Actually, it is pretty common in lots of states. It might be confusing to non-USA visitors though, because the common definition is the exact opposite of it's colloquial use in the states.

Words are weird. I have never understood how padre (which means "father" in Spanish) became a slang word for "cool", in Mexico. I guess fathers are cooler south of the border.