WORDS

 Here is something that's been bugging me for quite some time.   It's the common usage of words in a sense exactly opposite to their meaning or original intention.  

This is not too difficult to understand - don't stop reading, Amy.  The words are "incredible" and "unbelievable" and other like them.  

The word 'incredible" is a combination of "in" and "credible".  Credible means "believable."  The prefix "in" means "not".   Thus, the word should mean "not believable" just like "unbelievable."  But how is it used?   In either case, we should not believe what is being described.  Every time I hear them, the speaker means "extraordinary" or "outstanding" or "wonderful".  

You may say that the meaning is evident by how it is being said and I admit that is true for me and you.  What about those ESL people; the people just learning the English language.  It is surely confusing to them.  

So, why do I care.  I hear this usage at church.  If you're trying to convince someone that a miracle really happened and describe it as an unbelievable event, there must be some confusion somewhere.  I think we need to search for a better descriptive in that situation.  Don't you?