The semantic field of a word is the sum of the sememes expressed by it. A word is a unit of language that carries meaning and consists of one or more morphemes which are linked more or less tightly together. ... A Sememe is a proposed unit of transmitted or intended meaning; it is atomic or indivisible. ...

Semantic fields of a given word shift over time, see semantic shift. For example, English man used to mean "human being" exclusively, while today it means "adult male" predominantly, but its semantic field still extends to generic "human" in some uses (see Mannaz). Semantic drift, in historical linguistics, is a phenomenon whereby words change in meaning over a period of time, resulting in semantic differences between cognates. ... Mannaz or Manwaz is the Proto-Germanic term for man, in the gender-neutral sense of person, human being. The word developed into Old English man, mann human being, person, (c. ...

Overlapping semantic fields are problematic especially in translation into another language. Particularly polysemous words are often untranslatable with all their connotations, and are frequently loaned instead (e.g. chivalry (which would literally translate to "horsemanship"), dharma (which would literally translate to "support"), taboo). Translation is an activity comprising the interpretation of the meaning of a text in one language — the source text — and the production, in another language, of a new, equivalent text — the target text, or translation. ... The connotation of a word or other expression in a language may be one of several aspects of its meaning. ... A loanword is a word directly taken into one language from another with little or no translation. ... See also order of chivalry Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ... Dharma (Sanskrit: धर्म) Dhamma [Pali] means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. ...

See also: Semantic class A semantic class contains words that share a semantic property. ...