h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, I for one will spend many happy hours thinking of words to add to your list.

Can I start with 'wicked', which has lost its 'evil' connotation and come to mean 'jolly good', or perhaps the descent to slang doesn't count. In the same context, 'man' now means person, and 'guys' as in "you guys" has lost its gender.

You missed the major one.
No.
It now appears to mean "Although I said no, if you keep on and on and on pestering me, and maybe resorting to grabbing hold of me and trying to make me do it I will eventually do what you want."

I say this as a mother of a 5-year-old, and also as a single woman.

Wicked is a good one. I will attempt to add it. Not quite sure how to go about this. Since the article was 'promoted' it seems that I can no longer edit it. All a bit confusing really.

I expect there is someone, somewhere, who knows how all this works (h2g2) but I wouldn't worry about it. A weary shrug of resignation might be the appropriate response! Just be happy its here!

Your Roman references make me wonder about 'empirical'. I am no etymologist but the spelling suggests a meaning something like 'of the Empire/Emperor', whereas now it seems to mean something like 'taking all the data/facts into consideration' (e.g. an empirical deduction) Maybe not, perhaps its just one of those words that pops into your head, rattles around for a few days and then disappears. Maddening! No dictionary to hand.

For anyone still interested after all this time......

Empiric comes from the Greek 'empeirikos', meaning 'experienced'.

And the word for 'of the Empire/Emperor' is, of course, 'imperial'

I thank you......