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Tromos Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

Decadent

Am I crazy in thinking that this word should (at least it did) have a negative connotation (such as being too rich or being the casue of downfall seven-deadly-sin-style).
The reason I ask is becasue it seems that whenever I see a commercial for a resturant, they say somthing like "stop in for a slice of our decadent chocolate cake."

Thoughts?
  

Top answer

Hi , Tromos-- welcome to English Forums. I am reluctant to call words negative or positive, as much of the connotation is in the mind of the users-- some like decadence in their chocolate cakes and lifestyles, and others do not. Fr.

  • Hi , Tromos-- welcome to English Forums.
  • I am reluctant to call words negative or positive, as much of the connotation is in the mind of the users-- some like decadence in their chocolate cakes and lifestyles, and others do not.
  • Fr.
  • L.
  • decadentia "decay," from decadentem (nom.
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2 Answers
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Hi , Tromos-- welcome to English Forums.

I am reluctant to call words negative or positive, as much of the connotation is in the mind of the users-- some like decadence in their chocolate cakes and lifestyles, and others do not. But you are right:

decadent: marked by excessive self-indulgence and moral decay (from decadence: 1549, from M.Fr. decadence (1
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Things that make a strong appeal to our more 'earthly delights', are often marketed to suggest that we will take so much purely hedonistic pleasure in consuming them that we should fear, (but only superficially) a moral setback. It is a strategy of devilish temptation, and appeals to our lower instincts of indulging in immediate pleasure. Other products, with a similar marketing goal in mind, ar

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