Bacon, in his _Pathway unto Prayer_, thus uses the word Imp: “Let us pray for the preservation of the King’s most excellent Majesty, and for the prosperous success of his entirely beloved son Edward our Prince, that most _angelic imp_.” The word _brat_ is not considered very elegant now, but a few years ago it had a different signification from its present one. An old hymn or _De profundis_, by Gascoine, contains the lines,— “O Israel, O household of the Lord, O Abraham’s brats, O brood of blessed seed, O chosen sheep that loved the Lord indeed.” It is a somewhat noticeable fact, that the changes in the signification of words have generally been to their deterioration; that is, words that heretofore had no sinister meaning have acquired it. The word _cunning_, for example, formerly meant nothing sinister or underhanded; and in Thrope’s confession in Fox’s “Book of Martyrs” is the sentence, “I believe that all these three persons [in the Godhead] are even in power, and in cunning, and in might, full of grace and of all goodness.” _Demure_ is another of this class. It was used by earlier writers without the insinuation which is now almost latent in it, that the external shows of modesty and sobriety rest on no corresponding realities. _Explode_ formerly meant to drive off the stage with loud clappings of the hands, but gradually became exaggerated into its present signification. _Facetious_, too, originally meant urbane, but now has so degenerated as to have acquired the sense of buffoonery; and Mr. Trench sees indications that it will ere long acquire the sense of indecent buffoonery. _Frippery_ now means trumpery and odds and ends of cheap finery; but once it meant old clothes of value, and not worthless, as the term at present implies. The word _Gossip_ formerly meant only a sponsor in baptism. Sponsors were supposed to become acquainted at the baptismal font, and by their sponsorial act to establish an indefinite affinity towards each other and the child. Thus the word was applied to all who were familiar and intimate, and finally obtained the meaning which is now predominant in it. _Homely_ once meant secret and familiar, though in the time of Milton it had acquired the same sense as at present. _Idiot_, from the Greek, originally signified only a private man as distinguished from one in public office, and from that it has degenerated till it has come to designate a person of defective mental powers. _Incense_ once meant to kindle not only anger, but good passions as well; Fuller uses it in the sense of “to incite.” _Indolence_ originally signified a freedom from passion or pain, but now implies a condition of languid non-exertion. _Insolent_ was once only “unusual.”