Genealogists are usually good about knowing that they should figure out the meanings of words they don’t know.
That same thing applies to words that they think they know–in fact, that’s when knowing the meaning is even more important so that meanings are not misunderstood. There are two main situations where this can be a problem:
- legal references. Certain words when used in a legal document have a specific meaning and that meaning can be different from what is meant when a layman uses that same word.
- cultural, pop, political and historical references. The meanings of words have changed over time. A newspaper may use a slang term to refer to your ancestor that may tell you something about the ancestor (and perhaps the newspaper as well). Depending upon what you know about the ancestor, the reference could be a clue. A late-1850 reference to your ancestor as a know-nothing would be a statement that may require a review of that term.
3 Responses
That is certainly good to know! I would hate to think I knew what some one was referring to and then find out its not.
About a year ago a “know nothing” turned up with one of my Louisiana Civil War ancestors because he disavowed himself from the group. It was definitely interesting to read!
I bet it was! Politics can generate a great deal of space in the newspaper.