It’s amazing how the definitions and/or usage of words change with time. Consider the following, from Webster’s 1828 dictionary:

Incontinence
INCON’TINENCE

INCON’TINENCY, n. [L. incontinentia. See Continence.]

1. Want of restraint of the passions or appetites; free or uncontrolled indulgence of the passions or appetites, as of anger.

2. Want of restraint of the sexual appetite; free or illegal indulgence of lust; lewdness; used of either sex, but appropriately of the male sex. Incontinence in men is the same as unchastity in women.

3. Among physicians, the inability of any of the animal organs to restrain discharges of their contents, so that the discharges are involuntary; Also, the involuntary discharge itself; as an incontinence of urine in diabetes.

Only when you get to the third definition do you see any resemblance to the current usage of the word. (The first two are still in the dictionary, as of 1974, but I ‘ve never heard anyone use them.)

I find this very interesting, considering the first two definitions deal with morality. How many other words have we watered down, or eliminated the usage of, for the sake of our watered-down morality? Consider a couple other examples.

In 1974:

Amoral, adj.

being neither moral nor immoral, specif.: lying outside the sphere to which moral judgments apply

In 1828: Not in the dictionary! (Side note: neither is “prehistoric”)

In 1974:

Vow, n.

A solemn promise or assertion, specif. one by which a person binds himself to an act, service, or condition

Vow, v.t.

1. To promise solemnly

2. To bind or consecrate by a vow

In 1828 (emphasis added):

Vow
VOW, n.

1. A solemn promise made to God, or by a pagan to his deity. The Roman generals when they went to war, sometimes made a vow that they would build a temple to some favorite deity, if he would give them victory. A vow is a promise of something to be given or done hereafter.

A person is constituted a religious by taking three vows, of chastity, of poverty, and of obedience. Among the Israelites, the vows of children were not binding, unless ratified by the express or tacit consent of their father. Num 30.

2. A solemn promise; as the vows of unchangeable love and fidelity. In a moral and religious sense, vows are promises to God, as they appeal to God to witness their sincerity, and the violation of them is a most heinous offense.

VOW, v.t.

1. To give, consecrate or dedicate to God by a solemn promise. When Jacob went to Mesopotamia, he vowed to God a tenth of this substance, and his own future devotion to his service. Gen 28.

When thou vowest a vow, defer not to pay it. Eccl 5.

2. To devote.

(That says a lot about the current state of marriage in this time and place, doesn’t it?)

I’d love to hear any other examples you come across. 🙂