From the Latin word nescius the word nice originally meant, ignorant or foolish. When it was assimilated into the English language it had the same meaning until around the 14th century when it started to signify something agreeable or pleasant. By the 18th century the transformation was pretty much complete and now nice is nice. Next up on our word list is shampoo which seems like something a person would balk at having applied to their hair until you know the meaning. Shampoo is from the Hindi root word champna, which to go back another step derives from the Sanskrit word, capayati translating to the meaning "pounds" or "kneads" suggesting a massaging motion. Today shampoo is both a verb and a noun putting itself in a special class of words called conversions that can be either a denominal verb or a deverbal noun. Clear as mud?
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