Cool is a word that has been around since the early 1000s. Its definition has changed many times throughout its 1000 years in existence. This word is very versatile and can be used in many contexts. I say this word on a daily basis and it no longer seems like slang to me. The dictionary definition of cool that my meaning is derived from is, “excellent; very good” (“Cool”, Cambridge Dictionaries). This definition is considered an informal adjective. The way that I use this word is in an approving response to something. For example: If someone says to me, “I just got an A+ on my math test!” I would say, “cool!” Cool has been around for a long time and will hopefully stay around long enough for my definition to appear in the dictionary.

      The word cool has many definitions and is typically defined as a word that reduces heat in someway. Forms of cool were first seen in Old English and Old Saxon. Middle English originated the transitive use of cool. One of the first definitions used was, “To become cool; to become less hot or warm. Often with down, rarely off” (“Cool”, Oxford English). “To lose the heat of excitement, passion, or emotion; to lose fervor, to become less zealous or ardent. Also with off,” is the second early definition. Both of these meanings from the Oxford English Dictionary mean to lack heat. These definitions have stayed as the main meanings from the 1000s until present. Other meanings of cool have to do with emotions, or the way our attitude is, for example, “calmness; composure; poise” (“Cool”, AllWords.com). “Lacking in interest or enthusiasm”, “calmly audacious or impudent”, “aloof or unresponsive; indifferent”, and “unaffected by emotions; disinterested; dispassionate,” are just some of the other definitions for cool (“Cool”, AllWords.com).

     Throughout history the word cool has had different slang, or informal, meanings. For example, the Oxford English Dictionary gives examples of U.S. slang from 1930, 1965, and 1969 of the word cool to mean, “to kill.” J. Morris wrote, “He wasn’t killed in any private fight… He was cooled by a Chinese agent” (“Cool”, Oxford English). In 1958 and 59 cool also meant “A truce between gangs.” “A cool was negotiated by street club workers. But it was an uneasy truce, often broken,” was an example given by the Oxford English Dictionary. “Marked by great skill or facility,” was an informal definition given by WordNet. “Cool maneuvers on the parallel bars,” use this context. “Socially adept,” is also another term that is not formally accepted (“Cool”, WordNet). This definition of cool as “socially adept,” is the only one left in use by my generation. An example of its usage is, “It’s not cool to wear shorts in the winter.” “To postpone; await developments in,” is another slang expression for the word cool (“Cool”, New Dictionary). I believe some people still use this definition today.

      The meaning of the word cool that I use is to some extent defined in the dictionary. I am not satisfied with the Cambridge Dictionaries definition of, “Excellent/ very good.” I think my new definition of the word cool should be added to the dictionary as, “an approving response.” Meanings change all the time in the English language, and hopefully my definition of cool will make its way into the pages of the dictionary soon.