" words differentiate in suitably contrasting environments.
Satisfactory explanation for that must, logically, precede an
account of derivative meanings." ok : basically, how can the
same words have multiple meaning? Context is a word we throw
around without really 'getting it'. But consider: "this derives
from this other thing". We take that as pretty basic in much of
our ways of thinking. But does it REALLY derive or does the
meaning "grow" differently depending on the environment it finds
itself in? How can the same sentence have different meanings
depending on the surrounding sentences? It does, it can. Just a
little thought can easily bring examples of the same sentence
meaning different things. Context. Consider the significance of
this. We may never find the 'root' and we might. But whether or
not we do, once the process started, HOWEVER it started, the
context creates the environment that allows the meaning of words
to shift and change. "Make" has so many meanings not because
there is ONE DEFINITIVE meaning of "make" that all else derived
from. Maybe the first sentence. But not the second and beyond.
Meanings grow. This fact is obscured when the absolute precision
of word to definition is required in certain disciplines. One
can be led to believe that meaning is constructed of meaning.
But really, it's not constructed of meaning. It's grown within
environments. It's the inertial resistance to change that keeps
word meanings "generally" similar but still, words grow and
change just the same. No constraints seem to be absolute.
