Nice of You to Join Us
Summary
Lexicon Valley hosts Mikey and Bobby explore the chaotic etymology of "nice," tracing its origin from the Latin for "ignorant" to its current vague positivity. They discuss how the word once meant foolish, lascivious, or fastidious before becoming a catch-all compliment that annoyed Jane Austen. The episode also examines "nice" as an intensifier in phrases like "nice and quiet" or ironically "nice and dumb."
Topics discussed
Intro and LinkedIn Hiring Pro ad
The paradox of the word 'nice'
Original meaning: foolish and ignorant
Etymology and lascivious connotations
Quince clothing sponsor segment
Showy, fastidious, and other meanings
Confusion and the rise of 'satisfactory'
Jane Austen and George Carlin on 'nice'
LinkedIn Hiring Pro ad repeat
'Nice and X' as a positive intensifier
Irony in 'nice and ugly' or 'nice and dumb'
Summary of the word's evolution
Outro and credits
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