Gay definition dictionary free#
The derived abstract noun gaiety remains largely free of sexual connotations and has, in the past, been used in the names of places of entertainment for example W. It was apparently not until the 20th century that the word began to be used to mean specifically "homosexual", although it had earlier acquired sexual connotations.
![gay definition dictionary gay definition dictionary](https://st.depositphotos.com/1905483/1769/i/950/depositphotos_17696983-stock-photo-homosexual-dictionary-definition.jpg)
The title of the 1938 French ballet Gaîté Parisienne ("Parisian Gaiety"), which became the 1941 Warner Brothers movie, The Gay Parisian, also illustrates this connotation. For example, the optimistic 1890s are still often referred to as the Gay Nineties. In English, the word's primary meaning was "joyful", "carefree", "bright and showy", and the word was very commonly used with this meaning in speech and literature. The word gay arrived in English during the 12th century from Old French gai, most likely deriving ultimately from a Germanic source. One woman says to the other (who looks glum), "How long have you been gay?" The poster on the wall is for La Traviata, an opera about a courtesan. Ĭartoon from Punch magazine in 1857 illustrating the use of "gay" as a colloquial euphemism for being a prostitute. The extent to which these usages still retain connotations of homosexuality has been debated and harshly criticized. Among younger speakers, the word has a meaning ranging from derision (e.g., equivalent to 'rubbish' or 'stupid') to a light-hearted mockery or ridicule (e.g., equivalent to 'weak', 'unmanly', or ' lame'). Īt about the same time, a new, pejorative use became prevalent in some parts of the world. By the end of the 20th century, the word gay was recommended by major LGBT groups and style guides to describe people attracted to members of the same sex, although it is more commonly used to refer specifically to men. In the 1960s, gay became the word favored by homosexual men to describe their sexual orientation. In modern English, gay has come to be used as an adjective, and as a noun, referring to the community, practices and cultures associated with homosexuality. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 19th century, that meaning became increasingly common by the mid-20th century. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While Gorman was understandably upset about the wording, she noted in her letter several times that she “loves” Apple products, and went as far as thanking the company for helping continue her education.Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. However, as of Tuesday, no changes had been made to the Dictionary’s language. Other dictionaries, such as, also have derogative definitions associated with the term, however, they are prefaced as “slang” that is considered “disparaging and offensive.” The company admitted they, too, were surprised the definition was there. According to the MetroWest Daily News, after Gorman-with the support of her mothers-sent the letter to Cook, the company was quick to call her back. In her letter, Gorman asked that the company make a formal apology to the gay community as a whole, as well as a “significant change” to the context of the word in the app. All other derogatory terms within the dictionary have it listed as an offensive term or unacceptable.”Īfter a search of other terms deemed offensive in nature, Gorman said she found most of them were marked with the word “derogatory” to signify that the language was unacceptable. “The use of ‘gay’ as a negative adjective is not okay and needs to stop insulting or making people feel uncomfortable everyday.
![gay definition dictionary gay definition dictionary](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PSKllogQL00/maxresdefault.jpg)
Even with your addition of the word informal, this definition normalizes the terrible derogatory twist that many people put on the word ‘gay’,” she wrote. “I assume that you are a pro-gay company, and would never intend for anyone of your products to be as offensive as this definition was. Gorman, whose mothers are lesbians, decided to take her disapproval of the terminology one step further and wrote a strongly worded letter to the computer company, addressing it directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook. It pulls definitions from the New Oxford American Dictionary, which on its own website includes the same explanation.īoston reached out to Apple, but did not immediately receive a reply. After discovering it, while doing a research paper for school about the “lack of rights for gays and lesbians,” Gorman quickly took a screenshot of the app’s third explanation for the word:Īpple products come with what the company calls “a versatile dictionary application” to allow people to search a word’s origin.