Sexy?

Etymology is a rather interesting subject to me. The study of linguistics and the evolution of the English language, in particular, has my rapt attention on occasion.

I had already figured out that language changes at a fairly young age. It was 1978 when the Whatchamacallit candy bar came out. I will never forget the first time I asked my mother to buy me one. I was excited to see it in the restaurant that we were in. I went to pay the bill, came back to the table and asked my mother if I could have one. She asked several times what I wanted. I repeated time after time, "A Whatchamacallit.", not realizing that she did not know it was a candy bar. In her mind, I was asking for a thingamajig (something whose name is unknown or forgotten). Finally, her friend realized what I was asking for! We all had a good laugh!

Going through school, there were other words/phrases that came up which needed to be explained. My sisters and I thought my mother, especially, had grown up in the dark ages! How could she not know what these things meant? As the parent of a 17 and 19 year old, I have been reassured, that while my mom did indeed grow up somewhat sheltered, it was the linguistics of the time that changed.

One such example that comes to mind is "dating". What does that mean? As a parent, I have had to learn what a "boyfriend" is; I've learned about "going steady",  "going out", and even what "making out" is all about. How do these things change so much? It seems to me that a date should constitute a boy and a girl going to dinner and/or a movie or other enjoyable public  activity that is provided. Today's teens don't seem to agree. It's perplexing at best.

Sexy. Yes, sexy. It is a term used more often than  I would have ever imagined! Derived from the word "sex" obviously. I have the ability to break it down as far as we want, but suffice it to say, sex began as a way to state the difference of male vs. female, then grew to include being engrossed in the act of sex. "Sexy" has been commonly known to represent something or someone that stimulates the sex drive. Yet,  in today's world, we see stocks described as sexy. Yes, even stocks can be known as attractive or interesting. That is what this world has come to. "Sexy" is synonymous with words such as bodacious, desirable, and luscious.

Somehow in my mind, I really want certain things in life to remain a constant. I suppose if I really want to, I can dish up a pretty sexy meal or dessert for my family. It just seems wrong. I am not ready for the Urban Dictionary to tell me new meanings of 6,150,042 words! I don't understand how any generation has the ability to affect our communication standards to such an amazing degree. Considering the approximate 2,000 new definitions/day that the Urban Dictionary receives, I think that I am doomed. It is an inevitable fact that I need to keep up with the times and the young people of today.

Although I am not sure where this picture came from originally, 
I took it from a friend's wall on Facebook. 
Sexy, isn't it? :) 

(If you are honest, I'm sure that you hope to be that much in love when you reach their age too!)