Słowa pochwały – o semantyce pewnych przymiotników oceniających

Abstract

The article concerns several dozen adjectives expressing a general positive assessment in Polish. The analysis aims to reveal the concepts that motivate the semantic development of the adjectives listed above from other, more specific meanings to the evaluation meaning. The author concludes that evaluative adjectives are motivated by concepts from several specific semantic circles, e.g. ‘large size’, ‘light’, ‘rarity’, ‘unreality’ etc.